running kismet restores wifi card internet connection?

OS: Kubuntu Edgy Linux
PC: IBM Thinkpad T23 1.13
WLAN: Atheros 5212 mini pci
Router: WRT54G v4 w/DD-WRT

Problem: Sometimes my connection to my router (which is at
the range limit for a mid speed connection) just disappears.

I found if I start Kismet, run it for 30 sec. then exit the connection
is restored, like nothing happened.

It's like I need to keep the connection active otherwise the card
goes to sleep. Problem is I'm not sure there is a sleep mode for
my card and I've got all the power saving options in Kubuntu
turned off. Hmmm - maybe I should check the BIOS? What about
"Wake On LAN" (whatever THAT means lol)?

P.S. I lost connection while I was typing this so I don't think it's
a sleep or hibernate issue however, I was not using my
connection - I was filling in a text box on Google's usenet
web interface.... Running Kismet for 10 sec fixed it as soon
as I shut Kismet down....

Any clues?

Ken

KG0WX wrote:
> OS: Kubuntu Edgy Linux
> PC: IBM Thinkpad T23 1.13
> WLAN: Atheros 5212 mini pci
> Router: WRT54G v4 w/DD-WRT
>
> Problem: Sometimes my connection to my router (which is at
> the range limit for a mid speed connection) just disappears.
>
> I found if I start Kismet, run it for 30 sec. then exit the connection
> is restored, like nothing happened.
>
> It's like I need to keep the connection active otherwise the card
> goes to sleep. Problem is I'm not sure there is a sleep mode for
> my card and I've got all the power saving options in Kubuntu
> turned off. Hmmm - maybe I should check the BIOS? What about
> "Wake On LAN" (whatever THAT means lol)?
>
> P.S. I lost connection while I was typing this so I don't think it's
> a sleep or hibernate issue however, I was not using my
> connection - I was filling in a text box on Google's usenet
> web interface.... Running Kismet for 10 sec fixed it as soon
> as I shut Kismet down....
>
> Any clues?
>
> Ken
>
What do use to manage your connection KNetworkManager? Will this not
allow you to reconnect without using Kismet.
I would try to find out why you keep getting disconnected...weak
signal/interference.
What does it say in /etc/network/interfaces about your wireless card?
If I use an atheros card mine starts
auto ath0
iface ath0 inet dhcp

On Mar 16, 12:40 pm, kev <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> KG0WX wrote:
> > OS: Kubuntu Edgy Linux
> > PC: IBM Thinkpad T23 1.13
> > WLAN: Atheros 5212 mini pci
> > Router: WRT54G v4 w/DD-WRT
>
> > Problem: Sometimes my connection to my router (which is at
> > the range limit for a mid speed connection) just disappears.
>
> > I found if I start Kismet, run it for 30 sec. then exit the connection
> > is restored, like nothing happened.
>
> > It's like I need to keep the connection active otherwise the card
> > goes to sleep. Problem is I'm not sure there is a sleep mode for
> > my card and I've got all the power saving options in Kubuntu
> > turned off. Hmmm - maybe I should check the BIOS? What about
> > "Wake On LAN" (whatever THAT means lol)?
>
> > P.S. I lost connection while I was typing this so I don't think it's
> > a sleep or hibernate issue however, I was not using my
> > connection - I was filling in a text box on Google's usenet
> > web interface.... Running Kismet for 10 sec fixed it as soon
> > as I shut Kismet down....
>
> > Any clues?
>
> > Ken
>
> What do use to manage your connection KNetworkManager? Will this not
> allow you to reconnect without using Kismet.
> I would try to find out why you keep getting disconnected...weak
> signal/interference.
> What does it say in /etc/network/interfaces about your wireless card?
> If I use an atheros card mine starts
> auto ath0
> iface ath0 inet dhcp

Do you mean KWifiManager? I don't have KNetworkManager...... Currently
I'm running Network Monitor 2.12.0. As for the signal, I'm sharing an
internet
connection with my brother down the street. He has 2 PC's and runs my
router while I am here at home using wifi. His $#$% wife won't let him
help
me by moving the router to a window that faces me or installing a
bigger
antenna on the router. So, I'm stuck with these signal levels.

Here's the dump from /etc/network/interfaces (essid & key x'ed out)
--------------------------------------------------------
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback


auto eth1
iface eth1 inet dhcp

auto eth2
iface eth2 inet dhcp

auto ath0
iface ath0 inet dhcp
wireless-essid xxxxxxxxx
wireless-key xxxxxxxxx

auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp

--------------------------------------------

Note I only have 2 network devices - a PCMCIA phone modem
and the Atheros mini PCI card. No ethernet. Maybe I've got too
many interfaces up there? Maybe too many hosts in the config?
I've got 8 there....

Thanks a bunch for the help.

Ken

KG0WX wrote:
> On Mar 16, 12:40 pm, kev <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> KG0WX wrote:
>>> OS: Kubuntu Edgy Linux
>>> PC: IBM Thinkpad T23 1.13
>>> WLAN: Atheros 5212 mini pci
>>> Router: WRT54G v4 w/DD-WRT
>>> Problem: Sometimes my connection to my router (which is at
>>> the range limit for a mid speed connection) just disappears.
>>> I found if I start Kismet, run it for 30 sec. then exit the connection
>>> is restored, like nothing happened.
>>> It's like I need to keep the connection active otherwise the card
>>> goes to sleep. Problem is I'm not sure there is a sleep mode for
>>> my card and I've got all the power saving options in Kubuntu
>>> turned off. Hmmm - maybe I should check the BIOS? What about
>>> "Wake On LAN" (whatever THAT means lol)?
>>> P.S. I lost connection while I was typing this so I don't think it's
>>> a sleep or hibernate issue however, I was not using my
>>> connection - I was filling in a text box on Google's usenet
>>> web interface.... Running Kismet for 10 sec fixed it as soon
>>> as I shut Kismet down....
>>> Any clues?
>>> Ken
>> What do use to manage your connection KNetworkManager? Will this not
>> allow you to reconnect without using Kismet.
>> I would try to find out why you keep getting disconnected...weak
>> signal/interference.
>> What does it say in /etc/network/interfaces about your wireless card?
>> If I use an atheros card mine starts
>> auto ath0
>> iface ath0 inet dhcp
>
> Do you mean KWifiManager?

I have recently downloaded Ubuntu to play with and in the "Add/Remove
Applications" is KNetworkManager which is supposed to work well with
Kubuntu. I did try it with Ubuntu but reverted to the Gnome front end.
I also have NetworkManager Applet 0.6.3 installed.

> I don't have KNetworkManager...... Currently
> I'm running Network Monitor 2.12.0. As for the signal, I'm sharing an
> internet
> connection with my brother down the street. He has 2 PC's and runs my
> router while I am here at home using wifi. His $#$% wife won't let him
> help
> me by moving the router to a window that faces me or installing a
> bigger
> antenna on the router. So, I'm stuck with these signal levels.
>
> Here's the dump from /etc/network/interfaces (essid & key x'ed out)
> --------------------------------------------------------
> auto lo
> iface lo inet loopback
>
>
> auto eth1
> iface eth1 inet dhcp
>
> auto eth2
> iface eth2 inet dhcp
>
> auto ath0
> iface ath0 inet dhcp
> wireless-essid xxxxxxxxx
> wireless-key xxxxxxxxx
>
> auto wlan0
> iface wlan0 inet dhcp
>
> --------------------------------------------
>
> Note I only have 2 network devices - a PCMCIA phone modem
> and the Atheros mini PCI card. No ethernet. Maybe I've got too
> many interfaces up there? Maybe too many hosts in the config?
> I've got 8 there....
I cut mine short as I have quite a few listed due to the cards I have
been trying.
>
> Thanks a bunch for the help.
>
> Ken
>

On Mar 16, 1:20 pm, kev <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> KG0WX wrote:
> > On Mar 16, 12:40 pm, kev <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> >> KG0WX wrote:
> >>> OS: Kubuntu Edgy Linux
> >>> PC: IBM Thinkpad T23 1.13
> >>> WLAN: Atheros 5212 mini pci
> >>> Router: WRT54G v4 w/DD-WRT
> >>> Problem: Sometimes my connection to my router (which is at
> >>> the range limit for a mid speed connection) just disappears.
> >>> I found if I start Kismet, run it for 30 sec. then exit the connection
> >>> is restored, like nothing happened.
> >>> It's like I need to keep the connection active otherwise the card
> >>> goes to sleep. Problem is I'm not sure there is a sleep mode for
> >>> my card and I've got all the power saving options in Kubuntu
> >>> turned off. Hmmm - maybe I should check the BIOS? What about
> >>> "Wake On LAN" (whatever THAT means lol)?
> >>> P.S. I lost connection while I was typing this so I don't think it's
> >>> a sleep or hibernate issue however, I was not using my
> >>> connection - I was filling in a text box on Google's usenet
> >>> web interface.... Running Kismet for 10 sec fixed it as soon
> >>> as I shut Kismet down....
> >>> Any clues?
> >>> Ken
> >> What do use to manage your connection KNetworkManager? Will this not
> >> allow you to reconnect without using Kismet.
> >> I would try to find out why you keep getting disconnected...weak
> >> signal/interference.
> >> What does it say in /etc/network/interfaces about your wireless card?
> >> If I use an atheros card mine starts
> >> auto ath0
> >> iface ath0 inet dhcp
>
> > Do you mean KWifiManager?
>
> I have recently downloaded Ubuntu to play with and in the "Add/Remove
> Applications" is KNetworkManager which is supposed to work well with
> Kubuntu. I did try it with Ubuntu but reverted to the Gnome front end.
> I also have NetworkManager Applet 0.6.3 installed.
>
>
>
> > I don't have KNetworkManager...... Currently
> > I'm running Network Monitor 2.12.0. As for the signal, I'm sharing an
> > internet
> > connection with my brother down the street. He has 2 PC's and runs my
> > router while I am here at home using wifi. His $#$% wife won't let him
> > help
> > me by moving the router to a window that faces me or installing a
> > bigger
> > antenna on the router. So, I'm stuck with these signal levels.
>
> > Here's the dump from /etc/network/interfaces (essid & key x'ed out)
> > --------------------------------------------------------
> > auto lo
> > iface lo inet loopback
>
> > auto eth1
> > iface eth1 inet dhcp
>
> > auto eth2
> > iface eth2 inet dhcp
>
> > auto ath0
> > iface ath0 inet dhcp
> > wireless-essid xxxxxxxxx
> > wireless-key xxxxxxxxx
>
> > auto wlan0
> > iface wlan0 inet dhcp
>
> > --------------------------------------------
>
> > Note I only have 2 network devices - a PCMCIA phone modem
> > and the Atheros mini PCI card. No ethernet. Maybe I've got too
> > many interfaces up there? Maybe too many hosts in the config?
> > I've got 8 there....
>
> I cut mine short as I have quite a few listed due to the cards I have
> been trying.
>
>
>
> > Thanks a bunch for the help.
>
> > Ken


I found the program you were talking about but I can't seem to get
it to work - sure, it runs and all but it says I'm disconnected yet
the
option to enable wireless is greyed out.

Do I have to turn off/remove the other (network-admin) first? I did
that and it took 20 minutes to get it and my internet connection
back......

Ken

On Mar 16, 1:55 pm, "KG0WX" <k...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 16, 1:20 pm, kev <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
>
>
> > KG0WX wrote:
> > > On Mar 16, 12:40 pm, kev <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> > >> KG0WX wrote:
> > >>> OS: Kubuntu Edgy Linux
> > >>> PC: IBM Thinkpad T23 1.13
> > >>> WLAN: Atheros 5212 mini pci
> > >>> Router: WRT54G v4 w/DD-WRT
> > >>> Problem: Sometimes my connection to my router (which is at
> > >>> the range limit for a mid speed connection) just disappears.
> > >>> I found if I start Kismet, run it for 30 sec. then exit the connection
> > >>> is restored, like nothing happened.
> > >>> It's like I need to keep the connection active otherwise the card
> > >>> goes to sleep. Problem is I'm not sure there is a sleep mode for
> > >>> my card and I've got all the power saving options in Kubuntu
> > >>> turned off. Hmmm - maybe I should check the BIOS? What about
> > >>> "Wake On LAN" (whatever THAT means lol)?
> > >>> P.S. I lost connection while I was typing this so I don't think it's
> > >>> a sleep or hibernate issue however, I was not using my
> > >>> connection - I was filling in a text box on Google's usenet
> > >>> web interface.... Running Kismet for 10 sec fixed it as soon
> > >>> as I shut Kismet down....
> > >>> Any clues?
> > >>> Ken
> > >> What do use to manage your connection KNetworkManager? Will this not
> > >> allow you to reconnect without using Kismet.
> > >> I would try to find out why you keep getting disconnected...weak
> > >> signal/interference.
> > >> What does it say in /etc/network/interfaces about your wireless card?
> > >> If I use an atheros card mine starts
> > >> auto ath0
> > >> iface ath0 inet dhcp
>
> > > Do you mean KWifiManager?
>
> > I have recently downloaded Ubuntu to play with and in the "Add/Remove
> > Applications" is KNetworkManager which is supposed to work well with
> > Kubuntu. I did try it with Ubuntu but reverted to the Gnome front end.
> > I also have NetworkManager Applet 0.6.3 installed.
>
> > > I don't have KNetworkManager...... Currently
> > > I'm running Network Monitor 2.12.0. As for the signal, I'm sharing an
> > > internet
> > > connection with my brother down the street. He has 2 PC's and runs my
> > > router while I am here at home using wifi. His $#$% wife won't let him
> > > help
> > > me by moving the router to a window that faces me or installing a
> > > bigger
> > > antenna on the router. So, I'm stuck with these signal levels.
>
> > > Here's the dump from /etc/network/interfaces (essid & key x'ed out)
> > > --------------------------------------------------------
> > > auto lo
> > > iface lo inet loopback
>
> > > auto eth1
> > > iface eth1 inet dhcp
>
> > > auto eth2
> > > iface eth2 inet dhcp
>
> > > auto ath0
> > > iface ath0 inet dhcp
> > > wireless-essid xxxxxxxxx
> > > wireless-key xxxxxxxxx
>
> > > auto wlan0
> > > iface wlan0 inet dhcp
>
> > > --------------------------------------------
>
> > > Note I only have 2 network devices - a PCMCIA phone modem
> > > and the Atheros mini PCI card. No ethernet. Maybe I've got too
> > > many interfaces up there? Maybe too many hosts in the config?
> > > I've got 8 there....
>
> > I cut mine short as I have quite a few listed due to the cards I have
> > been trying.
>
> > > Thanks a bunch for the help.
>
> > > Ken
>
> I found the program you were talking about but I can't seem to get
> it to work - sure, it runs and all but it says I'm disconnected yet
> the
> option to enable wireless is greyed out.
>
> Do I have to turn off/remove the other (network-admin) first? I did
> that and it took 20 minutes to get it and my internet connection
> back......
>
> Ken


Also, should I edit that interfaces file? Would that help?

Ken

On Mar 16, 2:01 pm, "KG0WX" <k...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 16, 1:55 pm, "KG0WX" <k...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Mar 16, 1:20 pm, kev <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
> > > KG0WX wrote:
> > > > On Mar 16, 12:40 pm, kev <inva...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> > > >> KG0WX wrote:
> > > >>> OS: Kubuntu Edgy Linux
> > > >>> PC: IBM Thinkpad T23 1.13
> > > >>> WLAN: Atheros 5212 mini pci
> > > >>> Router: WRT54G v4 w/DD-WRT
> > > >>> Problem: Sometimes my connection to my router (which is at
> > > >>> the range limit for a mid speed connection) just disappears.
> > > >>> I found if I start Kismet, run it for 30 sec. then exit the connection
> > > >>> is restored, like nothing happened.
> > > >>> It's like I need to keep the connection active otherwise the card
> > > >>> goes to sleep. Problem is I'm not sure there is a sleep mode for
> > > >>> my card and I've got all the power saving options in Kubuntu
> > > >>> turned off. Hmmm - maybe I should check the BIOS? What about
> > > >>> "Wake On LAN" (whatever THAT means lol)?
> > > >>> P.S. I lost connection while I was typing this so I don't think it's
> > > >>> a sleep or hibernate issue however, I was not using my
> > > >>> connection - I was filling in a text box on Google's usenet
> > > >>> web interface.... Running Kismet for 10 sec fixed it as soon
> > > >>> as I shut Kismet down....
> > > >>> Any clues?
> > > >>> Ken
> > > >> What do use to manage your connection KNetworkManager? Will this not
> > > >> allow you to reconnect without using Kismet.
> > > >> I would try to find out why you keep getting disconnected...weak
> > > >> signal/interference.
> > > >> What does it say in /etc/network/interfaces about your wireless card?
> > > >> If I use an atheros card mine starts
> > > >> auto ath0
> > > >> iface ath0 inet dhcp
>
> > > > Do you mean KWifiManager?
>
> > > I have recently downloaded Ubuntu to play with and in the "Add/Remove
> > > Applications" is KNetworkManager which is supposed to work well with
> > > Kubuntu. I did try it with Ubuntu but reverted to the Gnome front end.
> > > I also have NetworkManager Applet 0.6.3 installed.
>
> > > > I don't have KNetworkManager...... Currently
> > > > I'm running Network Monitor 2.12.0. As for the signal, I'm sharing an
> > > > internet
> > > > connection with my brother down the street. He has 2 PC's and runs my
> > > > router while I am here at home using wifi. His $#$% wife won't let him
> > > > help
> > > > me by moving the router to a window that faces me or installing a
> > > > bigger
> > > > antenna on the router. So, I'm stuck with these signal levels.
>
> > > > Here's the dump from /etc/network/interfaces (essid & key x'ed out)
> > > > --------------------------------------------------------
> > > > auto lo
> > > > iface lo inet loopback
>
> > > > auto eth1
> > > > iface eth1 inet dhcp
>
> > > > auto eth2
> > > > iface eth2 inet dhcp
>
> > > > auto ath0
> > > > iface ath0 inet dhcp
> > > > wireless-essid xxxxxxxxx
> > > > wireless-key xxxxxxxxx
>
> > > > auto wlan0
> > > > iface wlan0 inet dhcp
>
> > > > --------------------------------------------
>
> > > > Note I only have 2 network devices - a PCMCIA phone modem
> > > > and the Atheros mini PCI card. No ethernet. Maybe I've got too
> > > > many interfaces up there? Maybe too many hosts in the config?
> > > > I've got 8 there....
>
> > > I cut mine short as I have quite a few listed due to the cards I have
> > > been trying.
>
> > > > Thanks a bunch for the help.
>
> > > > Ken
>
> > I found the program you were talking about but I can't seem to get
> > it to work - sure, it runs and all but it says I'm disconnected yet
> > the
> > option to enable wireless is greyed out.
>
> > Do I have to turn off/remove the other (network-admin) first? I did
> > that and it took 20 minutes to get it and my internet connection
> > back......
>
> > Ken
>
> Also, should I edit that interfaces file? Would that help?
>
> Ken

Ding! Brainfart! If I can't improve the signal at the router and I
don't want
to splice into the antenna system in the laptop, why not just buy a
PCMCIA
WiFi card that has or uses a external antenna and hook up to that when
I'm at home? I could make a short (<6') run of cable going to this
antenna:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/produc...rodid=MFJ-1800

I've got a RTNC to N connector 6' LMR-240 cable already - all I have
to do
is find a PCMCIA card that uses a RTNC connector or get an
adapter......

I'd love to put that on a rotor and mount it say, 25' in the air but I
know
cable losses would be too extreme. Maybe a external USB WiFi device?
That would allow a 15 foot max cable which would get me on the roof.

Ken

KG0WX wrote:

>> I found the program you were talking about but I can't seem to get
>> it to work - sure, it runs and all but it says I'm disconnected yet
>> the
>> option to enable wireless is greyed out.
>>
>> Do I have to turn off/remove the other (network-admin) first? I did
>> that and it took 20 minutes to get it and my internet connection
>> back......
>>
>> Ken
>
>
> Also, should I edit that interfaces file? Would that help?
>
> Ken
>
When I first set up my wireless network I installed the following
packages as I wanted to run WPA-PSK as a min:-
wpa-supplicant
network-manager 0.6.3
network-manager-gnome 0.6.3
If you are using KNetworkManager you shouldn't require the last one(when
trying KNM I still had it installed) .
in the interfaces file for ath0 all I have is
auto ath0
iface ath0 inet dhcp

When I run KNetworkManager it appears in the panel at the top of the
screen and when I click on it I get a list of all the AP's in my
locality. If I click on my AP I get a popup panel which requires me to
fill out my Encrypted Key and then to login.

KG0WX wrote:
> His $#$% wife won't let him help

Go to Network Properties > Wife > Disable

Or uninstall...