Problem connecting to wireless Linksys WRT54G router

Hi everybody,

I've recently received a Linksys WRT54G wireless router, in order to
connect a few machines to the internet.

At first there was just one machine, directly connected to the cable
modem, no problem so far. The second machine is a laptop which I'd like
to use to roam around the house with - a wireless router seemed to be the
best solution.

After configuring the laptop (a Medion, by the way), I was able to
connect to the router just fine - excellent signal, no problem at all.
After I was able to connect, I configured wireless security to use WPA2
(personal), with a custom key. Again, the laptop continued to work as
expected, and I was still able to connect to the internet.

But then I moved the laptop to a room further down the hall (approx. 6
meters further, two walls in between), and the signal was still
excellent. Alas, not for long - after a few minutes, I've lost connection
to the internet.

Downstairs, it was the same scenario - each time I connected, it would
work for a few minutes (indicating an excellent signal), ending in a loss
of connection.

Is there something I need to or can do to change this behaviour? Is there
a way to increase the signal strength of the router (I haven't found any
setting indicating so)?

Also, I've changed all the settings of the internal wireless adapter of
the laptop from energy-safe to power-hungry-give-it-all, but that didn't
change anything.

As a minor side note - on the box, three types of routers were mentioned,
with a range of "1x". Only the last one had a range of "4x". Should I
have bought the "4x", or does this range indicate something entirely
different?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out!

Ikke

On Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:34:12 GMT, Ikke <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I've recently received a Linksys WRT54G wireless router, in order to
>connect a few machines to the internet.

Which hardware version of the WRT54G? Look on the serial number for
the "V something" after the model number. If purchased recently, it's
probably a v8 model.

Once you've determined the hardware version, go unto the Linksys web
site and download the latest firmware version. Install.

>But then I moved the laptop to a room further down the hall (approx. 6
>meters further, two walls in between), and the signal was still
>excellent. Alas, not for long - after a few minutes, I've lost connection
>to the internet.

Two walls made of what? Concrete? Steel? Wire mesh? Aluminum foil
backed insulation? It's difficult to tell if 2.4GHz will go through a
wall without some clue as to what's in the wall.

>Downstairs, it was the same scenario - each time I connected, it would
>work for a few minutes (indicating an excellent signal), ending in a loss
>of connection.
>
>Is there something I need to or can do to change this behaviour? Is there
>a way to increase the signal strength of the router (I haven't found any
>setting indicating so)?

Try a firmware update, but I don't think that's the problem. There
were some WRT54G v5 thru v8 routers that simply didn't work out of the
box. Mostly, they had comatose receivers. You could hear them
anywhere, but trying to stay connected was a challenge. Typically,
they didn't work more than about 10 ft away. Verify the problem with
another known working laptop, and test your laptop with another known
working wireless access point. However, I think you're headed for a
warranty replacement.

>Also, I've changed all the settings of the internal wireless adapter of
>the laptop from energy-safe to power-hungry-give-it-all, but that didn't
>change anything.

Good idea, but not this time.

>As a minor side note - on the box, three types of routers were mentioned,
>with a range of "1x". Only the last one had a range of "4x". Should I
>have bought the "4x", or does this range indicate something entirely
>different?

Mind if I don't comment on what I consider to be marketing hype?

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

Jeff Liebermann <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> On Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:34:12 GMT, Ikke <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>I've recently received a Linksys WRT54G wireless router, in order to
>>connect a few machines to the internet.
>
> Which hardware version of the WRT54G? Look on the serial number for
> the "V something" after the model number. If purchased recently, it's
> probably a v8 model.

It was purchased a few days ago, but apparently it's a v7 model.

> Once you've determined the hardware version, go unto the Linksys web
> site and download the latest firmware version. Install.

I'm not going to install new firmware on a device on which I still have
guarantee left. If it doesn't work out-of-the-box, it's going back to the
store.

>>But then I moved the laptop to a room further down the hall (approx. 6
>>meters further, two walls in between), and the signal was still
>>excellent. Alas, not for long - after a few minutes, I've lost
>>connection to the internet.
>
> Two walls made of what? Concrete? Steel? Wire mesh? Aluminum foil
> backed insulation? It's difficult to tell if 2.4GHz will go through a
> wall without some clue as to what's in the wall.

Sorry, I should've mentioned that. It's a brick wall, but there is a huge
metal wireframe in the floor if you draw a line from the router to the
laptop downstairs.

But still, I can see the wireless router of my neighbour - and that's
another two walls and an extra 30 meters away, measured from the router!

>>Downstairs, it was the same scenario - each time I connected, it would
>>work for a few minutes (indicating an excellent signal), ending in a
>>loss of connection.
>>
>>Is there something I need to or can do to change this behaviour? Is
>>there a way to increase the signal strength of the router (I haven't
>>found any setting indicating so)?
>
> Try a firmware update, but I don't think that's the problem. There
> were some WRT54G v5 thru v8 routers that simply didn't work out of the
> box. Mostly, they had comatose receivers. You could hear them
> anywhere, but trying to stay connected was a challenge. Typically,
> they didn't work more than about 10 ft away. Verify the problem with
> another known working laptop, and test your laptop with another known
> working wireless access point. However, I think you're headed for a
> warranty replacement.

.... which is indeed what I'm going to do. I'm going to ask another WRT54G
(I like the router and it's configuration, so why change), but if that
one doesn't work, it's up to the store to either pony up my cash or
another working router.

>>Also, I've changed all the settings of the internal wireless adapter
>>of the laptop from energy-safe to power-hungry-give-it-all, but that
>>didn't change anything.
>
> Good idea, but not this time.

I've also tried to change the channel, as a colleague suggested. Didn't
work - again, I'm out of options, so the device is going back.

>>As a minor side note - on the box, three types of routers were
>>mentioned, with a range of "1x". Only the last one had a range of
>>"4x". Should I have bought the "4x", or does this range indicate
>>something entirely different?
>
> Mind if I don't comment on what I consider to be marketing hype?

Ah, I see. Understood

Thank you for your reply!

Ikke

On Fri, 16 Nov 2007 22:12:25 GMT, Ikke <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Sorry, I should've mentioned that. It's a brick wall, but there is a huge
>metal wireframe in the floor if you draw a line from the router to the
>laptop downstairs.
>
>But still, I can see the wireless router of my neighbour - and that's
>another two walls and an extra 30 meters away, measured from the router!

That make it certain that there is something wrong with your WRT54G
v7. If you can see the neighbors, but not your own, then the router
is busted.

>I've also tried to change the channel, as a colleague suggested. Didn't
>work - again, I'm out of options, so the device is going back.

Changing channels has only a slight effect on signal strength. The
strongest channel is usually in the middle of the band, such as CH6.
As you get near the band edges, the signal strength tends to drop
because it gets close to the various filter skirts.

Good luck on the replacement and try to get a v8 model. They seem to
be somewhat better than the v5 and v6. I haven't personally seen any
v7 routers, so I can't say much about the change to the Atheros
chipset. See table of chipsets at:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrt54g>



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