Wireless Drops Connections

Hi,

Strange issue this one - think I may have posted about this before.

I've got my home network setup with a Zyxel router, a WatcGuard Firewall and a Linksys WAG325N which is being used as a wi-fi access point only.

DHCP is supplied by the WatchGuard device. I have DHCP relay setup on WAG325N to point to the WatchGuard so any incomming wi-fi connection can get an IP address.

Occasionally (sometime after a large amout of traffic has passed over the wi-fi), the WAG325N just stops working - connections are lost and only a reboot the device (and this device only) restores wi-fi access to the wi-fi clients.

Firmware is all up to date etc.

Any ideas?

[Raistlin]

Is it actually the wifi access connection that's dropping, or is the access point still allowing the clients to connect but not serving them any content?

As far as I can tell it's wi-fi only. My wired PC works after the connection is dropped, The Zyxel has some LEDs which give the sync state and activity - both remains normal - i.e. working which is confirmed by the wired PC.

When the wi-fi drops, the LAN icon remains active but I cannot ping any internal device (router, firewall, printer etc) or anything external like Google - just responds with "unknown host".

Once it drops, I cannot get any new device to connect - say my mobile using the wi-fi - only a reboot of the WAG325N restores the connection.

[Raistlin]

Hmm, doesn't sound like the same issue I was having with another Linksys device - I was still able to ping by IP address, it just wasn't resolving host names through DNS.

Have you tried updating the firmware (I'm sure you have).

[Hom3r]

Reasons for Wi-fi drop are cordless phone / microwave interference, but it could be a neighbour is using the same channel as you.

I use some software on my laptops called WirelessNetView from http://www.nirsoft.net

Originally Posted by Rob M

Hmm, doesn't sound like the same issue I was having with another Linksys device - I was still able to ping by IP address, it just wasn't resolving host names through DNS.

Have you tried updating the firmware (I'm sure you have).

Firmware - yep - running the latest (last) firmware.

---------- Post added at 21:51 ---------- Previous post was at 21:46 ----------

Originally Posted by Hom3r

Reasons for Wi-fi drop are cordless phone / microwave interference, but it could be a neighbour is using the same channel as you.

I use some software on my laptops called WirelessNetView from http://www.nirsoft.net

I've tried changing all the advanced settings - including the channel.

What does that software do then? Assume it's like NetStumbler but I'll go have a look!

[The_Gunslinger]

yes it's similar to that, i've used a couple of NirSoft's free utilities in the past, some of them are actually quite useful, and i've never had any major issues with them, they usually seem fairly stable

[Hom3r]

The one I posted shows all the wireless networks in your area.

I have 4, 3 are all using channel 11, so they will get problems.

I also add these to my routers block list (its shows MACs)

Mine is on 5 - there are 3 devices on ch 6 and 2 devices on ch 11.

Getting 99% signal from mine and the next in line has ~40% / 60%

[xpod]

There seems to be a lot of it about.
Our own wireless access point suddenly keeps dropping off too, regardless of which router i have doing the job of the access point and i`ve been through them all now.Well, all 4 of them.
I think we`ve narrowed it down to the lads new PS3 possibly being the culprit although it`ll be another day or so before i can say for sure.The girls have new Netbbooks & a DSI adding to the congestion too but i`ve not seen the problem recreate itself with only those and my laptop connected.....only with his ps3 it seems.

The lads online gaming would be better suited with a wired connection anyway so it seems he`s gonna have to convince his mother to allow a wire be run up to his room.After wiring most of the last property for ethernet and the WAF problems that caused he`s entirely on his own with that one..