Good Wireless connection to Network but Usually can't access Internet

My laptop immediately connects to a friend's wireless Roadrunner cable
modem connection w/o problems, but I only occasionally can access the
Internet. Sometimes I'll have internet access which lasts for as
little as a few minutes or sometimes several hours. Sometimes I have
Internet right after boot-up, sometimes its unavailable after startup
but is becomes available later (without restart).

I'm able to connect to other wireless roadrunner connections like this
one: Open authentication and disabled encryption. I have the
connection set for the DNS to be automatically assigned as well as IP
(by DHCP). I always connect as 192.168.0.110 and am able to ping the
DNS within a 2-7ms response time.

I'm using a new Sony Vaio with the latest XP and Norton Security Suite.
I've tried disabling the firewall, but that doesn't seem to help.
I've repaired the network connection, but that doesn't seem to help.
There is one nearby, encrypted network, but I don't think that's the
problem. Its on a different channel.

Sometimes, if I restart my pc a few times, I'm able to get Internet
access. Even when I don't have Internet, I'm always connected to the
network and able to get a prompt reply to my ping. When I have
internet access, its pretty fast. I've gotten downloads rated at over
350k. Its like a lightswitch; when it works, it works great, otherwise
it doesn't work at all.

For what it is worth, the DNS, DHCP, & Default gateway are 192.168.0.1
and subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 I get a lease with a one week
duration. DHCP and autoconfiguration are enabled. The Firewall on the
cable modem is not enabled.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

On 19-Apr-2006, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> My laptop immediately connects to a friend's wireless Roadrunner cable
> modem connection w/o problems, but I only occasionally can access the
> Internet. Sometimes I'll have internet access which lasts for as
> little as a few minutes or sometimes several hours. Sometimes I have
> Internet right after boot-up, sometimes its unavailable after startup
> but is becomes available later (without restart).
>
> I'm able to connect to other wireless roadrunner connections like this
> one: Open authentication and disabled encryption. I have the
> connection set for the DNS to be automatically assigned as well as IP
> (by DHCP). I always connect as 192.168.0.110 and am able to ping the
> DNS within a 2-7ms response time.
>
> I'm using a new Sony Vaio with the latest XP and Norton Security Suite.
> I've tried disabling the firewall, but that doesn't seem to help.
> I've repaired the network connection, but that doesn't seem to help.
> There is one nearby, encrypted network, but I don't think that's the
> problem. Its on a different channel.
>
> Sometimes, if I restart my pc a few times, I'm able to get Internet
> access. Even when I don't have Internet, I'm always connected to the
> network and able to get a prompt reply to my ping. When I have
> internet access, its pretty fast. I've gotten downloads rated at over
> 350k. Its like a lightswitch; when it works, it works great, otherwise
> it doesn't work at all.
>
> For what it is worth, the DNS, DHCP, & Default gateway are 192.168.0.1
> and subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 I get a lease with a one week
> duration. DHCP and autoconfiguration are enabled. The Firewall on the
> cable modem is not enabled.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions?

Everytime I respond to someone who cannot access the internet even though
they are receiving the correct IP address from DHCP, Norton Security Suite
was the culprit. I inform the customer of the availability of standalone
apps such as Zone Alarm and EZ Trust Antivirus and recommend that they
install the independent apps.

--
----------
Just Me, D

Well, I'm posting this from the connection and Norton is running. As a
matter for fact, the connection has been working fine for about 3
hours. I have no special love for Norton, but I don't have any
problems connecting to 3 other Roadrunner networks and 2 Bellsouth DSL
connections.

(E-Mail Removed) hath wroth:

>Well, I'm posting this from the connection and Norton is running. As a
>matter for fact, the connection has been working fine for about 3
>hours. I have no special love for Norton, but I don't have any
>problems connecting to 3 other Roadrunner networks and 2 Bellsouth DSL
>connections.

That's nice. Now turn off Norton Internet Security by right clicking
on the Norton icon in the system tray and selecting "disable internet
security". Select "until next reboot". If the wireless now magically
works, you've found the problem.

Incidentally, I agree with Doug Jamal. Norton security is a very
common cause of connectivity issues.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

That's nice. Now turn off Norton Internet Security by right clicking
on the Norton icon in the system tray and selecting "disable internet
security". Select "until next reboot". If the wireless now magically
works, you've found the problem


I tried it this morning and on other instances and it didn't help.
After work, I'm going to uninstall it and see if that makes a
difference.

Assuming that removing Norton doesn't change things, what would your
next suggestion be?

(E-Mail Removed) hath wroth:

>I tried it this morning and on other instances and it didn't help.
>After work, I'm going to uninstall it and see if that makes a
>difference.
>
>Assuming that removing Norton doesn't change things, what would your
>next suggestion be?

Are you sure you disabled Norton Internet Security or Firewall part of
Norton Security Suite and not the anti-virus or some other part? I
would guess that 90% of such connectivity problems as you describe
that I've seen can be attributed to the Norton Firewall.

I don't think that removing Norton is going to help. However, I would
do it anyway. Make sure you have a suitable anti-virus replacment
available. (FreeAVG, Avast, MS Anti-Spyware). The built in XP SP2
firewall is adequate.

The next possibility is that this is the side effect of removing
spyware or a virus that didn't clean up the LSP (layered service
provider). There are several cleanup tools but there are problems.
Most will reset the LSP to defaults which will break other network
applications. You can also do it from the cmd line with:
netsh winsock reset
Methinks it would be best if you created a restore point before
proceeding. Afterwards, if it appears that fixing the LSP didn't
help, use system restore to put it back to its previous state.
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811259 (may not apply here)
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/winsock.htm


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Yes, I disabled the entire suite, esp the intrusion protection and
firewall...on more than one occasion. No trouble with Norton on other
Roadrunner networks.

In general, It SEEMS as if its getting slightly easier to get Internet
and that it lasts longer over time. I'm just wondering if there's some
variable that allows me in or is keeping me out.

Yes, I disabled the entire suite, esp the intrusion protection and
firewall...on more than one occasion. No trouble with Norton on other
Roadrunner networks.

In general, It SEEMS as if its getting slightly easier to get Internet
and that it lasts longer over time. I'm just wondering if there's some
variable that allows me in or is keeping me out.

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <(E-Mail Removed)> on Thu, 20 Apr 2006 09:44:52
-0700, Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>(E-Mail Removed) hath wroth:
>
>>I tried it this morning and on other instances and it didn't help.
>>After work, I'm going to uninstall it and see if that makes a
>>difference.
>>
>>Assuming that removing Norton doesn't change things, what would your
>>next suggestion be?
>
>Are you sure you disabled Norton Internet Security or Firewall part of
>Norton Security Suite and not the anti-virus or some other part? I
>would guess that 90% of such connectivity problems as you describe
>that I've seen can be attributed to the Norton Firewall.
>
>I don't think that removing Norton is going to help.

I do. It's a neverending source of problems.

>However, I would
>do it anyway.

Me too.

>Make sure you have a suitable anti-virus replacment
>available. (FreeAVG,

AVG Free is fairly good -- I previously used and recommended it myself -- but
other products are better.

>Avast,

I now prefer Avira AntiVir, which has a free version
<http://www.free-av.com/>.

>MS Anti-Spyware).

Not anti-virus, but a good complement. A number of other anti-spyware
products are also good.

>The built in XP SP2
>firewall is adequate.

Agreed.

>Methinks it would be best if you created a restore point before
>proceeding. Afterwards, if it appears that fixing the LSP didn't
>help, use system restore to put it back to its previous state.

Good advice.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

What exactly is the problem? Can you access the admin screen on the wireless
router? Is DNS failing? Try "tracert www.google.com" and post the results
here.

In <(E-Mail Removed) .com> on 19 Apr 2006
10:48:52 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>My laptop immediately connects to a friend's wireless Roadrunner cable
>modem connection w/o problems, but I only occasionally can access the
>Internet. Sometimes I'll have internet access which lasts for as
>little as a few minutes or sometimes several hours. Sometimes I have
>Internet right after boot-up, sometimes its unavailable after startup
>but is becomes available later (without restart).
>
>I'm able to connect to other wireless roadrunner connections like this
>one: Open authentication and disabled encryption. I have the
>connection set for the DNS to be automatically assigned as well as IP
>(by DHCP). I always connect as 192.168.0.110 and am able to ping the
>DNS within a 2-7ms response time.
>
>I'm using a new Sony Vaio with the latest XP and Norton Security Suite.
> I've tried disabling the firewall, but that doesn't seem to help.
>I've repaired the network connection, but that doesn't seem to help.
>There is one nearby, encrypted network, but I don't think that's the
>problem. Its on a different channel.
>
>Sometimes, if I restart my pc a few times, I'm able to get Internet
>access. Even when I don't have Internet, I'm always connected to the
>network and able to get a prompt reply to my ping. When I have
>internet access, its pretty fast. I've gotten downloads rated at over
>350k. Its like a lightswitch; when it works, it works great, otherwise
>it doesn't work at all.
>
>For what it is worth, the DNS, DHCP, & Default gateway are 192.168.0.1
>and subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 I get a lease with a one week
>duration. DHCP and autoconfiguration are enabled. The Firewall on the
>cable modem is not enabled.
>
>Does anyone have any suggestions?

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>