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Connect to access point OK but receive 0 packets

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by squarepegger, 2009/05/03.

  1. 2009/05/03
    squarepegger

    squarepegger Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hardware:
    Dell Inspiron 6400 Core Duo T2300 1.66GHz
    1 GB RAM
    Dell Wireless 1490 Dual Band WLAN Mini-Card

    Software:
    Windows XP Pro SP3 totally up to date
    WLAN Driver bcmwl5.sys version 4.170.25.12
    ZoneAlarm Free version 8.0.298.000
    Avast! Free version 4.8
    ______________________________________

    I pretty much haven't used the wifi on this laptop, but I moved to an apartment building with free wifi for the residents, so I thought I'd try it. I was able to connect to the WPA-PSK access point with the password they gave me, but I can't do anything on the internet because I'm not receiving any packets (is it ZoneAlarm?).

    When I run the Network Test on the WLAN card using the Broadcom Advanced Control Suite 2 software provided with the laptop, it passes a ping to IP address 192.168.0.1. Interestingly, when I look at the statistics for the WLAN card using the Broadcom Advanced Control Suite 2 software, the "Frames.RX OK" value is slowly incrementing.

    When I look at the Wireless Network Connection Status when I'm connected, I see "Status: Connected ", the Network name, how long I've been connected (Duration), the connection speed and signal strength. In the activity box, there's a small number of sent packets but 0 received packets. The wifi LED illuminates on the laptop when I press the wifi keyboard shortcut (Fn-F2) and connect.

    My connection remains established as long as my radio is on; I've got it set to automatically connect to the access point in question. I'm just not receiving any packets and therefore can't do anything on the internet.

    Normally, I have no problems on the internet with ZoneAlarm, but I suspect it might be blocking packets from the wifi access point. I'm unwilling to just shut down ZoneAlarm; I keep my machine really clean. ZoneAlarm Internet Security is set to High and Trusted Zone Security is set to Medium. Since I do online banking, the last thing I want to do is allow any malware onto my machine. (I only use my ADSL connection to do the banking.) There's no support here for the free wifi; they just say no one else has a problem connecting and they don't know anything about the IP address of the access point, which is a Netgear WG302.

    One other thing is that I sometimes have problems viewing the available wireless networks. I've got Microsoft's Wireless Zero Configuration set to automatic, but sometimes I just can't see any other wireless connections. I've done a "repair" on the wifi LAN, but to no avail. I can't refresh the wireless network list and get the message "Windows cannot configure this wireless connection." I've clicked the "change advanced settings" in the Related Tasks box, selected the "Wireless Networks" tab in the Properties dialog box and checked "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings" then "View Wireless Networks" -- no joy. No joy after restarting the Wireless Zero Configuration Service either.

    I disconnect my ADSL modem by unplugging the ethernet cable when I try the wifi access.

    I'm a real network lightweight and have no idea how to find out what the IP address of the access point might be. Supposedly, no one else in the building has problems using the wireless access points (1 per floor).

    I don't have a wireless router.

    Thanks in advance to all who reply.
     
    Last edited: 2009/05/03
  2. 2009/05/04
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Check the ZA firewall.
     

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  4. 2009/05/05
    squarepegger

    squarepegger Inactive Thread Starter

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    slight progress

    I checked the Dell Support web site and followed their recommendation to Disable and Stop the Dell Wireless WLAN Tray Service. Now I can always view all the available wireless access points.

    I'm now getting very, very few packets received--it goes to 3 then 4 then 7. That's better than 0 packets received. I can't access any web sites even though I remain connected all the time the wireless radio is on.

    I don't know which settings to check in ZA other than the ones I mentioned in my original post. ( "ZoneAlarm Internet Security is set to High and Trusted Zone Security is set to Medium. ") When I look at the ZA log, I don't see ZA blocking anything during the time my wireless radio is on.
     
  5. 2009/05/06
    squarepegger

    squarepegger Inactive Thread Starter

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    [solved!]

    My TCP/IP settings were bad. Really bad. There was a static IP address set, thus preventing DHCP, and no DNS server addresses entered even though "Use the following DNS server addresses:" was selected. I don't know how the wireless LAN card came up with those TCP/IP settings.

    In the hope that others will find them useful, here are the instructions I followed to get my wireless connection working:

    Open Network Connections. Right click Wireless Network Connection. Select Properties. Under the General tab, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Click the Properties button. Under the General tab in the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) dialog box, make sure the radio button labeled "Obtain an IP address automatically" is selected. Make sure either the "Obtain DNS server address automatically" radio button is selected, or, better IMHO, click the "Use the following DNS server addresses:" radio button and enter

    Preferred DNS server: 208.67.222.222
    Alternate DNS server: 208.67.220.220
    These are the DNS server addresses for OpenDNS. Check 'em out at http://www.opendns.com -- they be cool.
     

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