Author Topic: Airport keeps loosing connection (Read 3878 times)

marie · « **on:** December 31, 2003, 06:29:29 PM »

Hi all,
Wondered if any other TS'ers are having issues with their AE card loosing the connection randomly? I have a linksys wireless router hooked into a toshiba cable modem. The silly windoze laptop just surfs away. However, my powerbook looses the connnection after sleep, restart etc. I find myself powercycling my router, and it will again "obtain" the routers address (renew of ip does not work!). When I loose connectivity to the router it will obtain the ip, defualt gateway and router field is blank.
This occurs SEVERAL times a day and is quite agrevating!
I did go to Apples website and check out their discussion forums and did see where other users are suffering the same trials as myself.
Just wondered if anyone else is seeing this trend or experiencing this themselves?
Thanks in advance,
Marie

Mayo · « **Reply #1 on:** December 31, 2003, 07:42:42 PM »

Marie, when this was happening to me the fix was a firmware update for the Linksys. Apparently, as I continued to upgrade the Airport software the Linksys fell further and further behind, and the frequency of dropped or unsuccessful connections increased over time. The firmware update immediately solved the problem and I haven't had a single connection glitch since applying the update.

Your Windows computer will make updating the firmware a real snap because you won't have to do a little work-around necessary for Macs to do the deed. Juts make sure that you download the correct firmware patch for your router version.

marie · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2004, 07:02:40 PM »

Well,
I checked what you suggested and no dice. Latest firmware is in the router. I guess until I can find a solution or someone elese does I will live with constant powercycles of the router

kelly · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2004, 07:46:14 PM »

For what it's worth Marie.

AirPort: Troubleshooting Outline

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106858

Mayo · « **Reply #4 on:** January 02, 2004, 08:26:07 PM »

If I was having this problem I would then consider whether a recent upgrade of the Airport software either caused the problem or might improve the performance of the Linksys if I was running an older version of Airport. Maybe if you are using an old version of Airport with the latest firmware it will cause symptoms similar to those caused by using old firmware/new Airport software.

The fact that your Windows computer connects just fine and the Mac does not leads me to believe that there is a compatibilty problem between the Airport software and the Linksys. It could be as simple as a single setting gone awry.

I then would do a hard reset of the Linksys if the Airport software angle didn't pan-out. And if that doesn't produce desirable results, I would hit the forums for possible fixes.

Did you have any problems determining the exact Linksys router version you have? I had to call Linksys to find out that I had a version 1...If I remember correctly that is the only router that doesn't have a version number on the back label.

I'm sorry that my first suggestion didn't do it Marie. I was hoping that was going to do the trick because your symptoms are virtually identical to what I experienced.

When I was having my problems I found a number of related posts at the Macnn forums. Perhaps one of those threads might offer a solution.

marie · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2004, 09:51:48 PM »

Oh don't get me wrong I appreciate all suggestions .....for sure. I guess I should not complain...LOL the walk from the dining room to the router is exersize right?

I am unsure as to what you are referring to when you say Macnn? If you are referring to the Apple websites support discussion forums it seems to be a pretty common issue. Everyone is scrambling it seems to try and find a resolution, so I know at this point I am not alone. Seems its with the Linksys BEFW11S4 in particular.
I honestly at first thought I had configured something improperly!
As for when it began, I cannot honestly answer that. My powerbook arrived with Jaguar, and I immediatly upgraded to Panther, same night as its arrival. In hindsight maybe I should have held off a bit.
Again, thanks so much for the suggestions. I will just sit tight and keep my eyes peeled for anything I see that may help out.
Thank you!

Paddy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2004, 10:38:51 PM »

Marie, Mayo is referring to the forums at MacNN.com (the Mac News Network). The one you want is:

Networking forum

Another place you might want to search, or post a question is at the Airport & wireless forum at MacFixit:

http://www.macfixitforums.com/php/postlist...&Board=wireless

You also might want to search Cross Platform & Networking:

http://www.macfixitforums.com/php/postlist...t=&Board=Forum6

And at MacFixit, watch for input from John Strung - (another lawyer!) - he's a real networking whiz.

Mayo · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2004, 02:39:53 AM »

I'm sorry that I wasn't more specific regarding the Macnn forum info. And yes, it does somehow make us feel a little less alone to know that others are in the same boat...someone is bound to hit upon a solution sooner or later.

I wonder what the glitch could be? I am using that particular router with Panther, and after experiencing some set-up problems related to WEP (Thread Here) I haven't had a single problem. Airport has performed flawlessly, which rather surprises me because it has been problematic in the past.

marie · « **Reply #8 on:** January 06, 2004, 07:34:30 PM »

Ok Mayo...
Think I just might owe you an apology...after much searching and aggrevation, I decided to double check, throw caution to the wind ......and go back to linksys and just try running a firmware upgrade and if I cook the router, well....
It sucessfully updated the firmware.....so who knows..no smoke rolled out of that #$#%#$%$&^&%& router......
I have initially upon quick testing ( sleep mode and a restart) obtained the connection right off the bat without having to powercycle the router, or go into the network and try tinkering with the settings!! Boy do I hope this lasts!! I love my Apple, but aggrevation was really getting the best of me!!
So in closing, many apologys....(SP?) I believe you are right and I jumped the gun. I do have one question, if the firmware does not need upgraded will it not do it? Did I just "overlay" the firmware? Router firmware upgrades are new to me, so I may have fouled up...Heck I don't know....
I am so confused I got the smoke rolling out my ears!!

marie · « **Reply #9 on:** January 06, 2004, 07:57:06 PM »

More testing......still working!!

Mayo · « **Reply #10 on:** January 06, 2004, 08:16:48 PM »

Marie, I don't know if the router is smart enough to decline an upgrade if the firmware is current...But since the firmware upgrade immediately preceded your connection problem disappearing, it makes me think that the upgrade did the trick, just like it did for me. At least you know for sure that the firmware is current.

We'll keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best!

marie · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2004, 09:31:05 PM »

Mayo,
The word on the Apple support forums is out, I and another poster have both upgraded firmware and ensured the most current airport software, and so far the result is GREAT!
Thanks again so much for posting and suggesting!!

Mayo · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2004, 10:54:13 PM »

SO glad that it seems to have done the trick. It is always great when one of us at TS has had the same problem in the past and can provide a possible fix without a lot of trial and error involved.

If only ALL questions could be answered so quickly and easily!

News:

Author Topic: Airport keeps loosing connection (Read 3878 times)