Change to ethernet setting causing reset

[Colin Messer]

I have a problem changing ethernet settings. Pressing either "Save as" - Ctrl+S or "Done" - Ctrl+D causes a very soft reset (equivalent to Shift+Ctrl+Fn+K at the system screen) to the netBook regardless as to whether I have made a change or not.

I've tried both renaming Commsdb.dat and performing a manual soft reset; neither altered the current behaviour. It would seem that my next and final step is to hard reset the device.

My ethernet settings seem fine and I can access WiFi without any problem. I had intended to enter WEP hexadecimal encryption keys.

I would wecome any advise.

Regards
Colin Messer

[jezza]

What ethernet / wifi card are you using?

Have you disabled your wifi connection (i.e. turned the access point off) while you make the change, and then turn back on afterwards?

[Colin Messer]

Thanks for replying.

I use the Buffalo AirStation WLI-PCM-LIIGP and a Buffalo AirStation 54G router. I upgraded from an 11b router to support faster throughput on a PC and two laptops that share the service. Unfortunately (for them) when I sign on using the netBook 802.11g drops to 802.11b for all connected.

I had tried all the combinations I could think off that made sense: saving the settings both with and without the WiFI card inserted, with the card powered up and powered down, connected to and disconnected from the WiFi service.

I hadn't tried turning off the access point as the fault seems to lie with the netBook.

The behaviour continues to becomfortingly consistent and re-sets when either Ctrl+D or Ctrl+S is pressed.

Colin

[marek]

Hi Colin,

> when I sign on using the netBook 802.11g drops to 802.11b for all connected

Although it's possible to build an Access Point which talks simultaneously to 802.11b and 802.11g clients without dropping speed -- those APs tend to be much more expensive. I'm afraid, you won't find such a device within range of SOHO equipment. (You should probably go for enterprise class AP to get what you want, e.g. for Proxim Orinoco AP-600b/g or AP-2000b/g).

Another option might be to install two APs, and to set up two wireless networks; 802.11b network for your netBook (perhaps utilising your old AP -- if you still have it), and 802.11g network for the laptops (WPA protected -- if you care). Assign those networks two different SSIDs, as well as two different WiFi channels (at lest 6 channels apart to avoid overlapping). Connect your Access Points with cat5, set up routing... Just an idea...

> The behaviour continues to becomfortingly consistent and re-sets when either Ctrl+D or Ctrl+S is pressed.

Once or twice I have experienced similar misbehaviour of my netBook -- strange EPOC Shell crashes when I tried to access certain objects, either in the Control Panel or in the file browser. In my case those strange crashes eventually aggravated. Renaming C:\System\ folder didn't help, formatting RAM-disk didn't help either. Finally, I got an error 'Internal disk corrupt'. At that point I decided to hard-reset the beast -- at that was it! Restored disk C: from CF backup, including 'System' folder (didn't need to reinstall apps). Luckily, all symptoms disappeared (touching wood).

HTH

Marek

[Colin Messer]

I do still have both rounters; it never occured to me set-up two WiFi routers, do they daisy-chain OK? I had never thought of them as 4-port ethernet mini-hubs.

You have given me confidence that a hard-reset may solve the problem, and FastBackup will sort out the restore.

I will report back.

Thanks

[Colin Messer]

Not only did a hard reset sort out the problem, it also recovered 2MB of RAM and the netBook is noticably faster. There were fewer processes running after the hard reset than before, so one or more rogue processe is implicated.

Thanks for the encouragement.

Colin

[cshandley]

Colin, yes you can "daisy chain" them, although you need to ensure they run on widely-separated channel numbers, or else their signals will collide, causing them to slow-down considerably.

[marek]

Colin,

congratulations! I'm truly glad about your success.

> it never occured to me set-up two WiFi routers, do they daisy-chain OK?

It's not that I'm sure about it (not being a professional, not knowing your equipment either) -- yet I presume, there is a chance.

Should you like to discuss the topic in detail with knowledgeable folk, please, visit a forum at WiFi Planet (http://forums.wi-fiplanet.com/). (Or just try out the idea -- and revert your network to the present configuration if you are not satisfied.)

As far as channels separation is concerned, it's sort of recommended to test the channels 1, 6, and 11 in the first place. You would like to assign the best channel to 802.11g network (requires stronger signal then 11Mb transmission), the second best to the 802.11b network -- leaving the third channel free for your neighbours.

Best wishes

Marek

[cshandley]

It is definitely possible, from what I remember reading. I also think you need to give each WiFi access point a different Network Name (SSID).