Wireless Network Help

[WildTech]

Hi Gang

I have a client daycare center that has two notebook computer systems with Dlink wireless nic cards installed. The daycare software that they use utilizes the peer to peer setup with one machine as a storage\work station and the other as a remote. The remote workstation has a mapped drive to the storage machine and is set to reconnect at startup. The system always seems to work fine if you reboot them and turn them right back on. But if they sit for any length of time the network cards lose their connection and can no longer connect or see an available network.

Am I doing something wrong????

Thanks in advance

[geoscomp]

first thing that comes to mind is to check the properties of the wireless cards to make sure that windows is not allowed to shut them off to save power. That's a pretty common notebook default

[TripleRLtd]

first thing that comes to mind is to check the properties of the wireless cards to make sure that windows is not allowed to shut them off to save power. That's a pretty common notebook default

As well as XP.
So, what OS we talking about?
Also, how far apart are they and what kind of signal strength do you have?

[Matridom]

It may also be an issue with the WAP security settings, the encryption key's may be rotating, and once the wap changes to a key that is not setup on the system, they loose connectivity, check to make sure that the key's being used ALL match

[WildTech]

Thanks for the quick replies. The operating system is Windows XP Home. The computers are only about 10 feet apart and the signal strengh is excellent.

I need to check on the Wap settings.

Thanks again Keep em coming

[geoscomp]

so have you checked the power management properties?..look under device manager, properties for the nic..under the power management tab and make sure that there are no checks in the boxes to allow the computer to turn the devices off to save power

[WildTech]

Everything is set alway on

[Gollo]

A couple of questions: Do they use cordless phones? If so what type are they? (2.4ghz, 5ghz, 900mhz, etc). 2.4ghz is the same frequency range that 802.11b uses. If they do have one try changing the channel to a higher one (say 9 or 11). You might try this even if they do not have a cordless phone (it could be the neighbors). Also are these laptops always 10ft from each other or are they moved around from time to time? (this has nothing to do with the dropout issue but more of thinking of a different solution) If they move around you might consider purchasing an access point. This simplifies installation and expansion. Right now compusa has a toshiba router/ap for 35 bucks shipped.

[WildTech]

Thanks for the reply

No cordless phone and the puters are pretty much stationary

[BrianClark]

Try going into the wireless network card properties and untick allow windows to configure my wireless settings , reboot, this should make the dlink software kick in and take over. I had problems with dlink dropping its connection and this sorted it out a treat! Make sure you have the lastest software and driver, before making the change.

[WildTech]

Thanks Brian

I'll give that a try

I had someone else tell me that XP's onboard wireless controller is really bad about dropping connections. I was considering this option myself.

Thanks again