XP machine keeps dropping wifi connection

[S works]

Just moved my Linksys wifi PC card from a Win98 machine to an XP one and the connection keeps dropping intermittently.

Doesn't seem to be any defined pattern to it as far as I can make out.

Have checked all the settings and it all SEEMS to be right, I just can't understand it. I can only assume the problem is some "feature" XP.

Any suggestions or pointers gratefully rec'd!

Router: Linksys WAG54G
PCI card: Linksys WPMP54G
PC: Dell Dimension 4100, Pent.III, 996mhz, 256mg RAM, XP Pro v2002 SP2

[mattley]

There's a service called Wireless Zero Configuration, which apparently can cause this problem.

Try disabling it.

[roop]

I had no end of problems with the WAG54G. Although I usually swear by Linksys products, this one was just a turd from the word go. Unless it's the later version (you can tell by looking at the box - it advertises ADSL2+ capability) then it could well be the router that doesn't like talking to a client on XP. The issues with this box (earlier one) are well documented on the web. I'd suggest you try the following... :

Ensure firmware on WAG54G is latest version
Ensure drivers on client are latest version
Try switching between Windows XP Zero Configuration and Linksys Client software to see which works best.
Shift the router or client around a little. Sometimes the devices fail to fall back to lower speeds and due to less than perfect signal cannot operate at 54MBit/s. Moving the units (sometimes just a few inches) can make the difference.

Eventually I sent my box back to Linksys who replaced it with the new version, but I had lost faith and ditched the new WAG54G via eBay and bought a 3Com box.

Hope you get it sorted. Fiddling with wireless stuff can be frustrating sometimes.

[Raify]

Some useful information on www.linksysinfo.org

So far I've found the following possible fixes:

1. "Make sure CAM (constantly awake mode) is enabled on your network adapter.
If it's disabled, it will shutdown (disconnect) periodically to save power." If I read this right, it's referring to the power menu before XP starts (usually hitting F2 before windoze boots)

2. Have you considered the possibility of inteference from your dect phone?

3. Tried updating the PCI card driver?

4. Long shot from linksysinfo.org: Move the pci card to a different slot in the mother board.

[sybaseian]

Try changing wireless channel - it could be that there is another wireless network using the same channel and causing you to lose your connection intermittantly.

Ian

[FunkyNige]

How many connections are on the list? I had this problem and solved it by putting the connection I wanted it to connect to at the top of the list.

[bigdods]

Agree with earlier postings - Ive seen the two issues pretty regularly on wireless:

1. Power save mode - just because you are using a desktop not a laptop doesnt mean it wont switch the thing off to save power. Check the properties of the device

2. Channel overlap - where I live every man and his dog seem to be on channel 11 - if I set my wireless to 11 it becomes very unreliable. Now I use ch 6 and have no problems. Download netstumbler , run it on the pc with the wireless card you will be able to see all the APs around you and what channel they are on. Then just pick a free one