Wireless AP not visible to some clients

[murray654]

Hi,

My AP is D-Link DWL-7100AP. It works fine.

It is set up in a public area to allow visitors to access the internet. However some wireless clients can not see the AP.

The wireless settings :
ssid broadcast: on
Channel: auto channel scan: on
Authentication: WPA-PSK
Passphrase settings:
Cipher type: Auto
Passphrase: a 8 letter passphrase handed out to anyone who wants to connect

Why do some clients not find the network?

Many clients can see it, connect to it and use the net no problem. 3 visitors in the last 3 weeks could not see the wireless network at all.

I am

 

[ColinR]

Is the AP set to B and G?

 

[Pyro]

Maybe they can't use WPA-PSK?

 

[ColinR]

Maybe they can't use WPA-PSK?

They'd still see the AP though, no?

 

[murray654]

Is the AP set to B and G?

There is no option to select this. This AP has 2 radios, one is 5ghz and the other is 2.4ghz - The 5 Ghz is marked A and the 2.4 is marked G. The specifications for the radio say A & B/G but it only says G in the web configuration. I assume both B & G are supported.

They'd still see the AP though, no?

After some research, I suspect that some older 802.11b cards do not support WPA at all, depending on the drivers installed.

I think I will just set up a 2nd AP with no security for anyone to use & give it a SSID of Unsecure. Then the problem will be resolved. I was hoping to use the 2nd AP to repeat the fist AP and extend the range, but I guess its more important to ensure every visitor can access the NET, and still have a secure option available for the odd visitor who thinks the insecure connection is too risky.

 

[rebel998]

After some research, I suspect that some older 802.11b cards do not support WPA at all

You suspect right. Some older laptop's cards do not feature WPA only WEP.

 

[daffy]

Or the AP is set to a channel outside of the allowable channels in this country.
eg: Japan has a channel on the frequency 2484, which isn't in the frequency allocation for South Africa.

 

[murray654]

Or the AP is set to a channel outside of the allowable channels in this country.
eg: Japan has a channel on the frequency 2484, which isn't in the frequency allocation for South Africa.

If the the AP is running firmware for SA, surely it will not allow illegal channels - the firmware version matches the latest version on ftp.dlinktech.co.za.

I dont know the frequencies allowed / not allowed, so I rely on the firmware.

 

[murray654]

The D-link DWL-7100ap has been chucked in the bin - both of them - these are toxic waste, nobody should buy them.

The wireless signal is not detected by many wireless clients - most frustrating.

 

[w1z4rd]

I lost respect in D-Link a while ago

 

[murray654]

I have another dlink ap - dwl-2100ap and it does not have any problems... the dwl-7100ap is junk but the dwl-2100ap is excellent. and its R800 cheaper.

 

[bubbatentoe]

try changing your cypher type from "auto"...

far as I know running WAP on the AP and not-WAP on the client doesn't stop the client from seeing the AP, it just stops the client from authenticating.

and try forcing channel 11

if that doesn't work, chuck it.

 

[Atti2de]

Its most propably the country setting (as Daffy said).

 

[murray654]

I felt bad for the environment, so i took the dwl-7100ap out the bin, set it to repeat the dwl-2100ap and now i have more coverage, and hopefully all wireless devices can see it... it they cant, they can move a little closer and see the dwl-2100ap