Specifically wireless internet... how do they get away with selling this crap? The last wireless node we installed (transmitting to a desktop 15 feet away) would stop working every other day, and take down the whole network with it. To put it simply, if it doesn't work reliably all the time, IT DOESN'T WORK.

I thought cell phones were bad... they've got features out the ying yang, but the service is no more reliable than it was 20 years ago. But wireless internet is the devil... unless you don't mind futzing with it all the time.

Thoughts? Flames?

- Doug

Don't throw out the baby with the bath water. Wireless Internet can work very well. But it can be a pain/problem and in some situations - and there are sometimes fixes.

Wireless lighting (Lutron HomeServer & RadioRa to name two) is one wireless technology that is now EXTREMELY reliable in almost all circumstances as long as you can install repeaters as needed.

What kind of equipment are you using? I am responding to this thread via wireless internet. I am using a 2Wire wireless gateway that was provided to me by SBC. I have not had any problems whatsoever. I can roam throughout the house and not lose ant strength. I have not tried to see how far I can go. I am an installer so I cannot afford a very big house, but I can get at least 50 ft. away from the gateway.

I also used to use Linksys routers (change the password) for the Cal State University technical conferences with very few problems. Almost all my problems were from the infrastructure of the banquet facility.

I take it you checked for possible sources of inteference near the node and the receiver.


Good luck,

Roddy

This message was edited by roddymcg on 01/10/04 23:34.

Wireless opens up a lot of possibilities for tough houses, especially 100 year old ones. My 1933 home has internet everywhere (4 floors) with a mixture of wired and wireless technologies (Linksys primarily).

The best feature I use is printing to my printer in my office, while I'm in bed, using my laptop.

cool stuff!

I use a D-link wireless router and PCMCIA card in my laptop. I have great service in my fairly small house and the back yard. never had any major problems, but it is a little slower outside. The router is acutally in the all metal wiring panel in a closet.

Sounds like something (like cordless phones) may be causing some interference.

Mike

Your complaint reminds me of the state of my art in 1971, when I was very young and considered FM signal strength to be basically magic, especially when trying to pick up signals for thirty receivers in a little hifi store, using thirty dipole antennas. Back then we used 300 ohm twinlead, no 75 ohm cables, etc.

I am also writing this on a wireless conection. It works from our front house room out to the inside of the van at the street (and we have just enough security to discourage the average non-installer), and back to the back yard and garage. The metal-covered patio in between, though, is a dark spot.

Persevere. Create tests where you have only one variable so you can determine what is happening.

The advice about interference is a GREAT one -- I once had horrible problems with a Sony Satellite receiver's RF remote system (at 418 mHz) from an alarm box or a Panasonic phone KSU in the same room. I see no reason either of those should have made interference, but one of them did.

wireless used here too. All linksys stuff. I have to unplug the access point pretty often to "reboot" it. just locks up when it feels like it. there is three access points in the system and I end up doing this reboot on atleast one of them every week.

I've gotten good results with D-link and mixed results with Linksys. I had poor results with Belkin. Actually, I find Belkin is the Terk of computing. Has anyone else had consistantly poor results from Belkin, I avoid their stuff.

I install and personally use Linksys 802.11b and, though the indoor range is nowhere near as great as stated in the sales literature, it has been otherwise reliable. I think that as long as customers' expectations are tempered by a dose of reality, wireless can be a Good Thing(TM). That said, it's inferior to wired for several reasons, so if portability is not an issue, I always suggest to my customers (who inevitably come to me wanting wireless) that they go with wired instead. When wireless coverage is desired in several rooms in a large home I place multiple access points. And I always ALWAYS establish a unique SSID, admin password, and enable 128-bit WEP with a unique key.

I had to replace my fairly new DLink super g router with a newer one. My old one was not really supported, and could not be upgraded. Besides that, I had to reboot it once a day. I could connect to it, but not to the other local devices. So its pretty much hit and miss.

Sometimes their software finds the network when I turn my laptop on, and sometimes it doesn't (10 feet away). I just have to take the bad with good. I would never treat it as a fixed connection. Add interference from all the 2.5G equipment out there and it just doesn't stand up.

DeadKen and me having different experiences with the same brand deserves some clarification. I am using the Dlink 802.11B Airplus line. I use it for convenience with my laptop only. I have however used it reliably outside thru half the house to the street in my car(about 60 feet through 2 walls). I don't have experience with the "g" high speed line but from what I've read the 802.11b is more reliable at greater distance though at a slower speed.

LOL

Buy a REAL access point and all your problems go away.

I have a Proxim AP-600 and get a SOLID 100ft range in my showroom (Filled with Plasma TV's and electronics)

$289 from CDW currently. Its a commercial product designed for public access.

I completely agree with you Impaqt, but what I have found causes even more problems then a shitty WAP is a crappy Wireless NIC. If you have a good WAP and a good WIFI card you should not experience any trouble.

I use a basic Linksys 802.11b/a card in my laptop(About $79) and got the above results..... I think I'm going to order the Proxim 802 card soon..... Then I can really see what this system can do.