Safecom Wireless Problem

Chris W · 12-05-2006, 22:15

I'm trying to setup a wireless network for a friend at the moment using a Safecom SWBAR-5400 router on an ntl connection.

The wired connection is working fine and as expected, but the wireless connection is giving me problems...

Problem:
- sign in for yahoo/ msn messenger or skype takes and age (>1minute)
- ping times to the router are 19ms+ even with no other traffic on the network

Facts:
Machine connecting wirelessly is a Packard Bell laptop with built in wireless (54mb) and XP pro.
Router is brand new and running upto date firmware

What I have tried:
- PC is spyware/ virus free
- signal strength is 100%
- have tried 8 different channels
- wired connection from the same pc works fine
- i have refreshed tcp/ip and completely removed and replaced the rest of the network stack
- the pc was running windows firewall, but enabling/ disabling this makes no difference. There is no other software firewall installed
- changing the SSID and turning encyption on/ off makes no difference at all
- i have uninstalled and reinstalled the wireless card drivers
- netstat shows no active connections when the pc is idling, suggesting there is nothing dodgy going on
- the router shows no unexpected clients on the dhcp list, and the wireless lappy is the only device connecting at the time.

I think that's about it... now anyone got an idea wtf is going on??! me so confused....

nffc · 12-05-2006, 22:58

Which PB is it? S/N would be preferable (PM if you like!).

popper · 13-05-2006, 03:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris W

I'm trying to setup a wireless network for a friend at the moment using a Safecom SWBAR-5400 router on an ntl connection.

The wired connection is working fine and as expected, but the wireless connection is giving me problems...

Problem:
- sign in for yahoo/ msn messenger or skype takes and age (>1minute)
- ping times to the router are 19ms+ even with no other traffic on the network

Facts:
Machine connecting wirelessly is a Packard Bell laptop with built in wireless (54mb) and XP pro.
Router is brand new and running upto date firmware

What I have tried:
- PC is spyware/ virus free
- signal strength is 100%
- have tried 8 different channels
- wired connection from the same pc works fine
- i have refreshed tcp/ip and completely removed and replaced the rest of the network stack
- the pc was running windows firewall, but enabling/ disabling this makes no difference. There is no other software firewall installed
- changing the SSID and turning encyption on/ off makes no difference at all
- i have uninstalled and reinstalled the wireless card drivers
- netstat shows no active connections when the pc is idling, suggesting there is nothing dodgy going on
- the router shows no unexpected clients on the dhcp list, and the wireless lappy is the only device connecting at the time.

I think that's about it... now anyone got an idea wtf is going on??! me so confused....

i went looking for info on the firmware and im not sure if its going to help, whatever, but seems theres might be a problem with firmware on some models.
http://adsltech.com/portal/forum/sea...I=TC&FM=0&OB=1

http://adsltech.com/portal/forum/sea...I=TC&FM=0&OB=1

and poor Jimbobbeers cant use his at all
http://adsltech.com/portal/forum/for...W=SWBAR%2D5400

http://adsltech.com/portal/forum/sea...I=TC&FM=0&OB=1

this was a giggle, wonder if he worked for ntl sometime.
http://adsltech.com/portal/forum/for...sign+in+&TPN=1

http://adsltech.com/portal/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=5

---------- Post added at 03:45 ---------- Previous post was at 03:26 ----------

hang on this *might* be a cure

http://adsltech.com/portal/forum/for...?TID=5624&PN=1
whites Posted: 24/January/2006 at 09:56
"
Hi,
Anyone interested in this I have found and fixed the problem. I changed the LAN ethernet adaptor settings on my desktop PC to only allow 10meg full duplex. I think as it was previously set to 100meg it was allowing too much in and causing congestion on the router. All seems to work fine now "

its an odd one though, iv never come across that before, anyone got any thoughts ?.

Chris W · 13-05-2006, 07:53

Haven't got the lappy here at the moment, so not sure about the serial / model number.

However, I have fixed this, but i don't know why. If the laptop is connected to the power supply, then the ping times are 1ms and all is working fine. It is only when using the battery that the ping times jump up, and the connection quality turns rubbish.

I have checked the power management of the device in device manaager, and the power options in control panel, and everything is ok.

Now i haven't got a clue why the power supply should affect the wireless performance... Seems little point in having a wireless laptop if you can only use it plugged into a power supply imo.

dragon · 13-05-2006, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris W

Haven't got the lappy here at the moment, so not sure about the serial / model number.

However, I have fixed this, but i don't know why. If the laptop is connected to the power supply, then the ping times are 1ms and all is working fine. It is only when using the battery that the ping times jump up, and the connection quality turns rubbish.

I have checked the power management of the device in device manaager, and the power options in control panel, and everything is ok.

Now i haven't got a clue why the power supply should affect the wireless performance... Seems little point in having a wireless laptop if you can only use it plugged into a power supply imo.

thats an odd one, i have a safecom router but i lent it to a mate so cant comment on how well it works, i also had a safecom wireless lan card and i was getting all sorts of corruption/dropouts since changed the wlan card for a Netgear and all my problems dissapeared.

I'm not overly convinced at the relablity of safecom stuff maybe the wlan card went bad (or got cooked by my laptop, as it can get rather hot under high cpu/gfx load) but after the problems i had with it ive been put off safecom.

nffc · 13-05-2006, 23:25

It def sounds like the laptop. As I said... I can check the PB info or anything at work for issues if you let me know the SN or model number...