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jtbowden · May 31, 2003, 02:50 PM

OK, so it looks like my Linksys wireless AP/4 port router is going to be worthless. I have always had good luck with them until now. It has a dumb wake-from-sleep issue that many people seem to be having.

So, the question is, what does everyone recommend as an alternative? Basically, I need a wireless-b access point + 4-5 port router with good (as good as possible) range that does not have wake-from-sleep issue and works well with a mixed mac/pc network.

Suggestions? (sorry, this is a duplicate post, but I figured it needed to be a top post to get the most replies)

Tally-Ho · May 31, 2003, 06:47 PM

I'm currently using a NetGear DG824M on a DSL service at 512kb speed. Very good range with the iBook - I live 3 storeys up and still get a signal (just) on the ground floor through brick walls and concrete floors. (Why do I need to go to the ground floor of my apartment block with iBook in hand? That's another story.......) Have my network lazer printer hooked up along with my Quicksilver with ethernet cable. Everything talks, everything works fine.

The sleep thing is an issue though. (Bear in mind I'm using OS9.) On waking the Quicksilver, I often get a hang caused by Outlook Express doing an immediate connect. This seems to fox the router.

Still trying different settings within Outlook; so far it seems intermitant - wakes perfectly one time, the next time it hangs and slowly the system crumbles until it's reboot time. Interestingly the iBook does not hang from wake; maybe this is due to the way the AirPort card re-establishes a connection with the base station first before allowing an Outlook connect?

A workaround: before sleeping, I quit Outlook. No problems waking when I do that.

Hope this helps.

T-H

superlarry · Jun 1, 2003, 05:32 PM

i'm using an SMC barricade turbo (11/22 Mbps). it only works at 11 Mbps with my Airport Extreme card in my powerbook for decent distances, but i don't think i'd recommend it (so this is more of a warning):
the signal strength is nothing impressive - using Macstumbler (a WLAN-finding program that uses Airport), I've found stronger networks than mine more often than not.
what's the wake from sleep issue? My SMC won't allow incoming access to my laptop unless the laptop specifically accesses the machine trying to get in *first*, and this problem needs to be resolved after every startup/wakeup.
Also, every once in a while the wireless access will just go out. this is very rare and usually only happens when i wake up the powerbook.. anyway, it requires a hard router restart.
oh well.. it's grand as a wired router, at least :c)

ghporter · Jun 1, 2003, 07:57 PM

Originally posted by jtbowden:
OK, so it looks like my Linksys wireless AP/4 port router is going to be worthless. I have always had good luck with them until now. It has a dumb wake-from-sleep issue that many people seem to be having.

It simply is not the router/access point that's the problem! The majority of AirPort cards do not properly handle going to sleep while connected. In fact, a large number of PCMCIA wireless cards have this problem. If you disconnect before you put the computer to sleep, or even turned it off when you weren't going to use it for a while, you would not encounter this problem. It doesn't take that long for a Mac to start up...

superlarry · Jun 2, 2003, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by GHPorter:
The majority of AirPort cards do not properly handle going to sleep while connected.

I didn't know this, so thanks - I think I'll submit a bug report to Apple, and hopefully it can be fixed by an AirPort update.
You say the majority don't do it right.. which ones work right? Or is what I mentioned not even the wake-from-sleep problem people are having?

jtbowden · Jun 2, 2003, 12:21 PM

It simply is not the router/access point that's the problem! The majority of AirPort cards do not properly handle going to sleep while connected. In fact, a large number of PCMCIA wireless cards have this problem. If you disconnect before you put the computer to sleep, or even turned it off when you weren't going to use it for a while, you would not encounter this problem. It doesn't take that long for a Mac to start up...

I have not found this to be the case. This happens even when I disconnect and reconnect without putting my PB to sleep. I have also found that if someone else is connected physically to the router, the connection stays active after waking my PB. So what gives?

ghporter · Jun 2, 2003, 05:25 PM

Many people report that updating the firmware in both the access point and the AirPort card has eliminated the problem. Most of what I've seen has been with the WAP11 rather than the wireless router, but it should help. I think what's happening is that both Apple and Linksys figured out that they should actively work with each other's equipment, so they have worked on their firmware to make it more compatible.

jtbowden · Jun 3, 2003, 10:54 AM

Thanks for the info, but both have the newest fimware. From what I have found out recently, the BEFW11S4 Linksys has some major issues with AP Extreme. Mind you, no one has specifically had the same problem as me, but I'll chalk that up to "just another problem of many."

So, anyhow, I've got to figure out how to fix this, or talk my roommate into replacing it. I just want to know what to replace it with so that this won't happen again.

And note, it is not my money, so I can't just buy the biggest, best router. He got the Linksys for $70 after rebate.

Angus_D · Jun 3, 2003, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by jtbowden:
I just want to know what to replace it with so that this won't happen again.

Well, you could go for... an Airpot Extreme Base Station, but they're ludicrously overpriced.

jtbowden · Jun 3, 2003, 05:14 PM

AP basestation is great, except my roomate is buying it. He has a PC, so I doubt he would be willing ot shell out $250 for an Apple basestation. I've thought about gettin gone for myself when I move, so maybe I'll just get it early and have my own wireless network.

ghporter · Jun 3, 2003, 05:53 PM

Check out Asante's offerings, as well as Netgear's, D-Link's and SMC's. They all make good hardware, and Asante prides themselves on being "Mac friendly." Additionally, most of these manufacturers' products are on the same price level as the Linksys, rather than a few floors higher, like the AirPort products.

jtbowden · Jun 3, 2003, 07:08 PM

OK, back along the lines of my original question. I was told that my problems would go away if I restricted my AP Extreme card to only do 802.11b. Is this possible?