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[backlight]

Hi,

We are a small business with about 9 Macbook pros and 3 PC's connected wirelessly to the router. The Mac-computers sometimes lose their wifi-connection to the router. When this happens they have to select the wifi network again from the menu, to reestablish their internet connection. For some of the clients, this happens about once each day and for others multiple times a day. The problem doesn't seem to appear on the PC's.

I have tried to solve the problem by making DHCP reservations for each computers MAC-address, but with no luck. I also tried to set the 802.11 Mode to 'Mixed 802.11n and 802.11g', and turning WISH off.
I read that the connection can be disturbed, if other wifi-networks in the area uses the same channel, so I changed it to channel 3, based on a scan of the network, where 3 appeared to be the least used.
The WPA Mode is set to 'WPA-2 Only' and Cipher type is 'TKIP and AES'

The Dir-655 is hardware version B1 and the firmware is 2.0.

[FurryNutz]

What ISP Service do you have? Cable or DSL?
What ISP Modem do you have? Stand Alone or built in router?
What ISP Modem make and model do you have?
If this modem has a built in router, it's best to bridge the modem. Having 2 routers on the same line can cause connection problems.

Some things to try:
Ensure DNS IP addresses are being filled in under Setup/Internet/Manual? You can find these under Status/Device Info/Wan section.
Turn off ALL QoS (DIR only) GameFuel (DGL only and if ON.) options. Advanced/QoS or Gamefuel.
Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option under Setup/Internet/Manual.
Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking.
Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices on the router. Setup/Networking
Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.
Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP.


What wireless modes are you using?
Try single mode G or mixed G and N?
What security mode are you using? Preferred security is WPA-Personal. WPA2/Auto TPIK and AES.
What wireless devices do you have connected?
Any cordless house phones?
Any other WiFi routers in the area? Use InSSIDer to find out.
Turn off Short GI and Extra Wireless Protection if you have it. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless.

[backlight]

Hi, thanks for your reply!

We have an ADSL connection and a Inteno modem that was given to us by the ISP http://www.inteno.se/index.asp?product=11. It is connected to the telephone plug (I know it says that it is a router, but I called the ISP, and they told med that it isn't configured as a router and only works as a bridge). The DIR-655 is connected to the Inteno modem, and works as the router and wireless gateway.

I have tried some of your configuration proposals (I leaved the Firewall settings on default: UDP= 'Address Restricted' and TCP= 'Port And Address Restricted' as I worry about 'Endpoint Independent' being a downgrade in security?)

The wireless mode is still 'Mixed 802.11n and 802.11g'.
We are using WPA-Personal security with WPA2/Auto TPIK and AES.
We have iPhones, iPads, Macbook Pros and PC's connected wirelessly to the DIR-655. We don't have a cordless house phone, but we are soon going to get one as we need a wireless door telephone.

I have already used InSSIDer, and changed the channel to 3, based on the results. I have just turned off Short GI. I couldn't find 'Extra Wireless Protection'.

I'm going to see if these changes has solved the problem. Then I'll get back to you.

Thank you!

[FurryNutz]

You can change to Endpoint Independent as it doe not lower your security on the Firewall. Just help change the way some applications connect to the services outside the Firewall. If your not running into any problems then stick with that you have. It's recommended for gaming and applications that need specific services thru the firewall.

When you used InSSIDer, how many other WiFi routers did you see?
What IP address do you see on the router under Setup/Device Info/Wan section? 192.168.0.# or a ##.##.###.### address?

[backlight]

The new settings doesn't seem to solve the problem. I have changed both UDP and TCP to endpoint independent.
The clients are still losing their connection a few times a day, and sometimes they are even prompted to type in the WPA-password again to reestablish the connection.
InSSIDer shows about 11 other wifi routers. Our connection is around -35dB in amplitude and the other connections is -50dB or lower. There are no other networks on our channel, so I don't think that the problem lies here.
Our Wan Ip is a ##.###.##.## address.

Do you have other suggestions? We work on documents directly on a lion server, so it is quite important that we don't lose the wifi connection while working. I guess we could buy a Airport Extreme instead, but I would rather get this router to work properly

[FurryNutz]

Having 11 other WiFi routers near by is probably causing the disconnections from the 655 as they are interfering with channel and signals on the 655. The 655 is having to stop and re-scan for a new open channel. I would find a open channel or a channel that if another WiFi router is using, make it one that the signal is far away if possible. Manually set the 655 for that channel and see if it stops disconnecting Wifi. Your encountering WiFi congestion.

How far apart are the client devices from the 655? If fairly close, you could try to lower the power output of the 655 radio from High to Medium and see if you can make the broadcast foot print smaller.

Are there any 5Ghz WiFi routers near by? One option would be to hope to that frequency however you'll need a different router for this.

Let us know about the manual channel change.

[backlight]

First i changed the channel to 3, as this seemed least occupied by other routers according to InSSIDer. This didn't help, so I tried channel 1 but again without any luck. Changing the output radio didn't help either.

There doesn't seem to be any 5Ghz networks around, so I'm gonna try with a Time Capsule instead of the dir-655 (it supports 5Ghz).

We also experience another problem: Our printer and server, which is connected to the DIR via ethernet through a Cisco Catalyst WS-C2950 switch, also randomly disconnects from the network, and jump back online.

I find it a bit strange, that this new router is so unstable. I have set up other routers that were cheaper and less advanced, in areas with equally as many wifi signals, and they worked without any problems.

[FurryNutz]

Well having some Wifi around you is the probably cause of the router acting up. Stability can be effected by other WiFi routers and configuration of the router and cables. I have this router and it's a very stable router. I have many devices connected to it and all works well. Any other or cheaper routers probably don't have the good neighbor policy in effect on there HW. Most better routers, mid to high end have this feature.

Let us know how the 5Ghz works. I bet the wireless will be good there. One thing you can try is to turn off the WiFi radio as a test and see how the wired connections work.

Maybe someone can review your router settings with you using teamviewer if your interested. Its safe and secure.

[bgarcia17]

I wish my 655's loss of wireless was more frequent and predictable.  I would offer to swap it with someone who isn't experiencing any issues with theirs, same hardware rev and firmware.  We could both start from a full factory reset, and see what happens.  Then we could at least determine if it's software or hardware.  But my 655 hasn't dropped its wireless in a long time, so I'm good.   All for the good of helping others find answers, of course.

[FurryNutz]

Any chance you can take your router to a different location like a friend or families place and test.
I'm open for swapping just to test. 

[marmoduke]

All suggestions to help you have been excellent.  I just want to inform you that InSSIDer only allows you to view "visible" broadcasts, therefore it is not the last word on channel population.

I would just add to what has already been said:

Never use Auto Channel Scan.  Try all of them, regardless of what InSSIDer says.  Talk with your neighbors and try and get everyone on locked channels, not AutoScan.

Use the wireless config program of your operating system.  Do not even load the one provided by D-Link.  My experience with the D-Link config on my A series is that it caused disconnections and reduced speed.  As soon as I uninstalled it and used the OS, after a couple of adjustments, everything was rock solid.


Set your wireless NIC's settings manually.

[thecreator]

Hi,

We are a small business with about 9 Macbook pros and 3 PC's connected wirelessly to the router. The Mac-computers sometimes lose their wifi-connection to the router. When this happens they have to select the wifi network again from the menu, to reestablish their internet connection. For some of the clients, this happens about once each day and for others multiple times a day. The problem doesn't seem to appear on the PC's.

I have tried to solve the problem by making DHCP reservations for each computers MAC-address, but with no luck. I also tried to set the 802.11 Mode to 'Mixed 802.11n and 802.11g', and turning WISH off.
I read that the connection can be disturbed, if other wifi-networks in the area uses the same channel, so I changed it to channel 3, based on a scan of the network, where 3 appeared to be the least used.
The WPA Mode is set to 'WPA-2 Only' and Cipher type is 'TKIP and AES'

The Dir-655 is hardware version B1 and the firmware is 2.0.

Hi backlight,

The Cipher type should be just AES not TKIP and AES.
Leave Wish on.
Channel should be 11 for fastest Speed back to the Router. Does not play a part in Internet Speed.

I dont know the Mac Computer.

I know on Windows-based Computers, that in Wireless Connection Properties, that Connect even if this network is not broadcasting is checked.

Look for it on the Mac Wireless Connection Properties.

[backlight]

Thank you for your help everybody!

After FurryNutz suggestion that the problem might be too many wifi-networks around, I brought my own Time Capsule router to the office, and set it up for a test drive. It seems that its ability to switch to the 5Ghz frequency has solved the problem. We have been using the Time Capsule for a week now and we are no longer experiencing connection drops. It took some time to figure out how to setup the port forwarding for the VPN connection, but now it all runs smoothly! . In the light of this success, we are going to buy an Airport Extreme.

The printer is also running fine now. I don't know exactly what the problem with the printer was, but after talking to a support-guy at HP, I upgraded the firmware, and wired the printer directly to the router, instead of it going through the Cisco switch.

[FurryNutz]

Glad you found a solution. Sorry that the 655 is being effected by other Wifi near by. I'm sure they are probably experiencing the same thing too. One way you can still use the 655 is to shut OFF the WiFi radio and use it as a router only or keep for a back up.

I would check out the Airport Extreme to see if the 2.4Ghz radio can be shut off while leaving the 5Ghz radio going. One thing I have noticed on my 3rd Gen AE, I can't independently turn off the 2.4Ghz radio like the DIR radios.  

Enjoy.