problem with simple network using wireless

Help! I am using a laptop to connect to my PC using wireless, ics and a
dial up modem (no broadband !) whenever I 'enable radio' on the PC the
internet connection slows down to a crawl, I soon as I 'disable radio' it
jumps back up to (normal for dial up) intenet speed., I can access the
internet usng the laptop but it is sooo slooow, though it does appear to
speed up after a while!
I can share files etc etc and apart from the slowing of the web access it
appears to be working OK
I used to have a wired lan and ics worked ok with that, its appears to be
the wireless card on the PC that slows internet access down
The PC is an IBM 1.6Ghz, 500+Mb, Win ME, Belkin pci wireless card and
modem
The laptop is a 550 celeron, Win2K and Belkin pcmcia card.
linked ad-hoc, problem with wep on or off

As you can imagine its extremely frustrating, I have even checked processor
and dial up usage and no change between radio on or off.
I check regularily (daily) with Spybot and Adaware and AVG, and nothing
there

anyone with any thought before I throw it 'oot the windae'

Des

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 08:30:22 GMT, "Des"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Help! I am using a laptop to connect to my PC using wireless, ics and a
>dial up modem (no broadband !) whenever I 'enable radio' on the PC the
>internet connection slows down to a crawl, I soon as I 'disable radio' it
>jumps back up to (normal for dial up) intenet speed., I can access the
....
>The PC is an IBM 1.6Ghz, 500+Mb, Win ME, Belkin pci wireless card and
>modem The laptop is a 550 celeron, Win2K and Belkin pcmcia card.

Could be several things:

* MOST LIKELY: Is the laptop trying to suddenly do some really heavy
downloading the moment it sees the Internet? For instance, is it
trying to do Windows Update in the background or to update an Anti
Virus package? Turn off Windows Update: Control Panel - System -
Automatic Updates - Notify Me But Don't Automatically Download Or
Install Them. I don't recommend turning off your Anti Virus updates
though, you might have to "ride the storm" for an hour.

* Try swapping the WiFi PCI card into another PCI slot. Sometimes,
some motherboards PCI slots interferre with others. Call it bad
design.

* Are you able to make a Cat5 wired network connection between the PC
and the laptop, for instance by using a crossover cable? If you use
ICS over the Cat5 network and it is STILL slow then you know it isn't
the wireless!

I really think it is going to be Windows Update, though. The laptop
will see a 10 megabit or 50 megabit network connection and think
"Wheee! Lots of bandwidth! Download everything!" but of course it
doesn't realise that there's only a dial-up connection at the far end.
This won't happen on the desktop PC because it already knows it only
has dial-up.

--
Andrew Oakley andrew/atsymbol/aoakley/stop/com

"Andrew Oakley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 08:30:22 GMT, "Des"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >Help! I am using a laptop to connect to my PC using wireless, ics and a
> >dial up modem (no broadband !) whenever I 'enable radio' on the PC the
> >internet connection slows down to a crawl, I soon as I 'disable radio'
it
> >jumps back up to (normal for dial up) intenet speed., I can access the
> ...
> >The PC is an IBM 1.6Ghz, 500+Mb, Win ME, Belkin pci wireless card and
> >modem The laptop is a 550 celeron, Win2K and Belkin pcmcia card.
>
> Could be several things:
>
> * MOST LIKELY: Is the laptop trying to suddenly do some really heavy
> downloading the moment it sees the Internet? For instance, is it
> trying to do Windows Update in the background or to update an Anti
> Virus package? Turn off Windows Update: Control Panel - System -
> Automatic Updates - Notify Me But Don't Automatically Download Or
> Install Them. I don't recommend turning off your Anti Virus updates
> though, you might have to "ride the storm" for an hour.
>
> * Try swapping the WiFi PCI card into another PCI slot. Sometimes,
> some motherboards PCI slots interferre with others. Call it bad
> design.
>
> * Are you able to make a Cat5 wired network connection between the PC
> and the laptop, for instance by using a crossover cable? If you use
> ICS over the Cat5 network and it is STILL slow then you know it isn't
> the wireless!
>
> I really think it is going to be Windows Update, though. The laptop
> will see a 10 megabit or 50 megabit network connection and think
> "Wheee! Lots of bandwidth! Download everything!" but of course it
> doesn't realise that there's only a dial-up connection at the far end.
> This won't happen on the desktop PC because it already knows it only
> has dial-up.
>
> --
> Andrew Oakley andrew/atsymbol/aoakley/stop/com

Hi,

I have auto update (and every other update!) disabled, as i use the laptop
with GPRS I don't want any surprises on the mobile bill!

The problem seems to be with the PC, you can monitor the bytes transferred
and when the PC wireless card radio is enabled the modem basically appears
to stop transmitting and receiving at the original speed! the connected
speed seems the same. I will change the PCI slot, as I have moved it to give
more air to the graphics card.

Des

"Des" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bhobe.6725$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Andrew Oakley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 08:30:22 GMT, "Des"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>> >Help! I am using a laptop to connect to my PC using wireless, ics and a
>> >dial up modem (no broadband !) whenever I 'enable radio' on the PC the
>> >internet connection slows down to a crawl, I soon as I 'disable radio'
> it
>> >jumps back up to (normal for dial up) intenet speed., I can access the
>> ...
>> >The PC is an IBM 1.6Ghz, 500+Mb, Win ME, Belkin pci wireless card and
>> >modem The laptop is a 550 celeron, Win2K and Belkin pcmcia card.
>>
>> Could be several things:
>>
>> * MOST LIKELY: Is the laptop trying to suddenly do some really heavy
>> downloading the moment it sees the Internet? For instance, is it
>> trying to do Windows Update in the background or to update an Anti
>> Virus package? Turn off Windows Update: Control Panel - System -
>> Automatic Updates - Notify Me But Don't Automatically Download Or
>> Install Them. I don't recommend turning off your Anti Virus updates
>> though, you might have to "ride the storm" for an hour.
>>
>> * Try swapping the WiFi PCI card into another PCI slot. Sometimes,
>> some motherboards PCI slots interferre with others. Call it bad
>> design.
>>
>> * Are you able to make a Cat5 wired network connection between the PC
>> and the laptop, for instance by using a crossover cable? If you use
>> ICS over the Cat5 network and it is STILL slow then you know it isn't
>> the wireless!
>>
>> I really think it is going to be Windows Update, though. The laptop
>> will see a 10 megabit or 50 megabit network connection and think
>> "Wheee! Lots of bandwidth! Download everything!" but of course it
>> doesn't realise that there's only a dial-up connection at the far end.
>> This won't happen on the desktop PC because it already knows it only
>> has dial-up.
>>
>> --
>> Andrew Oakley andrew/atsymbol/aoakley/stop/com
>
> Hi,
>
> I have auto update (and every other update!) disabled, as i use the laptop
> with GPRS I don't want any surprises on the mobile bill!
>
> The problem seems to be with the PC, you can monitor the bytes transferred
> and when the PC wireless card radio is enabled the modem basically appears
> to stop transmitting and receiving at the original speed! the connected
> speed seems the same. I will change the PCI slot, as I have moved it to
> give
> more air to the graphics card.
>
> Des
>
>

they disabled on the PC?

try opening DOS

start > run > cmd

key in

netstat

and press enter, see how many connections you have established to your PC,
this may show u that you got alotta traffic slowing down your connection,
also make sure yu have a decent firewall in place (not windows firewall)
Zone Alarm seems to be everyone's favorite.

It must be that you are sownloading or receiving stuff over the net for it
to slow down, from your laptop, if the modem is in the PC and the PC is fine
when the radio is off and as soon as u knock radio on.. the laptop will
connect wirelessly and if then the connection slows don it must mean the
laptop is using some bandwidth.

then again you never made it clear which end the dial up modem was so it
could be your PC.

or try getting broadband if you can, its cheap enough hese days and if you
ask me the benefits of sharing internet accross a wireless network will
never realized with only a 56Kbps connection

----- Original Message -----
From: "Christo" <chris@ no spamming juststuff.co.uk>
Newsgroups: uk.comp.home-networking
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 2:24 PM
Subject: Re: problem with simple network using wireless


>
> "Des" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:bhobe.6725$(E-Mail Removed)...
> >
> > "Andrew Oakley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> >> On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 08:30:22 GMT, "Des"
> >> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Help! I am using a laptop to connect to my PC using wireless, ics and
a
> >> >dial up modem (no broadband !) whenever I 'enable radio' on the PC the
> >> >internet connection slows down to a crawl, I soon as I 'disable radio'
> > it
> >> >jumps back up to (normal for dial up) intenet speed., I can access the
> >> ...
> >> >The PC is an IBM 1.6Ghz, 500+Mb, Win ME, Belkin pci wireless card
and
> >> >modem The laptop is a 550 celeron, Win2K and Belkin pcmcia card.
> >>
> >> Could be several things:
> >>
> >> * MOST LIKELY: Is the laptop trying to suddenly do some really heavy
> >> downloading the moment it sees the Internet? For instance, is it
> >> trying to do Windows Update in the background or to update an Anti
> >> Virus package? Turn off Windows Update: Control Panel - System -
> >> Automatic Updates - Notify Me But Don't Automatically Download Or
> >> Install Them. I don't recommend turning off your Anti Virus updates
> >> though, you might have to "ride the storm" for an hour.
> >>
> >> * Try swapping the WiFi PCI card into another PCI slot. Sometimes,
> >> some motherboards PCI slots interferre with others. Call it bad
> >> design.
> >>
> >> * Are you able to make a Cat5 wired network connection between the PC
> >> and the laptop, for instance by using a crossover cable? If you use
> >> ICS over the Cat5 network and it is STILL slow then you know it isn't
> >> the wireless!
> >>
> >> I really think it is going to be Windows Update, though. The laptop
> >> will see a 10 megabit or 50 megabit network connection and think
> >> "Wheee! Lots of bandwidth! Download everything!" but of course it
> >> doesn't realise that there's only a dial-up connection at the far end.
> >> This won't happen on the desktop PC because it already knows it only
> >> has dial-up.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Andrew Oakley andrew/atsymbol/aoakley/stop/com
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have auto update (and every other update!) disabled, as i use the
laptop
> > with GPRS I don't want any surprises on the mobile bill!
> >
> > The problem seems to be with the PC, you can monitor the bytes
transferred
> > and when the PC wireless card radio is enabled the modem basically
appears
> > to stop transmitting and receiving at the original speed! the connected
> > speed seems the same. I will change the PCI slot, as I have moved it to
> > give
> > more air to the graphics card.
> >
> > Des
> >
> >
>
> they disabled on the PC?
>
> try opening DOS
>
> start > run > cmd
>
> key in
>
> netstat
>
> and press enter, see how many connections you have established to your PC,
> this may show u that you got alotta traffic slowing down your connection,
> also make sure yu have a decent firewall in place (not windows firewall)
> Zone Alarm seems to be everyone's favorite.

using Zone Alarm, tried it on and off no difference
looked at netstat and nothing untoward there is a couple of extra
connections but little extra traffic.
>
> It must be that you are sownloading or receiving stuff over the net for it
> to slow down, from your laptop, if the modem is in the PC and the PC is
fine
> when the radio is off and as soon as u knock radio on.. the laptop will
> connect wirelessly and if then the connection slows don it must mean the
> laptop is using some bandwidth.

Switching the radio on and off on the laptop appears to make no difference
and at 4 years old it isn't the fastest machine....

> then again you never made it clear which end the dial up modem was so it
> could be your PC.

Sorry I I didn't make it clear yes the dial up adapter is on the desktop PC
and it's the dial up link that slows down, with apparently no extra traffic


> or try getting broadband if you can, its cheap enough hese days and if you
> ask me the benefits of sharing internet accross a wireless network will
> never realized with only a 56Kbps connection
>
Now that is a bugbear with me, I live in a village, broadband is in the
surrounding villages all less than 6 miles away and further away from
'civilisation'!! (large town (city!) but we are not due to get it untill
July!!!!!!! so it's dial up.
Though for me the reason for having it is as much teachyourself networks as
my son can use the PC and I can go for some peace in another room...

This wireless card appears to be using more resources when active but why
does it affect the modem dial up link?

Des.
>

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 20:03:04 GMT, "Des"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>This wireless card appears to be using more resources when active but why
>does it affect the modem dial up link?

Are the wireless card and the modem sharing the same IRQ perhaps?

From Device Manager, select each device and do Properties - Resources
and look to see if they share an Interrupt Request.

--
Andrew Oakley

"Andrew Oakley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 20:03:04 GMT, "Des"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >This wireless card appears to be using more resources when active but why
> >does it affect the modem dial up link?
>
> Are the wireless card and the modem sharing the same IRQ perhaps?
>
> From Device Manager, select each device and do Properties - Resources
> and look to see if they share an Interrupt Request.
>
> --
> Andrew Oakley

Thought of that they were both on IRQ11 so instead of a generic driver I
loaded he IBM (proper) driver that put the modem on IRQ5, bu wouldn't run
properly at all, so put the generic driver back and Modem stayed on IRQ 5
with the same problem.....

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 23:52:38 GMT, "Des"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Are the wireless card and the modem sharing the same IRQ perhaps?
>Thought of that they were both on IRQ11 so instead of a generic driver I
>loaded he IBM (proper) driver that put the modem on IRQ5, bu wouldn't run
>properly at all, so put the generic driver back and Modem stayed on IRQ 5
>with the same problem.....

Just to confirm - both the modem and the wireless card are on IRQ11?

If there's something else on IRQ5, can you move that and put the modem
where the official drivers "want" it to be? Alternatively can you move
the wireless card off IRQ11 to somewhere else so that the modem can
live there alone?

I'm really strongly starting to smell motherboard/resource issues
here. Also do you have the latest service packs for your OS?

We will get there, mate. I live in a rural area (Cotswolds) and until
recently this kind of nightmare was my life, although I did give up on
modems and get an ISDN router - but work were picking up the ISDN
bill.

--
Andrew Oakley

"Andrew Oakley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 23:52:38 GMT, "Des"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >> Are the wireless card and the modem sharing the same IRQ perhaps?
> >Thought of that they were both on IRQ11 so instead of a generic driver I
> >loaded he IBM (proper) driver that put the modem on IRQ5, bu wouldn't run
> >properly at all, so put the generic driver back and Modem stayed on IRQ 5
> >with the same problem.....
>
> Just to confirm - both the modem and the wireless card are on IRQ11?
>
> If there's something else on IRQ5, can you move that and put the modem
> where the official drivers "want" it to be? Alternatively can you move
> the wireless card off IRQ11 to somewhere else so that the modem can
> live there alone?
>
> I'm really strongly starting to smell motherboard/resource issues
> here. Also do you have the latest service packs for your OS?
>
> We will get there, mate. I live in a rural area (Cotswolds) and until
> recently this kind of nightmare was my life, although I did give up on
> modems and get an ISDN router - but work were picking up the ISDN
> bill.
>
> --
> Andrew Oakley

I suspect you may be right with regard to motherboard resources I am lucky
to get 50% on start up with nothing running! I have tried to change the IRQ
and I am denied? I suspect I have always had problems with the modem and
eating up resources, even before the Wireless card was added, I think I have
removed all the unnecessary start up items ..., I have added extra memory
Infact I suspect my old 800 celeron PC was faster!

Modem on IRQ 5 and wireless card on IRQ 11, I can't change either and
windows claims no conflicts?

I am stuck without broadband till at least July, unless BT remove the digit!
, and I think it will take to then to sort out this problem!! and no company
to pick up the bill for ISDN :~(

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 08:06:53 GMT, "Des"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>I suspect you may be right with regard to motherboard resources I am lucky
>to get 50% on start up with nothing running! I have tried to change the IRQ
>and I am denied? I suspect I have always had problems with the modem and

Okay, so what if you took the internal modem out and just used an
external modem? Y'know, a straightforward serial port job?

You've got to have an external modem hanging around somewhere.
Cardboard box under the desk? Bottom drawer in the filing cabinet?
Everyone does, right? ;-) More seriously they're like only 25 quid new
even from clueless places like Dixons. Go for a serial port connection
instead of USB for maximum not-messing-aboutness.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=37972

Alternatively, second hand off eBay for under a fiver.

>I am stuck without broadband till at least July, unless BT remove the digit!
>, and I think it will take to then to sort out this problem!! and no company
>to pick up the bill for ISDN :~(

That's only two months away. SurfAnyTime.com actually do some
reasonably priced all-inclusive ISDN deals, but IIRC BT sign you into
a 12-month minimum contract with ISDN line conversion so you are
correct in waiting.

--
Andrew Oakley andrew/atsymbol/aoakley/stop/com