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DeliriumWartner
10-05-2006, 12:17 PM
Hey guys. I've had a Belkin router for quite a while now, and problem after problem's come up. I've managed, through the Indian call centre of Belkin, and through wi-fi smart friends, to fix all but one of these.
The router is connected via wi-fi to my computer upstairs (about 10 ft away, so no distance issues), and works fine, most of the time. The problem comes when I try to game. Usually the game I'm playing isn't even using the internet or the network, but after a few minutes the network disconnects and leaves me with a red-crosses network icon in my tray. If I exit the game, the network will reconnect eventually, quicker if I "repair" it. The weird thing is that the problem seems to be with the router itself. I have a 360 wirelessly set up to it too, and the network dies on that at the same time.
Belkin suggested I change the channel, as well as pretty much every other setting on the damn router, but nothing works. The upstairs comp uses an INexQ USB wi-fi connector.
Can anyone please reply if they have any idea what could fix this?
Cheers, Del
Hello Del,
Does this only happen while you are playing the games? I just want to make sure I understand that you do not get dropped at any other time? You mentioned that it happens after a few minutes after you start the game, does that happen every time and at about the identical time? Also are you sure that the games are not actively using the Internet behind the scenes so to speak? If you have a firewall, you should be able to determine that.
What are the games you are referring to? Also have you checked the game’s web site to see if there were any others having this sort of issue?
Sorry for the questions, but they may help us figure something out.
DeliriumWartner
10-05-2006, 03:19 PM
No problem, I figured there'd be questions.
This used to happen after periods of idling, but Belkin fixed that by changing some of the settings on the router.
It's difficult to determine the exact timing when I've got a game up, but it usually happens within the first 10 minutes or so, although that can vary. And I'm almost certain that the games aren't using the net. It's happening with all games, from Steam games (which use the net, obviously), to games which don't use the internet at all. I have a hell of a lot of games, and it seems to happen with all of them. It even happens with some web-games, as well as DOS based games.
I know it's not very specific, and therefore not very helpful, but it's one that noone seems to be able to fix.
Cheers for any replies, Del
it may be windows related or the client software that is controlling the wifi device on your PC.
theres always a profile database where various SSIDs/settings are stored. It may be because the priority of the googlewifi isnt on top, causing your PC to try and connect to another SSID that sporadically appears. Try chekcing to see that no other SSIDs are in the profile, and not higher priority than googlewifi.
DeliriumWartner
10-06-2006, 05:30 AM
As far as I'm aware, there are no other SSIDs in the area, and my current one is the only one in my list. And would this only happen while gaming, if that was the case?
Del
I have a few tests I would like to see you try.
1. Remove the router from the Internet and play the games and see if it still happens.
2. If possible temporarily connect via Ethernet cable to the router instead of wireless and see if it happens.
3. Any possibility of borrowing a different router and testing it?
Zedx had some points, but one would think if there is some interference or other wireless networks in the area, you would have the problem at random times not just when running games.
But, IMO it is still related to the game or application sending a great deal of information over the wireless connection. That coupled with the possibility of interference, lower that optimal signal strength could result in a dropped link.
So Zedx’s questions about other wireless networks are something to explore. Have you tried different channels?
Would you be interested in downloading an application called WireShark? It is a packet sniffer that captures all traffic sent by your computer. It would tell us a great deal about what might be happening.
http://www.wireshark.org/
If you do this, start WireShark before you start the game and let it run in the background. When the link drops, stop WireShark and see if you can find anything unusual or at that time you could post the information here so we can check it out.
DeliriumWartner
10-06-2006, 11:14 AM
1. I will give this a go in the next few days, at the moment it's not practical.
2. Not really possible at the moment, as I have no cable long enough.
3. I don't know anyone with a router in my area, but I will ask around.
I've downloaded Wireshark, and capture a 6 minute interval when I know it happened. I've no idea what I'm looking for, though. How can I post the info here?
I just checked the trace rather quickly and did you have anything else running besides the game at the time of the trace? Do you have another computer on the network?
You were actively sending traffic to over 10 different sources during that 6 minute period. You have a great deal of Internet activity going on that you are not aware of, unless you did not shut all other applications off. If you did not, please redo the trace and send it to me again.
DeliriumWartner
10-07-2006, 04:10 PM
Hey, just to let you know I have sent another one. Sometimes gmail will simply not send my emails, so please ask me to send again if that's the case :)
Del
I did not get it and can you please tell me if you had a bunch of other applications going at the same time for the first trace? Otherwise you may have a root kit problem.
DeliriumWartner
10-08-2006, 11:50 AM
Resent, and yeah I did. Sorry about that :o
The new one is with as much shut off as I could, hope there's enough there for you.
Del
DeliriumWartner
10-09-2006, 02:36 PM
Hi again. I tried what you suggested, turning off my internet and seeing if it still disconnected. It did. I guess it can't be the game trying to send too much info over the net. Guess it's back to square one :(
Del
Two more thoughts. I would suggest searching the game forums as they maybe more aware of this behavior than this forum.
Have you looked at the event logs to see if there are any error messages that might relate to this?
DeliriumWartner
10-09-2006, 03:52 PM
I haven't thought to search game forums, simply because it happens with ever game I play, so I figured I'd try a tech forum first.
And yeah, I've had a look through the capture, but it's working fine one minute and the next it's error, error, error. The errors are all "not connecting" errors, I assume, so I don't think it's gonna tell us anything.
Could it be a fault with my Belkin router? I've heard Belkin are very unreliable. PC Gamer Magazine forums simply say never buy Belkin. Wish I'd read that before buying it *rolls eyes*
Del
I feel your pain and I am almost out of ideas. As for Belkin, I did not want to mention anything, but I have had nothing but very bad luck with Belkin. I also have no experience with that particular USB wireless adapter. But it only uses WEP encryption, so I would suggest getting a newer USB adapter as well.
I have only recently been promoting this next device as the FCC has not responded to whether this is within regulations or not. So, what the heck, I guess. I have been using the LinkSys WRT54GL and changing the firmware to DD-WRT. It turns that device into an Uber-cool wireless device. It can act as a wireless router, access point, access point client or bridge client. You can adjust the power and a zillion other things. That, plus a better USB wireless adapter maybe just the answer. But, I am sorry that I can not promise that. I personally would upgrade if possible just to take advantage of a better device as well as start using WPA2.
DeliriumWartner
10-10-2006, 05:05 AM
Is this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-WRT54GL-UK-Wireless-Router-Switch/dp/B000ETX928) the one you meant? And would this (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-Wireless-G-Network-Adapter-WUSBF54G/dp/B000EOTCQ0/sr=1-1/qid=1160474251/ref=sr_1_1/026-6029679-2866829?ie=UTF8&s=electronics) be a decent USB adapter, or could you suggest another from amazon.co.uk?
Also, I'm not that up on wifi hardware I haven't pissed around with for a while. Would you might doing a little guide on how to properly configure one? I think it might be a cool sticky, unless you're really not keen on actively promoting it.
Cheers, Del
That is the correct router. What has happend was that LinkSys had used Linux as an operating system on these routers. That way you could flash all of them. But, recently they converted to VxWorks and decreased the amount of onboard memory. That made it more difficult to flash using aftermarket firmware. But, they saw the complaints and are not stupid so they came out with the GL version that can be flashed.
As for the USB adapter that one is a special one in that you can use it to locate wireless sources, I have one similar to that by ZyXEL that works quite well. If you do not need the WiFi Locater you could use a normal one. I find it very difficult to push one brand over another as every device has its detractors and problems. I would feel bad if that happened to something I said was worthy. The router with DD-WRT (free and open source) firmware is different slightly and works so well that I wonder why the vendor does not incorporate the features.
Also with the USB adapter I would get an USB cable and use that as something to move the device around to get a better signal as just plugging it into the computer may not be as effective unless you are close to the router.
As for the sticky, that might be a good idea. This link is the installation procedure that I follow.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Index:Install