Wireless works too well!

[Harry Wert]

Harry Wert wrote:

>After much experimenting and testing, I am finally able to use the
>Linksys WUSB54G with Breezy - thanks to ndiswrapper.  However I have one
>unexpected problem and another which I am just beginning to troubleshoot.
>First the problem:  Even though I issue a "iwconfig wlan0 essid linksys
>channel 6", my computer locks on to my neighbor across the street named
>"bruce". To log onto my router "linksys" I need to run wlassistant and
>select "linksys".  This works fine EXCEPT, I drop my linksys connection
>randomly and resync back onto "bruce" ( he is on channel 1).  At the
>moment neither "bruce" or "linksys" are using encryption until I get
>this figured out.  By the way, my wireless signal from my router
>"linksys" is many time stronger than the signal I get from my neighbor
>"bruce" - for whatever value that may have for this discussion.  Has
>anyone else experienced a problem such as this?  I have struck out using
>the various search engines and Ubunti wiki.  Any suggestions are greatly
>appreciated.  Is there anyway to issue a "deny bruce" command anywhere?
>
>Harry Wert
>Physicist
> 
>
>  
>
Thanks for all the feedback.  Everything is working properly now without
exception, but with clarification.  Here are my findings:

1) Found my Linksys 54G router was refusing to accept input from my LAN
laptop - randomly.
    Solution: Specifically entered my laptop MAC address in the router
and marked it accessible.

2) Had to "kill" my eth0 port with the laptop BIOS to avoid interfering
with the wlan0 when wlan0 is activated during the boot process.

3) The approximately 30 second link interruption was cause by a program
called wlassistant which was programmed to interrogate the link
connection at 30 second intervals.
     Solution: set interrogation interval to 3600 seconds.

4) The problem of selecting "Bruce", my neighbor was traced to a program
called "network-manager".  This program is a crond program which scans
the network automatically anytime connection to the router is dropped
for any reason. Then the FIRST valid connection becomes my laptop link
attachment.  Since "Bruce" is the only other source within my wireless
laptop WUSB54G range when this occurs, I'm happily connected BUT WITH NO
INDICATION IT HAS OCCURRED.  The only clue I receive is an inability to
print to my LAN printer which is ABSENT from my neighbor's
configuration. (He doesn't use a LAN printer.)
    Solution: removed the "network-manager" program.

For those concerned about my choice of using my router address as
"linksy" when half the World..... , my choice was intentional for the
very reasons mentioned in some of the responses I received. I wanted the
system to be loose as a Goose to assist in detecting problems and
consequently assist in solving them.  It has subsequently  been renamed.

My sincere "Thanks" to all who took time to read and respond to my
initial email - you assisted in speeding up the debug process.  I hope
this communication will be helpful to others as well.

Accolade's and congratulations for a job well-done to the ndiswrapper
team, and Ubuntu for creating such a fine product.


Harry Wert
Physicist