Linksys WAP54GPE access point problems

Hi,

I am having some problems and I hope that some people out there have
experience of this model of access point and can share their
experiences with me...

I have set up a number of wireless networks using a variety of
equipment, mostly Netgear and D-Link and this is my first attempt with
a Linksys wap54gpe, I had a few bad experiences of the Linksys
equipment in the early days (a few years ago) and have kept clear, but
unfortunately they were the only people that I could find that made an
External Wireless Access Point.

I have a DG834 wired router into which I have one computer and a
Netgear hub with PoE ports on it to power the WAP54GPE which then runs
off the hub (the WAP54GPE doesnt have any other power options, only
PoE).

I only have three machines running on the network, one connected by
RJ45 to the router and two that are supposed to connect in through the
WAP54GPE. One is an Apple Mac and one is a PC, but both have connection
difficulties which made me think that the problem is the WAP54GPE. THe
wired machine runs fine through everything that happens around it!

I first connected the access point up and everything ran fine for
around 2-3 days, then it started dropping the signal so it would go
from full strength to none and fluctuate between them, occasionally it
would allow some data to be passed bringing up a website or similar.

I have updated the firmware as Linksys instructed me, no difference and
if anything worse. They then replaced the unit and the replacement does
exactly the same thing. I have tried unencrypted and WEP encrypted to
see if it is a security issue, but it doesnt make any difference and
generally wont connect with WEP enabled as it wont accept the WEP key.

Basically I am wondering if anyone has had similar experience with
WAP54GPE's or otherwise - and failing that if anyone can recommend an
alternative external (weatherproof) access point.

Many thanks - sorry its a bit of an epic!

Blair

Sorry forgot to mention that i can connect to the access point through
the wired lan at all times through all happenings and can see
configuration pages etc.

On 2 Aug 2006 08:27:04 -0700, "Dog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed). com>:

>I am having some problems and I hope that some people out there have
>experience of this model of access point and can share their
>experiences with me...
>
>I have set up a number of wireless networks using a variety of
>equipment, mostly Netgear and D-Link and this is my first attempt with
>a Linksys wap54gpe, I had a few bad experiences of the Linksys
>equipment in the early days (a few years ago) and have kept clear, but
>unfortunately they were the only people that I could find that made an
>External Wireless Access Point.
>
>I have a DG834 wired router into which I have one computer and a
>Netgear hub with PoE ports on it to power the WAP54GPE which then runs
>off the hub (the WAP54GPE doesnt have any other power options, only
>PoE).
>
>I only have three machines running on the network, one connected by
>RJ45 to the router and two that are supposed to connect in through the
>WAP54GPE. One is an Apple Mac and one is a PC, but both have connection
>difficulties which made me think that the problem is the WAP54GPE. THe
>wired machine runs fine through everything that happens around it!
>
>I first connected the access point up and everything ran fine for
>around 2-3 days, then it started dropping the signal so it would go
>from full strength to none and fluctuate between them, occasionally it
>would allow some data to be passed bringing up a website or similar.
>
>I have updated the firmware as Linksys instructed me, no difference and
>if anything worse. They then replaced the unit and the replacement does
>exactly the same thing. I have tried unencrypted and WEP encrypted to
>see if it is a security issue, but it doesnt make any difference and
>generally wont connect with WEP enabled as it wont accept the WEP key.
>
>Basically I am wondering if anyone has had similar experience with
>WAP54GPE's or otherwise - and failing that if anyone can recommend an
>alternative external (weatherproof) access point.

Sounds like interference. See possible causes and what you might be
able to do about them in the wiki below.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Thanks for the reply - it certainly has the symptoms, but i can't see
what could be causing it - the AP is mounted on an external wall and
the two PCs are in seperate buildings, the whole place is very old
though and it may be unscreened power cables or something - the
interference checklist does mention unstable high power.

I have a feeling this is going to be one of these - just isnt going to
work and we are never quite going to know why things...

Would like to try another brand of external access point just to check
- shame its £300 everytime i want to try one!

Again thanks for taking the time to reply

Blair


John Navas wrote:
> On 2 Aug 2006 08:27:04 -0700, "Dog" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> <(E-Mail Removed). com>:
>
> >I am having some problems and I hope that some people out there have
> >experience of this model of access point and can share their
> >experiences with me...
> >
> >I have set up a number of wireless networks using a variety of
> >equipment, mostly Netgear and D-Link and this is my first attempt with
> >a Linksys wap54gpe, I had a few bad experiences of the Linksys
> >equipment in the early days (a few years ago) and have kept clear, but
> >unfortunately they were the only people that I could find that made an
> >External Wireless Access Point.
> >
> >I have a DG834 wired router into which I have one computer and a
> >Netgear hub with PoE ports on it to power the WAP54GPE which then runs
> >off the hub (the WAP54GPE doesnt have any other power options, only
> >PoE).
> >
> >I only have three machines running on the network, one connected by
> >RJ45 to the router and two that are supposed to connect in through the
> >WAP54GPE. One is an Apple Mac and one is a PC, but both have connection
> >difficulties which made me think that the problem is the WAP54GPE. THe
> >wired machine runs fine through everything that happens around it!
> >
> >I first connected the access point up and everything ran fine for
> >around 2-3 days, then it started dropping the signal so it would go
> >from full strength to none and fluctuate between them, occasionally it
> >would allow some data to be passed bringing up a website or similar.
> >
> >I have updated the firmware as Linksys instructed me, no difference and
> >if anything worse. They then replaced the unit and the replacement does
> >exactly the same thing. I have tried unencrypted and WEP encrypted to
> >see if it is a security issue, but it doesnt make any difference and
> >generally wont connect with WEP enabled as it wont accept the WEP key.
> >
> >Basically I am wondering if anyone has had similar experience with
> >WAP54GPE's or otherwise - and failing that if anyone can recommend an
> >alternative external (weatherproof) access point.
>
> Sounds like interference. See possible causes and what you might be
> able to do about them in the wiki below.
>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>