[27389] in resnet
Re: Trouble with Wireless Cards
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Andy Voelker)
Tue Feb 28 14:02:14 2012
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Message-ID: <B3C0241889401F4AB97A55E980BABBA00134598F8C7E@EXV01.wcu.edu>
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:59:19 -0500
Reply-To: Resnet Forum <RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu>
From: Andy Voelker <avoelker@email.wcu.edu>
To: RESNET-L@listserv.nd.edu
In-Reply-To: <C341C07FB9D49343842DE8D8B70F4ECB26FC47CCEC@MAIL1.csntprod.morrisville.edu>
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Good idea. I believe we are set to a 5.5 Mb basic data rate at most on tha=
t network, but we may be set to a 2. I'll check on that. We've tried all =
sorts of drivers on the intel card. As I recall the RaLink adapter does no=
t have options for BSS or data rate connections. It basically has two AD-H=
oc options, power management, a/b/g/n and that's about it. We've messed wi=
th them all. In the '90s WCU "strongly recommended" a 3Com wired network a=
dapter, for compatibility reasons. I'd hate to have to go back to that....=
Between that, the firmware (don't know if RaLink or Realtek even do that) a=
nd the beamwidth, I'll do some investigation. Any other ideas?
-- Andy Voelker
Manager of Student Computing in the Technology Commons
Western Carolina University
Be sure to check out the WCU TechTips Podcast at http://www.youtube.com/Wes=
ternCarolinaU!!
Check the status of your IT requests at any time at http://help.wcu.edu/ !
Andy,
This might sound like a shot in the dark but have you checked the manuf=
acturer's website for a firmware update by chance? I worked at a place tha=
t was a fan of Cisco cards but when we changed to the new (at the time) G a=
ccess points and we ran into connection issues. It turned out that we need=
ed a firmware update that fixed a bug in the b/g connection compatibility i=
ssue. No guarantees that the other listed vendors have anything to that de=
gree, but it is worth looking at. At least that way you can honestly say y=
ou have expended all avenues of troubleshooting.
Derek
IT
From: Resnet Forum [mailto:RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU]<mailto:[mailto:RESNET-=
L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU]> On Behalf Of Barber, Matt
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 10:01 AM
To: RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU<mailto:RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU>
Subject: Re: Trouble with Wireless Cards
Hi Andy,
The Intel 4965s were somewhat problematic at first, but they were much bett=
er after updating drivers. I think it was version 13 that finally made them=
behave okay, if I am remembering correctly. We also made a point of turnin=
g off power management settings in Windows for these adapters. They seemed =
to perform very poorly when the options were turned on.
We did have some Realtek cards that were single-stream 11n adapters. They w=
ould not connect to a network that had the upper half of the MCS data rates=
(8-15) set as "base" rates on our controllers. We ended up setting all of =
the MCS data rates as supported, but not requiring clients to support any o=
f them. That seemed to fix things for many of these really cheap 11n adapte=
rs.
Take care,
Matt Barber '06
Network and Systems Manager
Morrisville State College
315-684-6053
From: Resnet Forum [mailto:RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU]<mailto:[mailto:RESNET-=
L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU]> On Behalf Of Andy Voelker
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 9:51 AM
To: RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU<mailto:RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU>
Subject: Trouble with Wireless Cards
Has anyone seen various wireless cards that just WILL NOT connect to your w=
ireless network? Usually these are cheap cards with very few driver option=
s. Still, no matter what we do, it just won't work. Yet, they can get on =
at Starbucks and at home, so it must be our fault! These cards include:
Realtek 8188CE and 8191C (won't connect at all)
Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030 and 4965 (won't connect in N or A modes, onl=
y B/G)
Ralink 802.11n Wireless LAN Card (won't connect at all)
We have a 40MHz beamwidth on our network, which several cards default to a =
20MHz. Fixing this usually helps, but not in the case of the Intel. The o=
ther cards listed don't have this option in the driver. I haven't tested s=
etting out network to a 20 MHz yet, so that may be a first step toward comp=
atibility.
-- Andy Voelker
Manager of Student Computing in the Technology Commons
Western Carolina University
Be sure to check out the WCU TechTips Podcast at http://www.youtube.com/Wes=
ternCarolinaU!!
Check the status of your IT requests at any time at http://help.wcu.edu/ !
___________________________________________________ You are subscribed to t=
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To subscribe, unsubscribe or search the archives, go to http://LISTSERV.ND.=
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nk=3Dpurple><div class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'c=
olor:#1F497D'>Good idea. I believe we are set to a 5.5 Mb basic data =
rate at most on that network, but we may be set to a 2. I’ll ch=
eck on that. We’ve tried all sorts of drivers on the intel card=
. As I recall the RaLink adapter does not have options for BSS or dat=
a rate connections. It basically has two AD-Hoc options, power manage=
ment, a/b/g/n and that’s about it. We’ve messed with them=
all. In the ‘90s WCU “strongly recommended” a 3Com=
wired network adapter, for compatibility reasons. I’d hate to =
have to go back to that….<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><=
span style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNorm=
al><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>Between that, the firmware (don’t kn=
ow if RaLink or Realtek even do that) and the beamwidth, I’ll do some=
investigation. Any other ideas?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoN=
ormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3D=
MsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>-- Andy Voelker<o:p></o:p></span></=
p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>Manager of Student Com=
puting in the Technology Commons<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>=
<span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>Western Carolina University<o:p></o:p></span>=
</p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>Be sure to check out=
the WCU TechTips Podcast at <a href=3D"http://www.youtube.com/WesternCarol=
inaU">http://www.youtube.com/WesternCarolinaU</a>!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p=
class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>Check the status of your I=
T requests at any time at <a href=3D"http://help.wcu.edu/">http://help.wcu.=
edu/</a> !<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style=3D'mso-element:para-border-div;b=
order:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>=
<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'border:none;padding:0in'><span style=3D'color=
:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div><p class=3DMsoNormal><span styl=
e=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoPlainText>And=
y,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoPlainText> This might soun=
d like a shot in the dark but have you checked the manufacturer's website f=
or a firmware update by chance? I worked at a place that was a fan of=
Cisco cards but when we changed to the new (at the time) G access points a=
nd we ran into connection issues. It turned out that we needed a firm=
ware update that fixed a bug in the b/g connection compatibility issue.&nbs=
p; No guarantees that the other listed vendors have anything to that degree=
, but it is worth looking at. At least that way you can honestly say =
you have expended all avenues of troubleshooting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3D=
MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=3DMsoPlainText>Derek<o:p></o:p><=
/p><p class=3DMsoPlainText>IT<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span styl=
e=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><b=
><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</=
span></b><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'=
> Resnet Forum <a href=3D"mailto:[mailto:RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU]">[mailto=
:RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU]</a> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Barber, Matt<br><b>Sent:=
</b> Tuesday, February 28, 2012 10:01 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href=3D"mailto:RE=
SNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU">RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Re:=
Trouble with Wireless Cards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p=
> </o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>Hi Andy=
,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'><=
o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497=
D'>The Intel 4965s were somewhat problematic at first, but they were much b=
etter after updating drivers. I think it was version 13 that finally made t=
hem behave okay, if I am remembering correctly. We also made a point of tur=
ning off power management settings in Windows for these adapters. They seem=
ed to perform very poorly when the options were turned on. <o:p></o:p></spa=
n></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p><=
/span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'>We did have so=
me Realtek cards that were single-stream 11n adapters. They would not conne=
ct to a network that had the upper half of the MCS data rates (8-15) set as=
“base” rates on our controllers. We ended up setting all of th=
e MCS data rates as supported, but not requiring clients to support any of =
them. That seemed to fix things for many of these really cheap 11n adapters=
.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'><=
o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497=
D'>Take care,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'colo=
r:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><b><span style=
=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Matt B=
arber ‘06</span></b><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Time=
s New Roman","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNor=
mal><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:=
#1F497D'>Network and Systems Manager</span><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o=
:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;fo=
nt-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Morrisville State College</sp=
an><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal=
><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F=
497D'>315-684-6053</span><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></=
p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></spa=
n></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><b><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"=
Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-=
family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Resnet Forum <a href=3D"mailto:[mailto:RESNE=
T-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU]">[mailto:RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU]</a> <b>On Behalf Of=
</b>Andy Voelker<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 28, 2012 9:51 AM<br><b>=
To:</b> <a href=3D"mailto:RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.EDU">RESNET-L@LISTSERV.ND.ED=
U</a><br><b>Subject:</b> Trouble with Wireless Cards<o:p></o:p></span></p><=
p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>Has anyone se=
en various wireless cards that just WILL NOT connect to your wireless netwo=
rk? Usually these are cheap cards with very few driver options. =
Still, no matter what we do, it just won’t work. Yet, they can=
get on at Starbucks and at home, so it must be our fault! These card=
s include:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=
=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Ser=
if","sans-serif"'>Realtek 8188CE and 8191C (won’t connect at all)<o:p=
></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:9.0pt;font-=
family:"TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif";color:#555555;background:white'>Intel Ce=
ntrino Wireless-N 1030 and </span><span style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;font-famil=
y:"Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"'>4965 </span><span style=3D'font-size=
:9.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRomanPSMT","serif";color:#555555;background:whi=
te'>(won’t connect in N or A modes, only B/G)</span><span style=3D'fo=
nt-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p><=
/span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"=
Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"'>Ralink 802.11n Wireless LAN Card (won&#=
8217;t connect at all)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span styl=
e=3D'font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"'><o:p>=
</o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:8.0pt;=
font-family:"Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></=
p><p class=3DMsoNormal>We have a 40MHz beamwidth on our network, which seve=
ral cards default to a 20MHz. Fixing this usually helps, but not in t=
he case of the Intel. The other cards listed don’t have this op=
tion in the driver. I haven’t tested setting out network to a 2=
0 MHz yet, so that may be a first step toward compatibility.<o:p></o:p></p>=
<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>-- Andy Voel=
ker<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>Manager of Student Computing in the =
Technology Commons<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>Western Carolina Univ=
ersity<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>Be sure to check out the WCU Tech=
Tips Podcast at <a href=3D"http://www.youtube.com/WesternCarolinaU">http://=
www.youtube.com/WesternCarolinaU</a>!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal>C=
heck the status of your IT requests at any time at <a href=3D"http://help.w=
cu.edu/">http://help.wcu.edu/</a> !<o:p></o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p=
> </o:p></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-=
family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><br clear=3Dall><o:p></o:p></span></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Ro=
man","serif"'>___________________________________________________ You are s=
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/a> ___________________________________________________ <o:p></o:p></p><p c=
lass=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Rom=
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ass=3DMsoNormal><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roma=
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