need help from wifi network gurus with cf50 and dir825

First off, I have a dir615 that is shutting itself off every 2 days or so but otherwise it works and the CF-50 can connect no problem. Settings are DHCP WPA2-psk AES and the rest is mostly as default - laptops are XP Pro SP3.
I setup the dir825 and followed all instructions making sure to give the upper and lower band networks different names and to make sure the 2.4 band was on a different channel from the 615. I used the same security settings and passphrase as the 615. After setup my CF-29 will see all 3 networks and can connect to all 3 with ease. The CF-50 can see both 2.4 SSIDs but will only connect to the 615. I've made it up the line to level 3 tech with Dlink to no avail - they had me try just about everything related to router setup (including all different security settings and separate passwords) and Windows network settings but never anything in command prompt or control panel. About to return the 825 but thought i'd check here first.

 

I would reset the 825 to factory defaults and try to connect with no security. If it connects with no password then you found the problem area.

 

Tried that early on in the process. The CF-50 sees the network in every incarnation whether open security or WPA2 but just won't connect. It's almost as if there is some property of the 825 that is incompatible with the wifi card (Intel Pro 2200BG - of which I have swapped out with an identical unit from a donor CF-50). I have confirmed the driver is up to date and I know it works based on it connecting to the 615 - and at Tim Hortons this evening.

 

For the curious...from wikipedia

Tim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian fast casual restaurant[3] known for its coffee and doughnuts. It is also Canada's largest fast food service with over 3000 stores nationwide. It was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade, after an initial venture in hamburger restaurants.[4][5] In 1967 Horton partnered with investor Ron Joyce, who assumed control over operations after Tim Horton died in 1974, and expanded the chain into a multi-million dollar franchise. Charade left the organization in 1966 and briefly returned in 1970 and 1993 through 1996.

Tim Hortons franchises spread rapidly and eventually overtook McDonald's as Canada's largest food service operator. The company opened twice as many Canadian outlets as McDonald's[6] and system-wide sales also surpassed those of McDonald's Canadian operations as of 2002.[7] The chain accounted for 22.6% of all fast food industry revenues in Canada in 2005.[6] Tim Hortons commands 76% of the Canadian market for baked goods (based on the number of customers served) and holds 62% of the Canadian coffee market (compared to Starbucks, in the number two position, at 7%).[8]

 

What card is in the cf29? Swap that card into the cf50 and see what happens.

 

Agree with Shawn, that sound like a very good idea. The Intel 2200 is not a great wifi card, and the 2100 is very unreliable. Suggest upgrading to a 2915 (found in Mk4-5 model CF-29) for more reliable connections.

 

good call - I'll try to get at the card in the 29 later tonight - if not sometime this week

 

I've had some personal issues with Intel's 2100 so I wouldn't really be surprised if 2200 also has some hiccups.

 

The 2200 may not be compatible with a 40mHz or Auto (20 or 40mHz) channel width setting on your router. If you can, try setting it to 20mHz only. Make sure you didn't set your router for wireless n only in the 2.4 section. Also check your setting in the device manager "Advanced" tab for your 2200. Make sure it isn't configured for wireless b only. See my 2200 settings below.

I'm using a 2200 in a Dell laptop to write this, talking to a Cisco dual band router, set up with different SSID's for the the 2.4 and 5 gHz bands, running WPA2 AES. My pertinent settings in the 2200 control panel are:
Mixed mode protection: CTS-to Self enabled
Preamble mode: Auto Tx enable
Roaming Aggressiveness: 3.Medium
Thruput Enhancement: Disabled
Transmit Power: 5.Highest
Wireless Mode 3. 802.11b/g

I'm using the Intel 9.1.2.10 driver dated 10/08/2007

My router is set for 20mHz channel width only in the 2.4gHz band.

EDIT:
Just ran a test. Reset my router to Auto on Channel Width on the 2.4 band. 2200 would initially connect, then got slower and slower, then dropped connection and refused to reconnect. Changing the setting back on my router to 20mHz only corrected the problem. END EDIT

I know some of this stuff is pretty basic, but I've BTDT and overlooked the obvious.

If worst comes to worst, and your 2200 is a mini-pci card (not mini-pcie) in your CF50, get a Broadcom dual band card that I describe here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/panasonic/695784-cheap-dual-band-b-g-n-wlan-upgrade-cf-18-a.html

Only $6.89 US shipped, and works great. I've ordered several more for some older computers.

Good luck.

Jon