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View Full Version : Bizarre wireless networking woes

MrBleeble
04-02-2006, 20:23
I have two PCs that I am trying to network....I have two already connected by a crossover cable....and one of those (which has the internet connection) I am trying to connect to a third PC so that it can share the internet connection. I am trying all of this just by bridging, no routers or access points or anything like that. Just an ad-hoc wireless network and a crossover cable so the internet PC has the internet, a wired LAN to one PC, and a wireless connection to the other, and these are bridged by XP.

I have been able to get it to work, but it's very unreliable. I can get a "very good" or "good" connection but the connection seems to drop a lot, like every 10 seconds sometimes, especially when I try to load a webpage or sign in to msn or something like that on the "client" computer. However, the weirdest things are happening today.

Today, for some reason, I can't get any signal from upstairs. So I take the computer down and place it FOUR FEET from the other, and I am getting signal strengths of 23%, 5% and then all of a sudden 100%....then back to 5% again. Each card has an upgraded 5db antenna....but even after getting 70% signals yesterday I am now still getting no signal from upstairs....

It works fine one day and then the next day....nothing. Does anyone have any suggestions or will I go get some of those homepluf things instead?
UbT
04-02-2006, 23:48
To be honest, i think it will be easyer to just go buy a router mate?
What connection you on? Ill suggest you a router. I think what your doing is just to messy.
MrBleeble
05-02-2006, 00:35
Well the problem with that is that I have a USB ADSL modem....which I cannot plug into a router
TazUk
05-02-2006, 00:41
Well the problem with that is that I have a USB ADSL modem....which I cannot plug into a router

Which is why you'd chuck it in the bin and replace it with an ADSL router which comes with a built in modem :D
MrBleeble
05-02-2006, 00:43
Well for the same price (or maybe less) I could get two of those homeplug thingies that goes into the mains socket....I mean the networking side of things is taken care of....all 3 can see each other etc....it's just the wireless aspect that has gone completely tits up.
TazUk
05-02-2006, 00:49
Have you tried changing the channel the wireless cards are using?

A decent wireless ADSL router would cost around £50 which is less than two powerline adaptors.
MrBleeble
05-02-2006, 00:52
I have changed the channel from 5 to 4 to 1 to 2 to 12 with no difference really. Maybe there is some interference on certain days....but since it was fine on a weekday and now it isn't on a weekend day, it can't be an office nearby or something like that.

Thanks for the router suggestion, but even if I get a router etc. I still have the signal problem :(
TazUk
05-02-2006, 01:00
I have changed the channel from 5 to 4 to 1 to 2 to 12 with no difference really. Maybe there is some interference on certain days....but since it was fine on a weekday and now it isn't on a weekend day, it can't be an office nearby or something like that.

1, 6 and 11 are the non-overlapping channels so it's best to use one of them.

Thanks for the router suggestion, but even if I get a router etc. I still have the signal problem :(

I guess that depends on it's placement with regards to where the current PC acting as the gateway is.
UbT
05-02-2006, 01:11
Which is why you'd chuck it in the bin and replace it with an ADSL router which comes with a built in modem :D
Esactly :) heres one Click me! (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000TZ8Z8/026-9996809-4196458)
TazUk
05-02-2006, 01:22
This (http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_6734.html) would have been a more appropriate link Napster :rolleyes:
UbT
05-02-2006, 01:26
ommm.. naughty me :) sorry i never new kustom sold them :)
MrBleeble
05-02-2006, 02:52
I didn't know about those channels....thanks, I shall try that tomorrow.