Netgear WGE101 works only in 'Ad Hoc', not 'Infra'

I recently purchased a Netgear WGE101 wireless bridge, but my notebook that
is directly connected to the back of the bridge cannot access my home
network even though the bridge lists my WG602 access point (as well as my
neighbors').

In "Ad Hoc" mode, the bridge shows a 90% signal strength and a connected
status, but from the notebook I can't ping the access point nor my Netgear
RT314 router. I can ping the bridge of course.

In "Infrastructure" mode, the bridge shows 0% signal strength and not
connected when I select my accesspoint. I noticed that the channel is stuck
at 1, even though the access point's channel is 11.

So, the bridge "sees" my accesspoint, but won't connect to it in
"Infrastructure", but only "Ad Hoc" where I am able to choose the channel
manually. But "Ad Hoc" mode is not my network type... "Infrastructure" is
what should be chosen in my case, correct?

I know that the access point is working because I also have another notebook
with a Netgear WG511 PCMCIA that works fine with it, and I can use that
notebook anywhere in the house and surf the internet without a problem.

I then upgraded both the access point and the bridge to the latest firmware
from Netgear's website and that did not work either. So I called Netgear
tech support, and they guided me to reconfigure both devices from factory
default, but it did not work so they escalated my problem where a senior
tech would call me back personally within 24 hours.

But that was two days ago, and I have not yet received the call. Help! I
have read other threads where people did get the WGE101 bridge to work, so
what am I doing wrong?

Drew

I got the same problem and Netgear couldn't figure out what was wrong
(so much for technical support eh?).

I have a DG824M as the center of my network and a mix of wireless
adaptors connecting without problem. I bought the bridge (WGE101) to
use for my XBox/PS2.

I connected the bridge to my laptop to configure it and make sure I
could connect. Connection to the bridge work fine from the laptop,
easy to configure so I was hoping to be ready in just a few minutes,
but I never got it to work (that was back in early November last
year). I updated the firmware on both my bridge and the DG824M but
nothing changed. Called Netgear support but noone there was able to
help me (I gave up after talking to them for an hour without success).
I even changed the DG824M to be as basic as possible (to allow anyone
access, using channel 1, no security...etc.. but still nothing worked.

Now the bridge is just sitting on my desk doing nothing much more than
looking like a cool network toy ;o)

So if anyone there has had the same problem and got a solution, please
let me know.

regards,
Pelle

"Snoop Drew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<TdkXb.33227$_44.29439@attbi_s52>...
> I recently purchased a Netgear WGE101 wireless bridge, but my notebook that
> is directly connected to the back of the bridge cannot access my home
> network even though the bridge lists my WG602 access point (as well as my
> neighbors').
>
> In "Ad Hoc" mode, the bridge shows a 90% signal strength and a connected
> status, but from the notebook I can't ping the access point nor my Netgear
> RT314 router. I can ping the bridge of course.
>
> In "Infrastructure" mode, the bridge shows 0% signal strength and not
> connected when I select my accesspoint. I noticed that the channel is stuck
> at 1, even though the access point's channel is 11.
>
> So, the bridge "sees" my accesspoint, but won't connect to it in
> "Infrastructure", but only "Ad Hoc" where I am able to choose the channel
> manually. But "Ad Hoc" mode is not my network type... "Infrastructure" is
> what should be chosen in my case, correct?
>
> I know that the access point is working because I also have another notebook
> with a Netgear WG511 PCMCIA that works fine with it, and I can use that
> notebook anywhere in the house and surf the internet without a problem.
>
> I then upgraded both the access point and the bridge to the latest firmware
> from Netgear's website and that did not work either. So I called Netgear
> tech support, and they guided me to reconfigure both devices from factory
> default, but it did not work so they escalated my problem where a senior
> tech would call me back personally within 24 hours.
>
> But that was two days ago, and I have not yet received the call. Help! I
> have read other threads where people did get the WGE101 bridge to work, so
> what am I doing wrong?
>
> Drew

If I can't fix this WGE101 bridge and decide to return it, can I buy an
equivalent wireless bridge from another brand like Linksys or Dlink that
would still work with my WG602 acess point?

Are the wireless standards really "standards" between manufacturers?

-Drew


"Pelle" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) m...
> I got the same problem and Netgear couldn't figure out what was wrong
> (so much for technical support eh?).
>
> I have a DG824M as the center of my network and a mix of wireless
> adaptors connecting without problem. I bought the bridge (WGE101) to
> use for my XBox/PS2.
>
> I connected the bridge to my laptop to configure it and make sure I
> could connect. Connection to the bridge work fine from the laptop,
> easy to configure so I was hoping to be ready in just a few minutes,
> but I never got it to work (that was back in early November last
> year). I updated the firmware on both my bridge and the DG824M but
> nothing changed. Called Netgear support but noone there was able to
> help me (I gave up after talking to them for an hour without success).
> I even changed the DG824M to be as basic as possible (to allow anyone
> access, using channel 1, no security...etc.. but still nothing worked.
>
> Now the bridge is just sitting on my desk doing nothing much more than
> looking like a cool network toy ;o)
>
> So if anyone there has had the same problem and got a solution, please
> let me know.
>
> regards,
> Pelle
>
> "Snoop Drew" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:<TdkXb.33227$_44.29439@attbi_s52>...
> > I recently purchased a Netgear WGE101 wireless bridge, but my notebook
that
> > is directly connected to the back of the bridge cannot access my home
> > network even though the bridge lists my WG602 access point (as well as
my
> > neighbors').
> >
> > In "Ad Hoc" mode, the bridge shows a 90% signal strength and a connected
> > status, but from the notebook I can't ping the access point nor my
Netgear
> > RT314 router. I can ping the bridge of course.
> >
> > In "Infrastructure" mode, the bridge shows 0% signal strength and not
> > connected when I select my accesspoint. I noticed that the channel is
stuck
> > at 1, even though the access point's channel is 11.
> >
> > So, the bridge "sees" my accesspoint, but won't connect to it in
> > "Infrastructure", but only "Ad Hoc" where I am able to choose the
channel
> > manually. But "Ad Hoc" mode is not my network type... "Infrastructure"
is
> > what should be chosen in my case, correct?
> >
> > I know that the access point is working because I also have another
notebook
> > with a Netgear WG511 PCMCIA that works fine with it, and I can use that
> > notebook anywhere in the house and surf the internet without a problem.
> >
> > I then upgraded both the access point and the bridge to the latest
firmware
> > from Netgear's website and that did not work either. So I called
Netgear
> > tech support, and they guided me to reconfigure both devices from
factory
> > default, but it did not work so they escalated my problem where a senior
> > tech would call me back personally within 24 hours.
> >
> > But that was two days ago, and I have not yet received the call. Help!
I
> > have read other threads where people did get the WGE101 bridge to work,
so
> > what am I doing wrong?
> >
> > Drew

On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 07:36:19 GMT, "Snoop Drew" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I recently purchased a Netgear WGE101 wireless bridge, but my notebook that
>is directly connected to the back of the bridge cannot access my home
>network even though the bridge lists my WG602 access point (as well as my
>neighbors').
>
>In "Ad Hoc" mode, the bridge shows a 90% signal strength and a connected
>status, but from the notebook I can't ping the access point nor my Netgear
>RT314 router. I can ping the bridge of course.
>
>In "Infrastructure" mode, the bridge shows 0% signal strength and not
>connected when I select my accesspoint. I noticed that the channel is stuck
>at 1, even though the access point's channel is 11.
>
>So, the bridge "sees" my accesspoint, but won't connect to it in
>"Infrastructure", but only "Ad Hoc" where I am able to choose the channel
>manually. But "Ad Hoc" mode is not my network type... "Infrastructure" is
>what should be chosen in my case, correct?
>
>I know that the access point is working because I also have another notebook
>with a Netgear WG511 PCMCIA that works fine with it, and I can use that
>notebook anywhere in the house and surf the internet without a problem.
>
>I then upgraded both the access point and the bridge to the latest firmware
>from Netgear's website and that did not work either. So I called Netgear
>tech support, and they guided me to reconfigure both devices from factory
>default, but it did not work so they escalated my problem where a senior
>tech would call me back personally within 24 hours.
>
>But that was two days ago, and I have not yet received the call. Help! I
>have read other threads where people did get the WGE101 bridge to work, so
>what am I doing wrong?
>
>Drew
>

You should select "infrastructure" if the access point is also
configured that way. Also check the data rate on both devices to make
sure the settings are compatible - ie. that you don't have one set to
"g only" and the other to "b only". The default settings for the
WG511 card would let it connect to the access point in either case so
you can't go by that.

Check that your notebook's IP address is on the right subnet. The
WGE101 doesn't support DHCP in ad hoc mode and without a DHCP server
your computer will just "make up" an IP address for itself. With my
WGT624 router in infrastructure mode, my WGE101 works in either
infrastructure or ad hoc mode, but in ad hoc mode I have to set the
computer's IP address manually to access my network.

Regarding pinging: the bridge answers because you are wired directly
to it and because Netgear decided that it should (no device is really
required to respond to a ping). The bridge, however, won't pass any
packet through if the source and destination subnets are different
(ie. bridges are not routers). Also, for security reasons, neither
the bridge nor the access point will respond to a radio ping from a
"foreign" network - just as your gateway router won't respond to a
ping from the Internet (WAN) side.

[ Note: DHCP is an exception to the "same subnet rule". DHCP uses
broadcast packets which contain neither source nor destination
addresses and which can't be routed. Because of this, bridges are
allowed to assume that DHCP packets originated from within their own
LAN and can safely be passed through. ]

I have no explanation for "0%" signal strength. My WGE101 shows
nearly identical strengths for my network in either mode. It sounds
like the unit is FUBAR. I would return it and get a new one.

George
==============================================
Send real email to GNEUNER2 at COMCAST dot NET

I have the same problem with my recently purchased WGE101. I can't get
it to connect to my Netgear WG602 access point no matter what i try
but can very easily get two Linksys WET11's connected to it no
problem. In a thread in broadbandreports.com forum someone was
experiencing this issue and turning WEP 128 encryption on the access
point and the bridge and then he was able to sync them up. I tried
this to no avail with 128 and 64 bit / shared / open / whatever.

Even more confusing is that i can connect this bridge to an open
linksys access point across the street. Now only after it tried for a
really long time will it finally sync up to my neighbors open
connection. It really bugs me i can connect this WGE101 to a Linksys
access point but not to my own Netgear one.

Im going to return this soon for another 802.11g bridge. Whatever is
cheap and works good or else it's going right back to the store. The
Linksys WET11 ver2 has a non-specified SSID problem where it won't
connect to a bridge that is not broadcasting it's SSID information
which is the way i ran mine for security reasons. To bad I didn't know
this at the time and already returned it hehe.

Damn incompatible hardware all around it's tricky getting wireless
stuff that actually works good together.

George Neuner <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:<(E-Mail Removed)>. ..
> On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 07:36:19 GMT, "Snoop Drew" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
> >I recently purchased a Netgear WGE101 wireless bridge, but my notebook that
> >is directly connected to the back of the bridge cannot access my home
> >network even though the bridge lists my WG602 access point (as well as my
> >neighbors').
> >
> >In "Ad Hoc" mode, the bridge shows a 90% signal strength and a connected
> >status, but from the notebook I can't ping the access point nor my Netgear
> >RT314 router. I can ping the bridge of course.
> >
> >In "Infrastructure" mode, the bridge shows 0% signal strength and not
> >connected when I select my accesspoint. I noticed that the channel is stuck
> >at 1, even though the access point's channel is 11.
> >
> >So, the bridge "sees" my accesspoint, but won't connect to it in
> >"Infrastructure", but only "Ad Hoc" where I am able to choose the channel
> >manually. But "Ad Hoc" mode is not my network type... "Infrastructure" is
> >what should be chosen in my case, correct?
> >
> >I know that the access point is working because I also have another notebook
> >with a Netgear WG511 PCMCIA that works fine with it, and I can use that
> >notebook anywhere in the house and surf the internet without a problem.
> >
> >I then upgraded both the access point and the bridge to the latest firmware
> >from Netgear's website and that did not work either. So I called Netgear
> >tech support, and they guided me to reconfigure both devices from factory
> >default, but it did not work so they escalated my problem where a senior
> >tech would call me back personally within 24 hours.
> >
> >But that was two days ago, and I have not yet received the call. Help! I
> >have read other threads where people did get the WGE101 bridge to work, so
> >what am I doing wrong?
> >
> >Drew

On 1 Mar 2004 22:00:31 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) (kye) wrote:

>I have the same problem with my recently purchased WGE101. I can't get
>it to connect to my Netgear WG602 access point no matter what i try
>but can very easily get two Linksys WET11's connected to it no
>problem. In a thread in broadbandreports.com forum someone was
>experiencing this issue and turning WEP 128 encryption on the access
>point and the bridge and then he was able to sync them up. I tried
>this to no avail with 128 and 64 bit / shared / open / whatever.
>
>Even more confusing is that i can connect this bridge to an open
>linksys access point across the street. Now only after it tried for a
>really long time will it finally sync up to my neighbors open
>connection. It really bugs me i can connect this WGE101 to a Linksys
>access point but not to my own Netgear one.

Cloaking the SSID and not using WEP can cause problems if you have a
weak signal or there is lots of interference on the frequency. The
SSID and WEP settings are both clues that help the bridge sort out the
signals in bad conditions.

Try changing frequencies and seeing if the response is different.
Also if you haven't done it already, you should update the bridge
firmware. The latest version is 3.0(rc1.0). It is 885Kbytes so you
can download it anywhere and put it on a floppy.


>Im going to return this soon for another 802.11g bridge. Whatever is
>cheap and works good or else it's going right back to the store. The
>Linksys WET11 ver2 has a non-specified SSID problem where it won't
>connect to a bridge that is not broadcasting it's SSID information
>which is the way i ran mine for security reasons. To bad I didn't know
>this at the time and already returned it hehe.

In general, I've not had any problems with my WGE101 and WGT624.

I am going rounds with Netgear right now about drop outs when I lower
the fragmentation threshold in my network, but it seems to be an
interaction among several devices and the cause hasn't been diagnosed
yet. I've had no problems using the default fragment settings, but
the defaults waste bandwidth and cause unnecessary slowdown when
multiple devices are used simultaneously.

George
==============================================
Send real email to GNEUNER2 at COMCAST dot NET