Problem with Repeater

[DanF]

I've set up a repeater for a client. They are using 3 laptops. The router/switch is a Linksys.

Long story short, the repeater works fine on 2 laptops but the other isn't able to connect to the repeater. It connects to the router fine though. The client is able to access the internet while in the router area but is not able to access the internet when at the repeater area.

Client gets a good signal from the repeater and is able to load Google sometimes, and half another website, but it then just cuts out. As far as I can remember the connection would be still be CONNECTED and with a full signal but no connection at all.

I'm not sure about this but if I remember correctly the laptop is not able to ping the repeater. This is the newest notebook among the 3.

 

[Knightsman]

I've set up a repeater for a client. They are using 3 laptops. The router/switch is a Linksys.

Long story short, the repeater works fine on 2 laptops but the other isn't able to connect to the repeater. It connects to the router fine though. The client is able to access the internet while in the router area but is not able to access the internet when at the repeater area.

Client gets a good signal from the repeater and is able to load Google sometimes, and half another website, but it then just cuts out. As far as I can remember the connection would be still be CONNECTED and with a full signal but no connection at all.

I'm not sure about this but if I remember correctly the laptop is not able to ping the repeater. This is the newest notebook among the 3.

We really need more info to help better.

1st: what type of router and repearter are you using.

2nd: How big is the building that you need a repeater?

3rd: What type of devices and what OS are they using.

 

[DanF]

- What do you mean what type of router? It's one of the newer Linksys routers. This particular notebook connects fine with the gateway.

- I've decided to go with a repeater cause the building is long and the notebooks couldn't get a descent signal at the end of the house. Now all get a descent signal, including this particular notebook. The difference is that 2 get internet access while this one won't.

- Notebooks. This particular notebook that is not able to access the internet is an Acer running Windows 7. The other 2 are running Windows 7 and Windows XP.

PS. 2 notebooks work fine, it's just with this particular notebook. I've also removed Norton thinking that it was blocking traffic from the repeater, but it didn't help. The notebook connects fine with the router (via WiFi).

Thanks for your reply

 

[Knightsman]

- What do you mean what type of router? It's one of the newer Linksys routers. This particular notebook connects fine with the gateway.

- I've decided to go with a repeater cause the building is long and the notebooks couldn't get a descent signal at the end of the house. Now all get a descent signal, including this particular notebook. The difference is that 2 get internet access while this one won't.

- Notebooks. This particular notebook that is not able to access the internet is an Acer running Windows 7. The other 2 are running Windows 7 and Windows XP.

PS. 2 notebooks work fine, it's just with this particular notebook. I've also removed Norton thinking that it was blocking traffic from the repeater, but it didn't help. The notebook connects fine with the router (via WiFi).

Thanks for your reply

I mean, whats the model #. Are you using a business grade router+repeater?

The type of router and repeater are important. Meaning model #'s.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

If 2x laptops work fine..but this newer laptop has an issue with the repeater...I would look at "What are the differences between this troublesome laptop and the other 2 laptops that work?"

Older laptops..are they XP and the new one is Win7? If so...may have a compatibility issue 'tween the repeater and Win7, and/or IP6.

How about the wireless adapter on this new laptop? Over they years I've learned to throw out those with Broadcom wireless chipsets...just constant headaches. When spec'ing out laptops for clients...I learned a long time ago..."Intel wireless...Intel wireless...or Intel wireless". Any others... = headaches.

Some things I'd look at...
*Update firmware of primary router, as well as the repeater
*Update wireless NIC drivers on the troublesome laptop
*See if any 3rd party software firewalls on this troublesome laptop...if so, take the out of the equation as a troubleshooting step.
*Adjust wireless channels....here in the US I stick with 1,6, and 11. Look at the two, ensure not competing.

 

[DanF]

Thank you so much for the replies

To answer your questions:

- The router in question is a Linksys WRT model (http://home.cisco.com/en-eu/products/routers/WRT120N)
- The working laptops are both XP and Win7. The non-working laptop is Win7.

I may try to use a USB WiFi dongle and see if it works instead of the built-in WiFi chip. That's a really good idea. I've also removed Norton thinking that its firewall might been blocking some network traffic... but it's not the case. I've already updated the WiFi chip drivers, but haven't tried to update the router's and the repeater's firmware.

The repeater is this one:

http://dx.com/p/portable-2-4ghz-802...wi-fi-router-white-ac-110-230v-155633?item=38

(not the best website to get stuff from but I never had problems with the others I installed for other clients)

 

[Knightsman]

Here is my personal opinion

I would replace that repeater with either a decent linksys repeater. I try to keep brands the same when dealing with networks.

I would also see about moving the demarc to the center of the building, or at least move the wifi router to the center.

 

[DanF]

The repeater is at the center, but the clients are not able to move the router to the center, due to the nature of the building, how the building is designed, etc... I've managed to convince them to at least move it a little bit further to an 'open space area'.

But like I said, the signal is quite good, it's just this particular notebook that is not able to connect (although the connection is there and is with a good signal).

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Never seen that repeater...looking for just a brand name on it...coming up empty.

How many computers total on this network?

Between the entry level wrt120 model..and this no-name repeater...I suggest bumping up to some decent hardware, more business grade. I stay away from repeaters too...if I need wireless in another area of a building/office..I prefer to use copper to hang another AP down in that area.

 

[SilverLeaf]

Have you tried booting the laptop in question from a live linux CD/DVD? If you can connect to the repeater when doing so, you can eliminate the hardware as the problem, and start looking at drivers, firewalls, config, etc.

 

[DanF]

SilverLeaf... I forgot about that!!!! I'll try it

YeOldeStonecat: 3 notebooks (inc. my Android) I thought it was some kind of restriction from the repeater's side, meaning restricting the number of devices. However, it's always the same notebook, and it doesn't matter if the others are off. I gave one to my fiancee and they have all sort of Apple devices. All of them worked fine and signal was almost 100% all the time.

At this point in time I'm thinking for alternatives, but the clients don't want to use physical wiring at all. That is the only time I use repeaters. Are there any power lines that provide WiFi?

 

[Knightsman]

SilverLeaf... I forgot about that!!!! I'll try it

YeOldeStonecat: 3 notebooks (inc. my Android) I thought it was some kind of restriction from the repeater's side, meaning restricting the number of devices. However, it's always the same notebook, and it doesn't matter if the others are off. I gave one to my fiancee and they have all sort of Apple devices. All of them worked fine and signal was almost 100% all the time.

At this point in time I'm thinking for alternatives, but the clients don't want to use physical wiring at all. That is the only time I use repeaters. Are there any power lines that provide WiFi?

I wouldnt use power lines at all. The only time you should use it, if its the absolute last options.

Like Yeold said, you nee better equipment first hand.

I would load ubuntu up on the laptop and see if it works. If it does, then it might be the glitch that vista/7 has still that prevents connecting to the internet in some cases.

It sounds like you might still be a bit new to the game. Here is my advice for future clients like this. There is the best way to do this, and their is the cheap way to do this. Anytime you go against your best judgement and go with whats cheaper for the customer, it always comes back to bite you, as it is now. You don't always get the sale with this, but it also saves you money from hassles you dont have to deal with in the future.

 

[DanF]

Good advise Knightsman... in fact another client just called that the repeater stopped working. Now I know that he exaggerates a bit, and that most probably he is not able to connect from a particular location. But, this confirms your statement. I will bite the bullet and take it back if it's of no good.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I've actually had good luck with powerline adapters (even use them at my home). IMO, better than using wireless to stretch coverage.

 

[DanF]

Today I visited the client again, and spent 2 hours configuring the router and the repeater. I give 30 days of guarantee on labor with each invoice, so it was done for free, but this is my decision.

Starting from the end... it worked and the signal is much better than it was before. Everywhere is full signal and fast WiFi internet. I've updated the Linksys firmware, and the repeater's firmware. That didn't solve the problem (alone, at least). I've changed a couple of IPs from the router and the repeater.

The repeater was on subnet 192.168.10.xxx while the router was on subnet 192.168.1.xxx. I don't know if this had anything to do with the solution (in fact I don't really know what really fixed the problem), but I've set both on subnet 192.168.10.xxx I've also tried to use the WPS buttons but that didn't work.

At one point in time I've also set the IP of both devices the same, by mistake. This result was very strange and confusing (especially after 1.5 hours of configurations). While inputting the device's IP attached to the repeater, the router config comes up. When the device's IP is inputted when attached to the router, the repeater config came up. Finally, I've changed the IPs to a different host number on the same network ID and it worked fine.

Again, if you had to ask me what fixed the prob... I wouldn't know I'm sure you've had similar experiences before haha

 

[Knightsman]

Today I visited the client again, and spent 2 hours configuring the router and the repeater. I give 30 days of guarantee on labor with each invoice, so it was done for free, but this is my decision.

Starting from the end... it worked and the signal is much better than it was before. Everywhere is full signal and fast WiFi internet. I've updated the Linksys firmware, and the repeater's firmware. That didn't solve the problem (alone, at least). I've changed a couple of IPs from the router and the repeater.

The repeater was on subnet 192.168.10.xxx while the router was on subnet 192.168.1.xxx. I don't know if this had anything to do with the solution (in fact I don't really know what really fixed the problem), but I've set both on subnet 192.168.10.xxx I've also tried to use the WPS buttons but that didn't work.

At one point in time I've also set the IP of both devices the same, by mistake. This result was very strange and confusing (especially after 1.5 hours of configurations). While inputting the device's IP attached to the repeater, the router config comes up. When the device's IP is inputted when attached to the router, the repeater config came up. Finally, I've changed the IPs to a different host number on the same network ID and it worked fine.

Again, if you had to ask me what fixed the prob... I wouldn't know I'm sure you've had similar experiences before haha

The repeater having a different ip can certainly cause issues. Glad you got it working! Good job.