More Network anomalies

[RHPConsult]

This somewhat related to Kris’ Mac on network not online thread re: network irregularities (maybe).

After literally months of faultless operations, our home/office LAN

• 3 Macs (10.4.,
• 2 printers,
• ADSL,
• Alcatel modem,
• NetGear wireless switch/router,
• NetGear PowerLine adapters,
• NetGear remote access point,
• Apple Airport Express

is having behavior problems with my AluminumPB, the only wireless computer in the menagerie.

It “works” to get and stay on-line, then it doesn’t. It may go an entire day (or only an hour) without getting squirrelly, before s-l-o-w-d-o-w-n becomes the order of the moment and Server Not Found or Server Timed Out messages start to pop-up.

Accordingly, I have . . .

• Checked all cable/power connections to the modem/adapters/switch-router/access point
• Connected and reconnected all
• Used Network Diagnostics to assess/reconnect the elements after failure
• Moved the remote access point between power in four differing wall plugs

Nuthin’ seems to remedy these new and unpredictable irregularities.

Only 2 new “conditions” have occurred (as best I can recall) since regular, dependable behavior of this LAN has been replaced by its converse.

• 10.4.8 was uneventfully installed on all 3 Macs, 2 of which (ethernetted to the switch-router) are on-line always w/o incident and
• A whizbang, new, high-efficiency forced-air furnace (containing significant electronics not present in the 40-year old box it replaced) has been installed in our dwelling.

How could they, pray tell, have such a curious effect?

What else should I be considering/manipulating?

Suggestions?


PS: For good measure, I also did "maintenance" drills on the PB: DiskWarrior, OnyX, Disk Utility - discovering no problems in the process.

[sandbox]

Open your browser drop this in it http://192.168.0.1
Under Content Filtering look at logs.
They may only have one days worth of data so go there after you have a lost connection. You'll see all your units in there so you'll need to know which address your laptop is on.

If the rest of your network is working, it's most likely outside interference.

You many need to change your channel under "Wireless Settings" default is #11
try another and see if it helps. Make sure none of your other gizmos are using that channel. <experiment>

Earthlink has been a pain as of late you may want to check with them.

I lost my wifi network for the first time three days ago. While investigating I dislodged my voip phone and then the domino effect starting with Earthlink then the further assistance of my blunders.

Of course the wiring was neatly tucked away behind a 300lb Oak Desk and the router firmly attached to the highest possible point behind the 300lb OAKDESK....... now all the wires are ready for tomato sause and the router in lying comfortably on the shelf.      

[krissel]

Possible that the new furnace is causing a problem. Some phones, microwaves, garage door openers, even the new compact fluorescent bulbs can cause interference.

Have you tried changing the channel on the WiFi? Set it for 11 and see if there is an improvement.

[pendragon]

Dick, I don’t have my old Graphite Airport connected now, so details, if required, must come from others. Sorry.

In addition to changing channels, you might also try:
1. There is a setting to join the last (wifi) network or to join a specific network: toggle that and/or try a different setting. If you must join a specific network, I have heard that deleting that setting and then re-creating it often helps.
2. There is also an Airport setting to make your connection more “robust”. You may loose some distance, but what you get should be more reliable. That too may be worth a try.
3. And if you have not already, ensure your software & firmware is current, Airport 4.2, Airport Firmware 4.0.8 or whatever is applicable to your base station and OS.

[chriskleeman]

Dick, from Sandbox:

QUOTE

You many need to change your channel under "Wireless Settings" default is #11

I've had problems with our wireless network from new 2.4 Ghz wireless phones, especially, and for some reason, the default channel #11 seems to get interfered with easily. I would try switching channels first for sure. If that furnace has significant electronics, no telling what kind of spurious EM radiation it might be spewing. We have been happy campers on channel 4 for some time now, but it's really worth playing around with that, and it's by far the easiest thing to try.

Chris K

[RHPConsult]

Thanks guys.

Didn't know there was a "channel" to change.

I'd heard about the possible usefulness of tweaking "robustness" and have turned it on (and off). No change.

Hoping that it will offer some guidance, I'll go on to NetGear's site and check its channel changing capabilities, w/celerity!.  

There seem to be 4 (or perhaps 6) "players" in this little drama: The PB, the NetGear switch/router, the NetGear remote access point, the Apple Airport Express, plus their attached PowerLine Adapters.

And, now that phones have been mentioned, I do have a fairly recently installed cordless phone with significant amplification capabilities to cope with my impaired hearing. However, PB connection did not seem to go south when it was first installed . . . only quite recently.

Live and Learn (I hope) . . . especially on TeeEss.    

And, I thought sprited (daily) discussions with My Beloved about who gets the TV remote constituted the only channels worth worrying about!  

[RHPConsult]

QUOTE

You many need to change your channel under "Wireless Settings" default is #11

Actually, it said "1", so I'll try "4" and see what happens.

However, it (the PB) has been roaring along this morning . . . remember I said the main reason this was so vexing is because it's been so episodic . . . so who knows.

Again, thanks immensely for all the great and well-focused advice.

Stay tuned.

[RHPConsult]

The "final" chapter . . .

Shortly after changing my channel on the NetGear site to "4"  as mentioned in the immediately previous post, my eldest son unexpectedly arrived this morning with a new access point in hand (a NetGear WG602NA). Additionaly, he had a spindle of ethernet cable, declaring that he wanted to eliminate any necessity for me to use the PowerLine Adapters, despite their having worked well for the past couple of years.

Thereupon he proceeded to thread that cable from the NetGear switch/router up into and across our attic and down into a closet which holds, no less, the new furnace. There it (the access point) will be safely out of sight. So now I have an even faster access point directly connected to the switch/router and the DSL modem.

All now seems to be not only well, but a great deal better in our Macified abode!

Again, I do not yet know where the problem(s)-of-recent-vintage resided, but if it never returns – given that we're now safe and secure with ethernet connections – then perhaps we can blame dependence upon our house wiring and the powerLine adapters.

I am truly grateful for all the great advice this morning. Had not my non-resident handyman showed-up with an Alternative Solution, I'm sure that the channel re-selection would have helped start me down the road toward a solution.

Many thanks.

[Xairbusdriver]

Congrats on getting a 'real' network! But it will still be handy to have the wireless available, should you decide to take a laptop out on the back porch while talking to those airliners!

Wireless has many advantages, but I've only used it when traveling. When possible at home/business, ethernet cabling is much cheaper and faster, not to mention more secure!

[krissel]

Just a last bit of info...the default channel numbers are different for various routers. 'Most' use 6 as the default of the possible 1-11.  In severe situations choosing a channel at the far ends of the spectrum are the initial recommendation (hence my suggestion). Then again if your default is something else, your choices are also changed obviously.

Glad you are now on a 'fixed' system. As ABD said, "more secure".  

[RHPConsult]

A woe-full update. Uh oh!

Remember, previous "therapeutic" efforts have included . . .

1. Changing channels
2. Changing plugs into which Netgear Powerline Adapters are inserted
3. Changing remote wireless access points, including wiring one directly to the Netgear Switch-Router
4. Tweaking "robustness"
5. Purchasing a Netgear omnidirectional antenna to "aid" transmission/reception  which, despite its Netgear/Amazon ad was not compatible with my Switch/Router

So?

Problems returned (after my original enthusiasm), meaning something is going on (or not) around here to screw over my putative LAN's wireless component.

Thus, my Non-resident Handyman (aka my eldest son) returned with his (ahem!) new Dell (300 hp) laptop and we tested both laptops for their respective effectiveness wirelessly, with our growing collection of hardware elements. Conclusion: the ethernet cable recently strung through our attic is a) too long or b) defective – stored too many years in his garage!

Fascinating sidebar: during this process, he detected 4 other wireless network auras (?), as in influences. He asks me to ask my better informed Mac-ster pals in this here site: does anyone know wherein Mac OSX resides the capability to detect and register those extra networks. I DO NOT see them in my Network Prefs?

Right now, I am on-line from my favorite remote position only because I have a 12' ethernet cable directly connecting my PB to an ethernet Powerline Adapter. She Who Must Be Obeyed has pronounced this only a "temporary" solution!  

I have just ordered Netgear's new Powerline Adapter that wirelessly emits the appropriate connection w/o the involvement of an additional remote access point. We'll see if that makes any of this easier.

Oh yes, when I called Apple the other day, "they" asserted that the electronics inside the new furnace could well be the cause of the interruption of my previously regularly-functioning wireless connection. Thanks. Kris.

Second Oh yes: I found it interesting that NewEgg had 4 or 5 "reviews" of the Netgear wireless adapter – all B-A-D – whereas Amazon's "reviewers" gave it almost all 4-5 stars. Hmmmm. Different clientele?

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

does anyone know wherein Mac OSX resides the capability to detect and register those extra networks

Not sure I understand the question ( now that would be a first! ). I'm not sure you really want to know where the machine detects wireless networks, it just does, if the hardware ( antenna, receiver, software display ) is working. And it will only 'see' them if Airport is ON, of course.

To select any of the detected networks, you must, as I said ( and I never repeat myself ) have Airport turned on ( I guess you can hardware connect to the external Airport box, too ). That assumes one actually has an Airport card recognized by your machine, of course. We'll make that assumption since you seem rather strongly inclined to use a wireless connection and apparently have before installing the heating system from the Enterprise...

Now, open the Network Prefs Panel. The default appearance should show any and all external networking sources; Built-in Ethernet, Airport ( even if the card is OFF) , Transporter, etc.

There are two pop-up lists near the top of the window; "Location:" and "Show:". Disregard the 'Location' part for now. Click the 'Show' button and you should see at least three items; "Built-in Ethernet", our friend "Airport" and "Network Port Configurations". Select that last choice.

There now magically appears a list of possible "ports" for your use in accessing the rest of the world; see the list above but probably you also have "Internal Modem" and "Built-in FireWire". Make sure the checkbox for Airport is checked. However, do not confuse this with actually turning the Airport card ON/OFF.

Now, in the "Show" pop-up again, select Airport. You will now see a list of any networks that have ever been accessed or that are strong enough to be picked up by the hardware. While the list appears to be a scrolling window, mine lacks the highly useful scroll arrows. But simply clicking on any visible item allows one to then use the up/down arrows to see everything in that list.

Now, if you actually have the Airport card ON, you will also have a "By default, join:" pop-up list. It should probably be set to "Preferred networks" to avoid automatically joining whatever seems to be the strongest signal.

You can use the neat little "-" button to remove networks that you don't want cluttering up the list. And you can rename or enter the name of a network you discover while flying between the mainland and Paradise by using the "+" button.

When satisfied by your entries ( spell chequed, of course ), you can courageously click the "Apply Now" button or simply slink back to the default presentation or cowardly Quit the Prefs Panel, none the worse for your exciting journey.

And that, in as few words as possible, is where one 'registers' those ether-based networks for later use ( as in when you get that heater replaced ) ( after all, which is more important, heat or a functioning Mac network? ).

[RHPConsult]

My dear Mr. Captain AirBusDriver:

Given your recognized status as My Mentor – don't deny it! – you will be immensely pleased, I am persuaded to learn that I know/did all that . . . after all, many, many turnip trucks have passed this way since I fell off the one which was providing me transportation.

Duh question is: How come my son sees 5 wireless networks  hereabouts – using his Dell (somehow) – that I cannot see, sitting next to him in almost the same location on the surface of planet earth?

Huh?

Is there sumthin else?  Anything?

[Mayo]

QUOTE

Duh question is: How come my son sees 5 wireless networks hereabouts – using his Dell (somehow) – that I cannot see, sitting next to him in almost the same location on the surface of planet earth?

The simplest answer is that your PB isn't picking up the signals as well as the Dell.  Either the Dell is more sensitive or the PB has a problem with an Airport component.

[RHPConsult]

Is it reasonable to expect that Apple Hardware Test would be able to identify any Airport "problem"?