🚀 go-pugleaf

spellinellen@yahoo.com (Ellen Spelling) wrote in message news:<2b8cf934.0403241535.1263dfb8@posting.google.com>...
> QUESTION:
>  - Why would a WinXP machine keep dropping the wireless connection
>    while an idential Win2K machine keeps its connection strong?
> 
> I have multiple identical hardware IBM A31p laptops:
>  - I never need to REFRESH the Win2K wireless connection;
>  - The WinXP drops its connection constantly !

It's normal for an IBM laptop wireless connection to droput  
every ten minutes. It's a security measure to prevent drive
by connections. However, for yours to drop off every five 
minutes is shorter than mine (which is ten minutes max for 
the IBM A31p laptop under Windows XP).

I respond because I had the exact same problem. When I called
IBM (under warranty) they said it was "normal" for the 
wireless connection to dropout every 10 to 15 minutes for
"security" reasons.

Since my wireless connection on my A31p laptop lasts for about
10 minutes, the support hotline said that's all I could hope
for before losing the connection. They said most users keep 
the "View Available Wireless Networks" form handy so they can
constantly click the "Connect" button. One tech said not to 
hit the "Connect" button but to always hit the button from
"Properties ... Wireless Network ... Rescan" so a new channel
(SSID I think he called it) would be chosen automatically.

He said the added security was worth the extra button presses.

Either way, it seems all IBM A31p laptop users have this
"feature" of the wireless card dropping connections after
a few minutes using the built-in Actiontec card.

Since your connection time is half of mine, I'd suggest you
check your versions to see if they are the same as mine:
 High Rate Wireless LAN MiniPCI Combo Card
 Device Type: Network adapters
 Manufacturer: Actiontec Electronics, Inc. (PRISM Wireless LAN)
 Location: PCI Slot 1 (PCI bus 2, device2, function 0)
 Network Driver: Version 1.07.35 Dec 29 2001
 Configuration Utility: 1.07.36 Jan 11 2002
 NIC Firmware Version 1.03.06.00 Address 00.21.A0.88.9A.E1
 Driver Provider: Actiontec
 Driver Date: 12/31/2001
 Driver Version: 1.7.35.0

Orak


> I even switched (what I think is) the IBM A31p wireless daughterboard
> between the two laptops ... and still ... auuuurgh! ... the WinXP 
> IBM A31p laptop constantly drops the wireless connection after about
> 5 minutes (while the identical Win2K laptop right next to it remains
> connected).
> 
> The frustrating part is all I have to do is press the REFRESH button
> and the darn WindowsXP laptop picks up the connection again ... but, 
> WHY oh WHY does Windows XP keep dropping wireless connections!!!!!
> 
> What could be wrong?
> Better yet ... what can I do to keep WindowsXP connected wirelessly?
> 
> Ellen