Wireless network stops working

My wireless network works just fine when I turn on my machine or reboot, but
then stops connecting about 10 minutes to 1/2 hours afterward. The signal
stength is always and everythings looks OK. I've tried reinstalling and
updating the drivers, switching PCI ports, etc. Didn't help. Does anyone have
a suggestion?

Thank you!

Rich wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:28:18 +1000, "Diamontina Cocktail"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> "T rumble" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:70EC7E72-7EF2-411B-85AA-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> My wireless network works just fine when I turn on my machine or reboot,
>>> but
>>> then stops connecting about 10 minutes to 1/2 hours afterward. The signal
>>> stength is always and everythings looks OK. I've tried reinstalling and
>>> updating the drivers, switching PCI ports, etc. Didn't help. Does anyone
>>> have
>>> a suggestion?
>>>
>>> Thank you!
>> Go to System Properties and make sure that the option to turn off the device
>> when not in use is NOT ticked. This is more than likely it.
>
>> (snip)
>
> i've seen this advice several times and can't figure out where to
> look.
>
> the laptop here is a dell d810 with a built-in intell PRO/Wireless
> 2200BG mini-card. the wireless router is a US Robotics Wireless MaxG
> Router fed by a ZyXel P660-R DSL modem. zero problems with the
> desktop's wired connection to the router and no problems with the LT's
> wireless connection to the router until i close the lid on the LT,
> wait a bit and then open the lid.
>
> when i close the lid on my dell laptop the pc goes into stand-by mode.
> when i raise the lid thereby coming out of standby mode i frequently
> have to re-boot the LT in order to re-establish the wi-fi connection
> with my home network. i have 'corrected' this problem by not putting
> the LT into standby mode when the lid is closed. since i've done this
> the LT has never once lost the wi-fi connection to the router. that
> addresses the symptom, not the root problem.
>
> i've done the following:
>
> CONTROL PANEL
> SYSTEM
> HARDWARE
> DEVICE MANAGER
> NETWORK ADAPTERS
> right clicked on the intel wireless adaptor, then PROPERTIES
> ADVANCED
> scrolled down to POWER MANAGEMENT
>
> the ONLY option for power management of the card is the balance
> between power consumption and adapter performance. nothing about
> shutting down power when on standby mode.
>
> seems like i'm looking in the wrong place. can somebody set me
> straight?
>
> 73,
> rich, n9dko
>

You're looking in the right place, and I'm surprised that there is no
power management option there. Perhaps you're using some generic
Windows driver rather than the Intel driver, or perhaps you should
(temporarily, if you like) switch to using the Intel configuration
software instead of Windows WZC. See User's Guides at
http://support.intel.com/support/wir.../cs-008179.htm

Rich wrote:
> On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:51:56 +1000, "Diamontina Cocktail"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> "Rich" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:28:18 +1000, "Diamontina Cocktail"
>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "T rumble" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:70EC7E72-7EF2-411B-85AA-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> My wireless network works just fine when I turn on my machine or reboot,
>>>>> but
>>>>> then stops connecting about 10 minutes to 1/2 hours afterward. The
>>>>> signal
>>>>> stength is always and everythings looks OK. I've tried reinstalling and
>>>>> updating the drivers, switching PCI ports, etc. Didn't help. Does anyone
>>>>> have
>>>>> a suggestion?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you!
>>>> Go to System Properties and make sure that the option to turn off the
>>>> device
>>>> when not in use is NOT ticked. This is more than likely it.
>>>> (snip)
>>> i've seen this advice several times and can't figure out where to
>>> look.
>>>
>> Open Control Panel, System Properties then click on the Hardware tab then
>> the Device Manager button. When that comes up, go to the Network Adapters
>> section, click on the + sign then right click on the one for your wireless
>> NIC. Now go to properties and when that comes up there SHOULD be a tab with
>> "power management" on it. It will be under there. If there is no tab there,
>> which can be the case, then dont worry about it.
>
> yup. that's what i did before posting. the only power option is as i
> described.
>
>>> the laptop here is a dell d810 with a built-in intell PRO/Wireless
>>> 2200BG mini-card. the wireless router is a US Robotics Wireless MaxG
>>> Router fed by a ZyXel P660-R DSL modem. zero problems with the
>>> desktop's wired connection to the router and no problems with the LT's
>>> wireless connection to the router until i close the lid on the LT,
>>> wait a bit and then open the lid.
>>>
>>> when i close the lid on my dell laptop the pc goes into stand-by mode.
>> Never a good idea to use stand-by or hibernate for any reason with XP. If
>> there is a scrambling of hibersys for example, you cant boot the machine
>> again until you delete that file and if you arent literate enough, that
>> means paying someone to do it. Turn them off in the power options.
>
> i'm literate enough to deal with that should it happen but thanks for
> the tip.
>
>>> when i raise the lid thereby coming out of standby mode i frequently
>>> have to re-boot the LT in order to re-establish the wi-fi connection
>>> with my home network. i have 'corrected' this problem by not putting
>>> the LT into standby mode when the lid is closed. since i've done this
>>> the LT has never once lost the wi-fi connection to the router. that
>>> addresses the symptom, not the root problem.
>>>
>>> i've done the following:
>>>
>>> CONTROL PANEL
>>> SYSTEM
>>> HARDWARE
>>> DEVICE MANAGER
>>> NETWORK ADAPTERS
>>> right clicked on the intel wireless adaptor, then PROPERTIES
>>> ADVANCED
>>> scrolled down to POWER MANAGEMENT
>>>
>>> the ONLY option for power management of the card is the balance
>>> between power consumption and adapter performance. nothing about
>>> shutting down power when on standby mode.
>> OK then put it in the position that consumes the most power, dont allow
>> hibernate and as you have done, dont allow standby.
>>
>>
> not allowing standby would seem to be the only option to ensure the LT
> doesn't lose connectivity. oh, well. thanks to those who
> replied...appreciate the effort.
>
> 73,
> rich, n9dko
One last thing, Rich.

The Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG mini-card (which, Diamontina, is neither a
"non-PCI card" nor a "USB wi-fi NIC") ought to have some sort of power
management available through the Intel management software.

From what you describe, it seems as if you may not be using the latest
and greatest Intel software. For example, from the manual for v. 9.0 of
the Intel ProSet Wireless User's guide:

"Power Management: Allows you to select a balance between power
consumption and adapter performance. The wireless adapter power settings
slider sets a balance between the computer's power source and the battery."

That sounds like what you described. You might get the desired result
from pushing the slider all the way to max performance, but there
doesn't seem to be any explicit setting to keep it on all the time.

However, from the manual from v. 10, after the bit about the slider:

Select a balance between power consumption and adapter
performance.
PSP - Power Saving Mode
CAM - Constantly Awake Mode
Select one of the Power Saving Mode levels:
PSP CAM: The client adapter is powered up
continuously.
PSP Level 1: PSP set at maximum power.
PSP Levels 2-4: PSP set to maximize power.
PSP Level 5: PSP set to maximize battery life.
PSP Auto: Default in PSP Level 6: Balances
between power consumption and battery life.

73,
Lem, ex-K2MHQ

Rich wrote:
> On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:26:58 -0400, Lem <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> Rich wrote:
>>> On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 22:51:56 +1000, "Diamontina Cocktail"
>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Rich" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:28:18 +1000, "Diamontina Cocktail"
>>>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> "T rumble" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:70EC7E72-7EF2-411B-85AA-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>>>> My wireless network works just fine when I turn on my machine or reboot,
>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>> then stops connecting about 10 minutes to 1/2 hours afterward. The
>>>>>>> signal
>>>>>>> stength is always and everythings looks OK. I've tried reinstalling and
>>>>>>> updating the drivers, switching PCI ports, etc. Didn't help. Does anyone
>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>> a suggestion?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thank you!
>>>>>> Go to System Properties and make sure that the option to turn off the
>>>>>> device
>>>>>> when not in use is NOT ticked. This is more than likely it.
>>>>>> (snip)
>>>>> i've seen this advice several times and can't figure out where to
>>>>> look.
>>>>>
>>>> Open Control Panel, System Properties then click on the Hardware tab then
>>>> the Device Manager button. When that comes up, go to the Network Adapters
>>>> section, click on the + sign then right click on the one for your wireless
>>>> NIC. Now go to properties and when that comes up there SHOULD be a tab with
>>>> "power management" on it. It will be under there. If there is no tab there,
>>>> which can be the case, then dont worry about it.
>>> yup. that's what i did before posting. the only power option is as i
>>> described.
>>>
>>>>> the laptop here is a dell d810 with a built-in intell PRO/Wireless
>>>>> 2200BG mini-card. the wireless router is a US Robotics Wireless MaxG
>>>>> Router fed by a ZyXel P660-R DSL modem. zero problems with the
>>>>> desktop's wired connection to the router and no problems with the LT's
>>>>> wireless connection to the router until i close the lid on the LT,
>>>>> wait a bit and then open the lid.
>>>>>
>>>>> when i close the lid on my dell laptop the pc goes into stand-by mode.
>>>> Never a good idea to use stand-by or hibernate for any reason with XP. If
>>>> there is a scrambling of hibersys for example, you cant boot the machine
>>>> again until you delete that file and if you arent literate enough, that
>>>> means paying someone to do it. Turn them off in the power options.
>>> i'm literate enough to deal with that should it happen but thanks for
>>> the tip.
>>>
>>>>> when i raise the lid thereby coming out of standby mode i frequently
>>>>> have to re-boot the LT in order to re-establish the wi-fi connection
>>>>> with my home network. i have 'corrected' this problem by not putting
>>>>> the LT into standby mode when the lid is closed. since i've done this
>>>>> the LT has never once lost the wi-fi connection to the router. that
>>>>> addresses the symptom, not the root problem.
>>>>>
>>>>> i've done the following:
>>>>>
>>>>> CONTROL PANEL
>>>>> SYSTEM
>>>>> HARDWARE
>>>>> DEVICE MANAGER
>>>>> NETWORK ADAPTERS
>>>>> right clicked on the intel wireless adaptor, then PROPERTIES
>>>>> ADVANCED
>>>>> scrolled down to POWER MANAGEMENT
>>>>>
>>>>> the ONLY option for power management of the card is the balance
>>>>> between power consumption and adapter performance. nothing about
>>>>> shutting down power when on standby mode.
>>>> OK then put it in the position that consumes the most power, dont allow
>>>> hibernate and as you have done, dont allow standby.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> not allowing standby would seem to be the only option to ensure the LT
>>> doesn't lose connectivity. oh, well. thanks to those who
>>> replied...appreciate the effort.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> rich, n9dko
>> One last thing, Rich.
>>
>> The Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG mini-card (which, Diamontina, is neither a
>> "non-PCI card" nor a "USB wi-fi NIC") ought to have some sort of power
>> management available through the Intel management software.
>>
>> From what you describe, it seems as if you may not be using the latest
>> and greatest Intel software. For example, from the manual for v. 9.0 of
>> the Intel ProSet Wireless User's guide:
>>
>> "Power Management: Allows you to select a balance between power
>> consumption and adapter performance. The wireless adapter power settings
>> slider sets a balance between the computer's power source and the battery."
>>
>> That sounds like what you described. You might get the desired result
>>from pushing the slider all the way to max performance, but there
>> doesn't seem to be any explicit setting to keep it on all the time.
>>
>> However, from the manual from v. 10, after the bit about the slider:
>>
>> Select a balance between power consumption and adapter
>> performance.
>> PSP - Power Saving Mode
>> CAM - Constantly Awake Mode
>> Select one of the Power Saving Mode levels:
>> PSP CAM: The client adapter is powered up
>> continuously.
>> PSP Level 1: PSP set at maximum power.
>> PSP Levels 2-4: PSP set to maximize power.
>> PSP Level 5: PSP set to maximize battery life.
>> PSP Auto: Default in PSP Level 6: Balances
>> between power consumption and battery life.
>>
>> 73,
>> Lem, ex-K2MHQ
>
> just wanted to give you an update, lem. i downloaded and installed
> proset wireless v10.x and was able to change the power management to
> CAM. now the laptop can go into standby mode without losing the
> wireless connection.
>
> i've also noticed an interesting by-product of the upgrade. the
> laptop 'lives' in its docking station in the hamshack up on the 2nd
> floor of the house. prior to the upgrade none of the other
> neighborhood wi-fi signals were detected by the laptop when it was
> upstairs. it did detect them downstairs in my office. since the
> upgrade the laptop is detecting those same neighborhood signals
> upstairs.
>
> thanks for the help.
>
> 73,
> rich, n9dko
>

WiFi DX!