My wireless WAN is becoming problematic

For at least a week now, it seems like I've developed an issue with my Sierra wireless WAN (through AT&T) broadband connection not being stable.

Specifically, after some period of time (usually seems about 30 minutes?) of being connected, I just drop any activity. For all that I can tell I am still connected (by looking at network settings, etc.) but no webpages can be accessed, email cannot be transferred, etc.

When this happens, I can try to disconnect, but am unable to do so. The only way to disconnect is by turning off all wireless devices with the hard switch. However, after turning the wireless devices back on, I cannot reconnect no matter what I try to do until I restart the computer.

One other odd thing about this. It seems that whenever this happens, I have a significant probability of my computer freezing or hanging when I either restart the computer, shut it down, or try to put it into sleep.

Any ideas or links to further information for to try to figure this out?

Some specs:
Have AT&T communication manager 6.6 installed. I have all the latest drivers and software installed from IBM (using Access Connections 4.42 which I use for all networking tasks).

I have a T61 and Windows Ultimate installed with all latest updates installed.

I believe that I have a Sierra card. I use AT&T (previously Cingular).

Thanks!

 

Any ideas? This really sucks

 

I've seen that happen with regular wireless. It's as if the adapter "wedges". Once it occurs there is no way to get out of it even relading the driver. I've wondered if it is not a firmware problem. I am very interested in this as I've just order the card and will have to modify my T61p to accodomate. I envy you that it came with your system. It was supposed to come with mine.

You may want to look on the sierra website and see if there is any new firmware, make sure you have the latest drivers and above all, complain to lenovo support.

 

I had a similar problem. Apparently windows is powering down the wwan card. I also had to reboot to regain use of the card. Go to power options and set wireless cards to maximm performance under advanced settings in the control panel. I also went into device manager and disabled power down for the card under its USB root hub. It seems to have solved the problem. Also make sure you have installed all the VISTA fixes to date.

 

I've re-installed the latest drivers as well as Access Connections software and AT&T Communications manager (I have no idea if that even does anything, if using Access Connections...). And I am trying to find any firmware updates. Thanks Renee.

And, thanks Woodpusherghd; I'll try your advice as well. Otherwise, all the Vista fixes are installed as well.

So, far, no change - I'll have to post back if it seems that the power issues fixes this; or if I can find any firmware updates; if that makes any difference.

THANKS!

 

Well, after a day, I think that things are working like they used to; although I'm not quite sure how I got here.

After reinstalling drivers and access connections, I then proceeded to change anything I could find that would keep windows from powering down the USB; but this didn't fix things. I then tried to update the firmware (which I figured out later I already have the latest firmware) however, after the firmware app failed, my broadband adapter become invisible to windows and I was getting some weird activity.

At this point, I called Lenovo support and surprisingly I was on the phone for about 5 seconds before he said he was just going to send me a box and have the techs look at my computer. It was weird, he didn't even offer to try working through anything to try to get things to work.

I accepted this offer, but then proceeded to try fixing things myself; however after just a restart, Windows started to fail to load - I was taken the Recovery and Repair applications on the failed start, but was unable to repair - at this point, I was about to throw my computer at the wall.

At this point, I loaded up the BIOS and for some strange feeling felt like setting the BIOS to the default specs - after this, Windows was able to load and everything seems to be working fine. The broadband card is recognized as before and I was able to leave my internet connection on overnight (about 8 hours) without it being disconnected.

So; I'm not quite sure what I did to fix things; but for anyone with a similar problem, I might recommend setting one's BIOS settings to the default setting as a start. I don't think I changed anything in the last couple weeks, but .... actually.... I just remembered... there was a BIOS update as one of the automatic downloaded just a couple weeks ago (when I started having this problem)... coincidence??? Idunno.

 

Sounds like it was something in the Bios.

 

I just wanted to post some more follow up in case anyone else has the same problem and finds this post.

I seemed to be doing fine; I changed a couple settings in BIOS - mostly to change the boot order to only go to HDD. No problems for a couple days.

Then today, I set the password in BIOS as well as enabled password for BIOS updates (I had disabled these in case I needed to send to my comp to Lenovo, see above). Immediately after doing this, I started having similar WAN problems again.

Of note, I removed the BIOS password and reset the defaults again. And things are working fine now.

So, there seems to be some weird thing going on between the BIOS and the WAN; I'm certain of it. And it seems to have come on after this latest BIOS update. I'm not savvy enough to figure out things beyond this, but this may give other people something to look at.