Wireless tangles

September 23, 2007 2:12 AM

Simple network rebuilding: what's the best way out of a wireless network muddle?

I run a wireless network at home, with a hub broadcasting to a PC desktop and a PC laptop, as well as a Slimserver (connected to an mp3 library on the desktop) and occasionally a Nokia N95 using the network as well. If wireless networks could get tangled, this one has; it's a mess. For reasons I completely don't understand, it is incredibly unreliable, with frequent drop-outs. While I can usually get both computers online, they often can't see each other (ideally I'd like to share files between them in selected directories, which I can, sometimes), and the Slimserver has vanished out of sight. What's more, my WEP key has gone, leaving the network open to all and I can't seem to fix it. On top of this, every few minutes a window pops up asking me to log on to a Virtual Private Network, and blocks all web access until I close it.

My question. I'm pretty sure all the hardware is OK - this seems like a software thing. How can I break it all down and start again from scratch? Basically, what order should I do things? Is there a wizard or something that allows me to start from zero and build up a reliable network again? Are there any tools out there for managing connections in a more transparent way that the multiple Windows menus and boxes? Many thanks in advance.

posted by jonathanbell to computers & internet (6 comments total)

Dropouts could be RF interference, from a microwave oven or cordless phone. Or they could be firmware-related, so make sure all your cards and drivers and routers and stuff are at the latest version.

As for the VPN thing, whoooo.. Windows networking annoyances are a pain, and I always break things when I tinker, so I'll let someone else tackle that.
posted by Myself at 4:47 AM on September 23, 2007

You should take things one step at a time. First, like Myself suggests, you need to fix any interference problems. Reset your wireless access point so that it returns to factory settings. Then, walk around your house and take a note on the signal strength. Stay in one place long enough to notice any drop-outs. If there are any, you'll need to either reposition your access point, or get a wireless repeater for the other half of your house.

Once you have the signal issues fixed, use the access point's web interface to re-enable security. If it's available, use WPA rather than WEP.

If you're still having trouble connecting from one machine to the other, you'll need to provide more details.
posted by odinsdream at 7:28 AM on September 23, 2007

I am presuming by "hub" you mean "router". You need to reset the router to defaults, then rebuild the network around it.
There are no magic tools. But read this from Microsoft (since you're specifically talking about Windows networking), it gives you a good primer (I apologize if you're more technically savvy than the article presumes).
The core of what you want to do rests in resetting the router, then building the network around it (because it is "the hub".)

Get the manual for your router. After you reset it, it will go back to defaults and that means it will only be accessible via the methods in the manual: you need to know the IP address for the configuration page, and the default password for it.
For example, my linksys' default page is 192.168.1.1 and it's default user name and passwords are (no user name) and password "admin".
Optionally download Netstumbler and run it. Take note of the wireless networks around you and the channels they use. The "default" is usually channel 6, and no one ever changes it. That's interference. So you'll pick one that's not so popular (I use 9) later in the process.

Reset the router by unplugging it and, while holding down the reset button, plugging it in. Count to five then let up on the reset button and it will be reset.
Now configure the router:
- Set a new internal IP address range, something outside the standard 192.168.1.x range (I like 10.0.0.x). I like to set a different IP range because I like to know that mine is different from yours.
- Set the local network to assign IP's automatically and only give it about 15 IPs to assign. On your network, if you'll need to access a device by its IP address, statically set it to one within the same subnet (10.0.0.x) but outside the 15 addresses you've assigned. Put a label on that device with its IP address.

- Set your SSID to something unique. I set mine to my street address. Optionally, turn off SSID broadcast. There's no reason for it to be publicly seen. This changes how you configure the network on your devices - see below.

- Set a WEP key (or WPA if your other devices speak it).

- Don't forget to change the default channel to something other than 6.

- On each of your devices, go to their network configurations and make sure they are set to use your network by SSID, their WEP key matches the one on the router, and their channels are set for "automatic".

Note that if you're (optionally) not broadcasting the SSID, you have to manually connect/enter it. Your wireless network won't be seen in a network list. So on a Windows machine, go to Network Connections, select the wireless connection, right click it, select View Wireless Networks, then click the Advanced tab and manually add the network SSID.

- In Windows, Network Connections, Wireless Network Connection, Advanced wireless network settings, clear any rogue networks (i.e. "linksys").

- In Windows, Network Connections, Wireless Network Connection, TCP/IP settings, make sure that "enable NETBIOS over TCP/IP" is set.

Regarding your VPN question: Check your Internet Explorer Connections tab for a default connection:
Open Internet Explorer, Tools, Options, Connections tab. (or right-click Internet Explorer from the Start Menu and select Internet Properties, Connections tab. Same thing). See the network list? Is there anything there? Delete them. Set the radio button for "Never dial a connection". Click the LAN settings button and uncheck all the boxes there.
Now close all this nonsense, open network connections (Control Panel, Network Connections) and go to view, Arrange Icons By and set it to Type, then look in the list for anything under Virtual Private Network. Delete it.

All this looks daunting, but it's certainly doable and if you sit down with a piece of paper and basically "sketch out" the network first - write a list:
IP address range:
SSID:
WEP key:
Channel:
IP Address (static):
...and then apply these settings to each device, your network should be running well when you're done.
posted by disclaimer at 7:45 AM on September 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm pretty sure all the hardware is OK - this seems like a software thing.

You might be surprised. I've had a few Wireless routers commit suicide, probably from overheating. They required constant resets to work, until they dropped dead entirely.
posted by limon at 10:47 AM on September 23, 2007

Thanks to all who answered - very helpful tips indeed. I really appreciate the time you all devoted to this.
posted by jonathanbell at 12:03 PM on September 23, 2007

Something else that occasionally breaks wireless networks is large imbalances in antenna spacing. If I put my laptop on the same desk as my wireless router, and forget to plug in the wired network connection and turn off the laptop's radio, my neighbours can no longer connect successfully to my wireless router.
posted by flabdablet at 5:32 PM on September 23, 2007