[ed]

I run a wireless network with a snow Airport base station, connecting my G4 with 2 G4 iMacs & and iBook and sharing the G4's broadband connection.

First query. The strength of the airport signal received by the iMacs varies from minute to minute, seemingly depending on which way the wind is blowing. Is this usual? Anything I can do to remedy it?

Second query. Even when the Airport signal is reasonably strong, showing 2 or 3 bars reception, the iMacs lose the broadband connection. This connection seems to drop for no reason, and returns sometime later, similarly for no apparent reason. Any explanation? Any remedy?
Thanks.
Ed

[aaanorton]

Sounds like interference. Move the base station away from your computer, especially the monitor. Keep cordless phone bases and handsets away from it. In fact, keep it as far away as possible from anything electric that may interfere.
One question though... How do you have these set up?
modem > ABS > computers

or

modem > G4 > ABS > other computers

I ask because you say "sharing the G4's broadband connection". This sounds like the latter set up above.

[ed]

Thanks for reply aaanorton.
Am trialling moving ABS away from potential interference.

Setup is as follows:
Broadband connection > Modem >ABS (via ethernet cable) >computers (via airport). When G4 is booted up, internet sharing needs to be on for other computers to share broadband connection. But when G4 off, other macs have no problem accessing connection.

Cheers,
Ed

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by ed:
Broadband connection > Modem >ABS (via ethernet cable) >computers (via airport). When G4 is booted up, internet sharing needs to be on for other computers to share broadband connection. But when G4 off, other macs have no problem accessing connection.

Then something is wrong. The whole point of an ABS is to share an internet connection. It does the work, not an attached computer. Each of the clients should be equal on the LAN, not requiring anything from another. The G4 should NOT be sharing the internet.
You should definitely fix this. It could also be the cause of your dropped connections.

[veryniceguy2002]

Originally posted by ed:
Thanks for reply aaanorton.
Am trialling moving ABS away from potential interference.

Setup is as follows:
Broadband connection > Modem >ABS (via ethernet cable) >computers (via airport). When G4 is booted up, internet sharing needs to be on for other computers to share broadband connection. But when G4 off, other macs have no problem accessing connection.

Cheers,
Ed

Strange...

Have you checked your Network preferences (or TCP/IP control panel on Mac OS 9), for your "other" computers, and make sure you have selected "DHCP server" options? Also, check your Airport setup on your G4 (I guess you might need to disable your computer-to-computer mode?)

It sounds like there is a small possibility that your network setting might be wrong, picking up the G4 as the software base station, instead of your actual ABS base station.