Wireless Internet problem

Charles Slane

Hi folks. I'm hoping one of you clever people can help me with a problem.

I recently got IOL Broadband, and it's working fine when connected to my main PC. I bought a Belkin wireless router and card for my second PC. When I connect to the internet on the second PC it works fine for a minute or two - I can send and receive e-mail, view web pages etc - but then I get a TCP/IP error when trying to send/receive mail, and a "Cannot find server" error when trying to view any web pages.

The wireless signal is always "excellent".

Anybody understand why this is happening ? I'm new to broadband and wireless networking so apologies if I'm missing something very obvious.

PowerHouseDan

whats the tcp/ip error message? what ip address's are you using for each of the computers?

Mutant_Fruit

i was having problems myself with my wireless router until i realised that my ethernet card in my main PC was conflicting with the IP addresses being handed out my by router. The ethernet card was manually set to 195.168.0.2, and that was the first address being handed out by the router. So once that was assigned, things went a bit mental.

EDIT: That particular ethernet card was used to link my second PC to my first PC in the following way: Second PC -> Main PC ethernetcard2 -> Main PC Ethernetcard1 ->Internet.

When i got the router i unplugged the cables, and connected everything directly to the router, but never unset the second ethernet card.

PowerHouseDan

Thats what i was thinking myself.

Charles Slane

IP address for second PC - 192.168.2.3
Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0
Default gateway - 192.168.2.1

The IP address for the main PC - 192.168.2.2

I'll check for the TCP/IP error in a few minutes.

PowerHouseDan

is the default gateway in the second, the same ip address as the router?

Mutant_Fruit

post up a screenshot of the error if you can. And if possible, make sure you're using DHCP to assign IP addresses and all taht.

Charles Slane

I can't get the same error on Outlook Express because now I'm getting a time-out error.

It does say "Assigned by DHCP" in the network connection.

I still don't understand why it works for a couple of minutes and then stops. Something is either stopping or starting during that time.

Moriarty

Moved over to Nets/Comms.

Charles Slane

A restart of the PC brought back the internet for another two minutes or so. I managed to get the previous error from Outlook Express -

"A TCP/IP error occurred while trying to connect to the server. Account 'pop.iolfree.ie', server 'pop.iolfree.ie', Protocol : POP3, Port:110, Secure (SSL): No, Error Number : 0x800CCC15"

PowerHouseDan

did you see was the default gateway ip the same as the router ip

Charles Slane

The Default Gateway, DNS Server and DHCP Server are all 192.168.2.1

Not sure if any of these are the router. How would I find out ?

PowerHouseDan

yeah thats the ip address of your router. Change your computers ip address to 192.168.2.49 normal subnet and Default gateway - 192.168.2.1
change both main and second computer ip one saying 192.168.2.49 and 192.168.2.20 whatever you want

PowerHouseDan

http://setup.belkin.com/guide.html isent a bad guide if your stuck

Charles Slane

Thanks Powerhousedan and Mutant_Fruit, your help is very much appreciated. I'll go to that site, but I have to go out shortly, so it looks like I'll be grappling with this again in the morning (probably with a hangover - what could be worse ??)

MacGyver

try setting the routers dns to 192.111.39.1 or 192.111.39.4 and set the wireless card in your computer to "obtain dns from server"

also use the belkin software to connect to the router and dont let windows xp control the wireless card. had the same problem and setting the dns worked.

Charles Slane

MacGyver wrote:

try setting the routers dns to 192.111.39.1 or 192.111.39.4 and set the wireless card in your computer to "obtain dns from server"

also use the belkin software to connect to the router and dont let windows xp control the wireless card. had the same problem and setting the dns worked.

I don't know how to set the router dns or change the setting of the wireless card.

The Belkin software is being used to connect to the router.

The_Conductor

Suggest disabling WEP in the Belkin software and enabling WPA instead.

aaronc

I'd suspect your issue is related to the physical wireless connectivity not TCP/IP. Since you can get a connection out at some stage I'd say your TCP/IP config is fine (looks ok from the addresses supplied as well).

Most people have wireless connectivity problems at some stage except if they are operating in anything but the most accomodating environment. I have experienced a similar problem to your 's where I was trying to get a link going between two D-Link wireless APs, one on the 2nd floor and one on the ground floor. I'd configure the boxes and then take one downstairs and then by the time I got back upstairs the link wouldn stay up for a fwe minutes and then drop off. I solved it with two things, playing around with the location of the APs and changing the channel used for the link.

One approach I'd suggest you use for troubleshooting is to type the following into a DOS box on your PC:

c:\> ping 192.168.2.1 -t

and then once the link is gone get someone to move the AP around and see if it comes backup at any stage.

I'd also change the channel your AP is using (your PC should automatically detect which channel the AP is using) just in case there's interference in your environment, i.e. there's no guarantee your high signal strength is from your own AP.

hth

Aaron

halkar

First try deleting your mail account and re-creating it. Also if you have antivirus software installed, try disabling incoming mail checks.

Are you using your old e-mail account? If you have a new account with your broadband you should use pop.iol.ie.

Your problem is not with your network but with Outlook and network setup is correct. Also try Microsoft KB site .

shabbyroad

re-reading the original post...

are you running 2 routers ? and are they both giving out IP addresses via DHCP ?
if so... that could be your problem.

Charles Slane

shabbyroad wrote:

re-reading the original post...

are you running 2 routers ? and are they both giving out IP addresses via DHCP ?
if so... that could be your problem.

I guess so. I'll try to clarify -

I've got IOL Broadband, so the phone line is connected to a Zyxel Prestige 600 series ADSL Dual link Router. That's connected by ethernet cable to a Belkin Wireless G Router. That's connected by ethernet cable to the main PC (which works fine on the internet and e-mail).

The second PC is in the next room and has a Belkin Wireless Network Card. That's the one that's having the problems.

When I start up the PC it can connect to the 'net and e-mail, but just for a minute or two - then I get the errors. The wireless signal always shows as "excellent". The Belkin indicator is green. And the little networking symbol show as flashing blue. So everything looks okay.

I've tried just about all the advice I've gotten here (which is hugely appreciated), but without success so far.

I've even tried uninstalling the Belkin software on the second PC and reinstalling the card - once again I got the short-lived connection and then the failure.

As you say, there ARE two routers. And that does make sense that they may conflict. So how would that conflict be resolved ?

Once again, thanks for any suggestions. I'll keep you informed of my progress.

Charles Slane

Here's another part of the mysterious jigsaw -

I changed the setting on the second PC to "Use the following IP address" and entered 192.168.2.2, subnet mask - 255.255.255.0, default gateway - 192.168.2.1. I also changed the setting to "use the following DNS server" and entered 192.168.2.1

After I did that I got internet and mail access again, but once more it was lost after a minute or two.

halkar

When you loose connection can you ping 192.168.2.1 (Belkin router)?.
Also disable the DHCP on Zyxel, I beleive Esat ships these modems Dhcp enabled. You will be using dhcp from your Belkin.

You will need to connect http://192.168.1.1 for Zyxel and try connecting directly without Belkin.

Charles Slane

halkar wrote:

When you loose connection can you ping 192.168.2.1 (Belkin router)?.
Also disable the DHCP on Zyxel, I beleive Esat ships these modems Dhcp enabled. You will be using dhcp from your Belkin.

You will need to connect http://192.168.1.1 for Zyxel and try connecting directly without Belkin.

I could ping 192.168.2.1 earlier.

How do I disable the DHCP on Zyxel ?

Have to give it up for tonight - tomorrow is another day.

Thanks again folks.

Charles Slane

The mystery continues -

Don't know if this can help but -

I can ping from the main PC to the Zyxel ADSL Modem/router, the Belkin wireless router, and the second PC.

I can ping from the second PC to the Zyxel and the Belkin but when I try to ping to the main PC I get "request timed out".


I also disabled the DHCP on the Zyxel, so there should not be a conflict, but to no avail.

I STILL get a connection for a minute every time I restart but then ....


Here's some info from the Belkin log that might be trying to tell me something (what, I don't know) --

Mon Feb 21 19:46:51 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:46:54 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:46:56 2005 -192.168.2.3 logout
Mon Feb 21 19:46:57 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:00 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:02 2005 -192.168.2.3 login
Mon Feb 21 19:47:03 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:06 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:09 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:12 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:15 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:18 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:21 2005 -WAN : PADI sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:21 2005 -WAN : PADT sent
Mon Feb 21 19:47:35 2005 -WAN DHCP Client Connected IP 192.168.1.33
Mon Feb 21 19:47:54 2005 -WAN DHCP Client Connected IP 192.168.1.33
Mon Feb 21 20:19:38 2005 -192.168.2.3 logout
Mon Feb 21 20:19:40 2005 -192.168.2.3 logout
Mon Feb 21 20:19:43 2005 -192.168.2.3 login
Mon Feb 21 20:45:54 2005 -192.168.2.3 logout
Mon Feb 21 20:45:57 2005 -192.168.2.3 login

Firewall log:
Mon Feb 21 19:48:16 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87
Mon Feb 21 19:48:18 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87
Mon Feb 21 19:48:19 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87
Mon Feb 21 19:48:20 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87
Mon Feb 21 19:48:24 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87
Mon Feb 21 19:48:28 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87
Mon Feb 21 20:33:12 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87
Mon Feb 21 20:33:14 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87
Mon Feb 21 20:33:18 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87
Mon Feb 21 20:33:22 2005 1 Blocked by DoS protection 64.4.25.87


Does any of this help ?