Inconsitent wireless DSL connectivity

January 14, 2007 12:30 PM

Join me in trying to solve a wireless DSL modem mystery. As usual, there is

I am using this Intellinet wireless DSL modem / router. I am able to maintain a strong signal to the router via my wireless XP laptop, but the DSL connection itself is very inconsistent. It seems to happen most often when I am playing online poker, if that is any help.

Also, hardwiring my laptop to the router with a CAT 5 cable seems to remedy the issue. I'd like to know why the wireless function is having such a hard time maintaining the DSL connection.

As always, any responses are greatly appreciated.

posted by Scottk to computers & internet (5 comments total)

I've also tried searching for firmware to update, but am unable to find anything for this model. Is it possible to grab some generic fix?
posted by Scottk at 12:31 PM on January 14, 2007

Ok, I've found these questions that would have similar answers:
1
2

So, a new question:
Where could I find drivers for my wireless modem/router above? I can't seem to find anything, so will any firmware work?
posted by Scottk at 12:55 PM on January 14, 2007

It would help to know what WiFi card or laptop you're using, and if you are on SP2 for XP. But probably, you're having either interference or link layer issues with your router. The "Super G 108" label in your router's name is pretty misleading, as it looks to be a straight 802.11b router, with the limited 8mb/1mb throughput capability of early basic wireless routers that supported the 802.11b spec.

You begin where anyone with wireless functionality problems begins, which is with an area survey to identify other products in reasonable proximity using the 2.4Ghz ISM band. Wireless phones, baby monitors, microwave ovens, etc. are all culprits. Unplug any such devices you own from all power, and see if the problem improves for your WiFi. If so, you've got an interference source, and you can choose what to do about it. If it's your wireless phone, get a 5Ghz phone, etc.

If you don't have any interfering devices yourself, you can spend a few buck on an inexpensive USB dongle type spectrum analyser, which can be hugely useful in pinpointing neighbors hacking WiFi gear that is producing impinging radiation screwing up your network, or you can use some of the free network analyser tools to try and spot network activity that is causing TCP/IP retrains, and drops, using your existing 802.11b WiFi network laptop hardware. The latter approach can reveal much about the cause of your problems, but it isn't as tranparent to a casual user who might not understand how TCP/IP and other network protocols work, and it isn't a reliable way, by itself, of identifying broad spectrum noise sources such as microwave ovens with leaky door seals, unless you can correlate intermittent operations and packet loss problems, with popping popcorn, etc. Basically, to use a packet analyzer tool to look for impinging WiFi signals from other networks, you unplug your router, and move around your home with your laptop, and if there are any WiFi type signals your laptop can detect, you get a trace of them, and try to pin them back to the physical location from which they originate by triangulation. The problem with the packet analyser approach is that other devices using the 2.4Ghz spectrum might just be a noise source, still producing enough interference to cause problems, and yet never appear to packet tracing tools, because your WiFi hardware can't see them as producing WiFi packet signals. So that's the value of a spectrum analyser, which just looks for raw RF energy, and reports it, regardless of modulation technique, or the lack thereof.
posted by paulsc at 1:21 PM on January 14, 2007

Also, I didn't see any firmware posted on the Intellinet site for your model of ADSL WiFi router, but you might find they can help by contacting their technical support people.

Failing that, get a more widely used and supported WiFi router, such as the Linksys WRT54G and a separate ADSL modem, not only because that will give you far better flexibility and upgradeability in maintaining your connection hardware, but because you'll be getting a WiFi router with a true stateful packet inspection firewall, which will go a long way to protecting your computers from Internet crackers and nonsense. It's tempting to use a combined product, both for low cost, and because it seems "cleaner" to have all your network functions in one physical box. But in my experience, the ADSL modem is far more likely to get fried by voltage transients coming in from the phone line, and depending on where you live, you might be replacing your modem every year or two, due to damage from lightining, or power spikes.
posted by paulsc at 1:44 PM on January 14, 2007

alright, thanks for the help, paulsc. i do agree with you that it is probably best to go with a more widely supported router and modem.
posted by Scottk at 1:52 PM on January 14, 2007