A few thoughts: 1. Yes, SSID broadcast/disable is kinda touchy on the SB2/3. I first got it to work by:
- enabling SSID - finding, connecting - disabling SSID but keeping the name the same Worked fine for a while, but I reworked my setup and couldn't get it working again. So I kept it with SSID enbabled. Its security benefits are highly overrated anyway. 2. Finding the right channel can have a benefit. It's essential where I am - there are 7-12 wireless networks in range! There are optimal channels and channels that just have too much overlap - see http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article75-page3.php Executive summary: try channels 1, 6 and 11. I read further and looked at their tip, trying 1, 4, 8 and 11. 8 gave the greatest S/N reading using NetStumbler on a laptop, http://www.netstumbler.com/ 3. I'm afraid I have to agree with the comments about the SB3's wireless performance. In the exact same position as an SB2, the SB3 reports 65 - 71% signal strength while the SB2 reports 80 - 85%. The SB3 still tests fine at 3000 kbps using the Network Test plugin, and there are no dropouts. It does take longer to connect to SlimServer and SqueezeNetwork though. 4. Use a static IP system if you can. There are so many benefits: ease of setting up firewalls, decreased load on the router, slightly increased security by forcing an intruder to determine your IP address range and clone it, ease of file sharing, no more "musical IP addresses" based on the order devices connect, etc. There's just one extra step in the SB setup and you never have to worry about DHCP or getting the dreaded 169.X.X.X address. 5. For both the SB2 and SB3, there are simply some routers that won't work with them. This is coming from someone who spent 5-6 hours trying unsuccessfully to get an SMC2804WBRP-G working with it, then having a Linksys WRT54G work with it in under 5 minutes. It's unfortunate. 802.11g is a STANDARD, and you'd think all manufacturer's equipment would work with it. (In this respect, don't think of the SB as something from Slim Devices, think of it as an Atheros 802.11g mini-PCI card, because that's what it is to the wireless network.) But sadly not all routers seem to work well wirelessly with these devices. Wireless networking is still rather touchy. There's an awful lot that can go wrong - and does! A quick check of the various wireless networking forums will have you believe that wireless networking is still not ready for prime time, which is true in some respects. Speaking of manufacturers, the Linksys WRT54G seems to be very "SB friendly", although there are some grumblings about the new "version 5". Interestingly, Linksys uses a Broadcom chipset. The NETGEAR routers use Atheros chipsets, and what's weird is that there are reports of problems with these and the SB3. Go figure, but based on my previous experience with NETGEAR products, that doesn't surprise me. Take a poke around tomsnetworking.com and read some of their articles, http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections11.php. Wireless networking is VERY COMPLICATED* under the surface. It's amazing it works at all, frankly. * if you don't agree, read this: http://www.cirond.com/White_Papers/FourPoint.pdf. Unless you're a mathematician or an electrical engineer, you will get an understanding of just how complicated 802.11b is, let alone 802.11g. Heuer wrote: > Actually the internal antenna of the SB3 does seem to be directional. I > know the literature suggests it uses diversity antennae but having > spent many hours trying to get a good signal to mine I can say, with > the benefit of experience, rotating it through 90deg makes a big > difference. The new design is very wife friendly but the internal > jobbies are nowhere near as versatile as having an external one. If > there is a criticsm of the SB3 design is it is placement sensitive with > regards to Wi-Fi and an external antenna connector would be a valuable > asset. > > So I think my comments still stand - the SB1 and the SB3 do not > necessarily bear comparison in some areas. Worth playing with > orientation and Channel number (in the WiFi Router - 13 to choose from > as you say and there for a reason) IMHO. > > -- ___________________________________ Mark Lanctot ___________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Find your next car at http://autos.yahoo.ca _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
