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Help Wifi Connection Issues
- Thread starter daley.se
- Start date
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- htc droid eris
It could be many things, but it would be helpful to know the following:
- which make and model?
- have you tried upgrading your router to the latest firmware update?
- are you running 802.11b/g, 802.11 b/g/n, or something else?
- it sounds like you have no WEP or WPA encryption, but let's just confirm
The Eris radio cannot do 802.11n, and sometimes limiting the router to 802.11g will help. Many set up their router to mixed mode - so it will connect at b, g, or n (as I do, actually) - but some routers have an issue with the Eris. That's one thing to look at.
I have no trouble connecting to Apple routers here at home, a Netgear router at my summer house, another Netgear router at some family's house, a Linksys ay my mother-in-law's house, a Motorola router(!) at my parents' house, and even an old Dell router(!!) and a Hawking WiFi extender at my brother-in-law's house. I think I've even done Belkin...
- which make and model?
- have you tried upgrading your router to the latest firmware update?
- are you running 802.11b/g, 802.11 b/g/n, or something else?
- it sounds like you have no WEP or WPA encryption, but let's just confirm
The Eris radio cannot do 802.11n, and sometimes limiting the router to 802.11g will help. Many set up their router to mixed mode - so it will connect at b, g, or n (as I do, actually) - but some routers have an issue with the Eris. That's one thing to look at.
I have no trouble connecting to Apple routers here at home, a Netgear router at my summer house, another Netgear router at some family's house, a Linksys ay my mother-in-law's house, a Motorola router(!) at my parents' house, and even an old Dell router(!!) and a Hawking WiFi extender at my brother-in-law's house. I think I've even done Belkin...
- which make and model?
*The modem/router/AP is a Zoom ADSL X6 (5900D series, I think)
- have you tried upgrading your router to the latest firmware update?
*I Just upgraded the firmware last night to Zoom's latest release from this past August
- are you running 802.11b/g, 802.11 b/g/n, or something else?
*My "essential" connections are all ethernet, so I tried using b, b/g, g, and mixed... with the same results
- it sounds like you have no WEP or WPA encryption, but let's just confirm
*Correct, I have no encryption on the AP. When friends/family want to use the AP there is no password or key required
I played with the static IP settings on the phone (which would be an acceptable solution for me), but honestly do not know enough about IP addresses to be considered competent in that area.
When the wifi connection is established, it is fast and flawless... for a few minutes. It then drops out, says "disconnected", and I cannot reestablish a connection. Clicking on "connect" from the phone's wireless settings screen results in the status "obtaining IP address..." which then seems to timeout without ever connecting. Following this, clicking "connect" will not even get the phone to try "obtaining IP address".
I'm feeling kind of incompetent, as this has been something that I cannot seem to figure out.
*The modem/router/AP is a Zoom ADSL X6 (5900D series, I think)
- have you tried upgrading your router to the latest firmware update?
*I Just upgraded the firmware last night to Zoom's latest release from this past August
- are you running 802.11b/g, 802.11 b/g/n, or something else?
*My "essential" connections are all ethernet, so I tried using b, b/g, g, and mixed... with the same results
- it sounds like you have no WEP or WPA encryption, but let's just confirm
*Correct, I have no encryption on the AP. When friends/family want to use the AP there is no password or key required
I played with the static IP settings on the phone (which would be an acceptable solution for me), but honestly do not know enough about IP addresses to be considered competent in that area.
When the wifi connection is established, it is fast and flawless... for a few minutes. It then drops out, says "disconnected", and I cannot reestablish a connection. Clicking on "connect" from the phone's wireless settings screen results in the status "obtaining IP address..." which then seems to timeout without ever connecting. Following this, clicking "connect" will not even get the phone to try "obtaining IP address".
I'm feeling kind of incompetent, as this has been something that I cannot seem to figure out.
I just looked at the user manual. Are you using the default channel 10? Not that this should matter, but you could try changing it. I know that you say that you live away from any other WiFi routers that may give you interference problems, so it's probably not that, but perhaps you have interference from a microwave oven or a cordless phone, which also run on the same frequency as 802.11 b/g sometimes.
Best practices these days suggest that the channels you should use are 1, 6, or 11 - WiFi signals span over a few channels, and a difference of 5 channels is more than enough to ensure non-interference - but that would only matter in your case if you ever needed to install more WiFi access points on your network, and it sounds like you probably do not need to. However, just for kicks, you could try changing it to channel 1 and see how that goes.
Also, if you can get it to work, you probably want it set to 802.11g only - there is no reason to use 802.11b unless you have another device that requires b.
That I can help you with, if it really comes to that, but I'd say it's best to try changing the channel on the router and see if that works first. I would need to know what the IP address of the router is, and what the DHCP range is, which you should be able to find on the LAN Configuration page. I believe that the default (according to the manual) uses a router address of 10.0.0.2, with a DHCP range of 10.0.0.4 to 10.0.0.24. If this is what you see on your network, an IP address of 10.0.0.100 (subnet mask 255.255.255.0), with a gateway address of 10.0.0.2, should work. I can't tell if the router runs it's own DNS server; if it does, you can set those to 10.0.0.2 as well.
Ok, one more thing. On the phone, from home, go to settings->wireless & networks, Wi-Fi settings. In that screen, press Menu, tap on Advanced. Try changing Wi-Fi sleep policy to "Never" and see if that helps anything.
Um, let's stay away from that for now....
I will try changing the router back to channel 11 and g only. I think I have tried most of the permutations of channel vs. mode. I know for certain that I have tried all channels. None seem to be any better than the next.
The wireless router is our only wireless network. We have no cordless phones, the microwave (shouldn't that be far beyond the frequency of wifi anyway?) is not running. I really don't think that interference is a problem because, as previously mentioned, if I were to tether my phone to my laptop via wireless tether, it works just fine.
Is there a prefered channel (1-11) for Android phones?
I might give the static IP a shot, as nothing that I could find in the manual for the router really explained (to me, anyway) how to adversely affect the DHCP protocol.
Wifi in the device is set to never sleep.
It's really strange, when it works, it connects to the router almost instantly and data transfer very fast. But then it will quit working and it's impossible to get it to connect again.
The wireless router is our only wireless network. We have no cordless phones, the microwave (shouldn't that be far beyond the frequency of wifi anyway?) is not running. I really don't think that interference is a problem because, as previously mentioned, if I were to tether my phone to my laptop via wireless tether, it works just fine.
Is there a prefered channel (1-11) for Android phones?
I might give the static IP a shot, as nothing that I could find in the manual for the router really explained (to me, anyway) how to adversely affect the DHCP protocol.
Wifi in the device is set to never sleep.
It's really strange, when it works, it connects to the router almost instantly and data transfer very fast. But then it will quit working and it's impossible to get it to connect again.
Ok, I did a little research and it seems that Heros and Erises have this problem connecting with Zoom ADSL X6 routers for some reason. However, I saw something that may work, since you are rooted.
If you have Root Explorer (Estrongs may do this, too - I've never used it myself), there is (at least on my Froyo ROM) a file /etc/wifi/tiwlan.cfg. The second line in that file on CELB is:
WME_Enable = 1
If you have that file on xtrSENSE, and it has that value enabled, try changing it to 0 (i.e., the numeral zero), restart the phone, and see if that helps.
Even though you are changing a file, and changing back shouldn't be too hard if this doesn't work, I would still run a Nandroid backup before you do this, just in case!
If you can't find that file on xtrSENSE, I'll reflash it and see if I can find it. (On xtrSENSE it may be in /system/etc/wifi/tiwlan.cfg.)
Oh, as for preferred channel for a phone, I cannot believe that there is one. Since you've tried changing it, it is probably not that.
If you have Root Explorer (Estrongs may do this, too - I've never used it myself), there is (at least on my Froyo ROM) a file /etc/wifi/tiwlan.cfg. The second line in that file on CELB is:
WME_Enable = 1
If you have that file on xtrSENSE, and it has that value enabled, try changing it to 0 (i.e., the numeral zero), restart the phone, and see if that helps.
Even though you are changing a file, and changing back shouldn't be too hard if this doesn't work, I would still run a Nandroid backup before you do this, just in case!
If you can't find that file on xtrSENSE, I'll reflash it and see if I can find it. (On xtrSENSE it may be in /system/etc/wifi/tiwlan.cfg.)
Oh, as for preferred channel for a phone, I cannot believe that there is one. Since you've tried changing it, it is probably not that.
Ok, I found the file... how do I edit it? I opened it with an editor, but save my changes as it is "read only". I'm using ESFileExplorer. Is there a way to change read only files to writable (there ust be, I just don't know what it is)?
FWIW... I have been screwing around with the AP all night. I can see that the AP does in fact log my phone as connected and authorized. However, after two or three minutes, the "session:Security..." messages start apearing in the log and my phone disconnects. It seems that the two coincide. Is it possible that my AP is seeing my phone as a threat and blocking it
EDIT: I'm trying Root Explorer
FWIW... I have been screwing around with the AP all night. I can see that the AP does in fact log my phone as connected and authorized. However, after two or three minutes, the "session:Security..." messages start apearing in the log and my phone disconnects. It seems that the two coincide. Is it possible that my AP is seeing my phone as a threat and blocking it
EDIT: I'm trying Root Explorer
Well... we're on the right track!
Now when my phone disconnects it actually reconnects. I've had a wifi connection for about ten minutes now. It has disconnected and reconnected twice though.
It still seems like the router does not like something that the phone is doing. Could the packet size be more than phone can handle? It is something specific to this particular router... isn't it?
Now when my phone disconnects it actually reconnects. I've had a wifi connection for about ten minutes now. It has disconnected and reconnected twice though.
It still seems like the router does not like something that the phone is doing. Could the packet size be more than phone can handle? It is something specific to this particular router... isn't it?
It appears that this router is an issue, but perhaps only with this phone.
Also, I wonder which radio version you have, and whether upgrading may help? You can find the radio version (it may be called "baseband") in settings->about phone, somewhere in there - software information, maybe?
Also, what are the exact log messages on the router (without giving your actual IP address.) Maybe that error message will help.
I think that if you have an older radio firmware on the phone, that may be the next thing to try. However, after that, one more thing to try may be to install an alternate Linux kernel - Conap's BFS works with xtrSENSE, I think. But we'll get to that when we need to... I always like to change one thing at a time, just so it's easier to pinpoint a reason. Change a few things at once and fixing a problem doesn't tell you which of them fixed it.
Also, I wonder which radio version you have, and whether upgrading may help? You can find the radio version (it may be called "baseband") in settings->about phone, somewhere in there - software information, maybe?
Also, what are the exact log messages on the router (without giving your actual IP address.) Maybe that error message will help.
I think that if you have an older radio firmware on the phone, that may be the next thing to try. However, after that, one more thing to try may be to install an alternate Linux kernel - Conap's BFS works with xtrSENSE, I think. But we'll get to that when we need to... I always like to change one thing at a time, just so it's easier to pinpoint a reason. Change a few things at once and fixing a problem doesn't tell you which of them fixed it.
Thanks! I really do appreciate your help. I would like to reciprocate by continuing post my results, good, bad, or indifferent. It seems that there are a lot of problems with this phone and certain routers... with very little information about either. And any threads that are out there seem to end before a resolution is defined... leading me to believe that they either solved the problem or gave up.
My basband version is 2.42.01.04.27
The kernel is 2.6.29 zanfur@gandalf #46 <EDIT (2.6.29 not 2.629)
Thoughts?
My basband version is 2.42.01.04.27
The kernel is 2.6.29 zanfur@gandalf #46 <EDIT (2.6.29 not 2.629)
Thoughts?
That's the latest Eris radio. There is a newer one for the Hero that works with the Eris, but I really doubt it will change things.
This may be worth a try:
- first, download and copy to the root of your SD card Conap's latest BFS kernel. It's available here: [GPL]2.6.29.6 BFS Kernel V6 Update 10/17/10 - xda-developers (follow the link for V6.)
- Restart the phone in Recovery, and run a Nandroid backup, just in case it doesn't work out.
- Flash the BFS kernel (it's called DecafuctBFSv6.zip, by the way. I'd try BFS over the CFS - I've tried CFS with xtrSENSE and it didn't work out too well.)
- Restart the phone
It may be that things will not work too well, but perhaps the wireless lan drivers in this kernel are different enough that it will work better. It's worth a shot, anyway. If it doesn't work, you can always Nandroid restore back to what you have now.
Beyond this, if this doesn't work reliably, if nobody else has any other ideas, I think that your best bet is to buy a low-cost consumer router with WiFi, set it up so that it doesn't route but acts as an access point, and connect one of its ethernet ports to an ethernet port on your Zoom ADSL router is the best idea going forward. I do find that I have better luck with Linksys routers set up this way rather than Netgear, by the way.
Sorry, I spent the afternoon shoveling snow, again, so didn't see this until now.
I've used something like the 120N and it's fine. It has a better price, too.
When you set up wireless, assuming that the eris is the only wireless device, you can choose the default mixed mode, or Wireless-G only. Choose a different SSID name than you use for the Zoom ADSL modem, and make the channel that you use at least 5 away from the Zoom (I think that the default Linksys uses is channel 6, but they call their default "Auto", so who knows?) Otherwise, the defaults should all be fine.
Good luck.
When you plug the new router to your old one, assuming that you plug what they call the "Internet" port to one of the ethernet ports on your Zoom, it will be doing something called double NAT. I won't get into too much details on this, but it essentially means that any device connected to the Zoom router will not be able to attach over the network to the Eris - but the Eris will be able to get internet services just fine. Assuming that's all that you want - for the Eris to use WiFi for data - just do this. If you run into trouble, just say so.
Actually...
I have XBMC running on my office PC. I would like to use the XBMC Remote App on my Eris to control XBMC on the PC via the http interface. I've had it working before, albeit briefly. If I understand you correctly...
A little ASCII schematic...
Incorrect
Interwebs
___L
Zoom
___L - Office PC (wired)
___L - TV (wired)
___L - PS3 (wired)
___L - WRT120N (wired)
________L - HTC Eris #1 (wireless)
________L - HTC Eris #2 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #1 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #2 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #3 (wireless)
Correct
Interwebs
___L
Zoom
___L - WRT120N (wired)
________L - Office PC (wired)
________L - TV (wired)
________L - PS3 (wired)
________L - HTC Eris #1 (wireless)
________L - HTC Eris #2 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #1 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #2 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #3 (wireless)
Basically, I want to put everything on the WRT120N and use the Zoom as a modem only? At that point, I could effectively turn the wireless broadcast off for the Zoom, correct?
I have XBMC running on my office PC. I would like to use the XBMC Remote App on my Eris to control XBMC on the PC via the http interface. I've had it working before, albeit briefly. If I understand you correctly...
A little ASCII schematic...
Incorrect
Interwebs
___L
Zoom
___L - Office PC (wired)
___L - TV (wired)
___L - PS3 (wired)
___L - WRT120N (wired)
________L - HTC Eris #1 (wireless)
________L - HTC Eris #2 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #1 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #2 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #3 (wireless)
Correct
Interwebs
___L
Zoom
___L - WRT120N (wired)
________L - Office PC (wired)
________L - TV (wired)
________L - PS3 (wired)
________L - HTC Eris #1 (wireless)
________L - HTC Eris #2 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #1 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #2 (wireless)
________L - Laptop #3 (wireless)
Basically, I want to put everything on the WRT120N and use the Zoom as a modem only? At that point, I could effectively turn the wireless broadcast off for the Zoom, correct?
Yep, that should work, though you keep the TV and PS3 on the Zoom if you want to. The two devices will be the same network.
Anyway, there will be a way to get the router as an access point only for the Zoom, but, for now, get it set up the way that I described, let's verify that your Eris holds a stable connection and can get data, and then I can walk you through connecting it to the Zoom so that they are on the same network.
(Basically, you may need to make some changes to the Linksys router setup - I'll check the manual again later - but what you'll do is connect one of the Linksys's ethernet ports, rather than its internet port, to the Zoom, which will make it an ethernet switch and WiFi access point on the same network, rather than a router with a separate network from the Zoom. But, first steps first.)
And, yes, there seems little reason to keep the WiFi radio on the Zoom active. You can surely shut it off. Although, that said, you may want to keep it on and have one or two of the laptops using it - WiFi devices share the bandwidth with each other, so if they are all using data at the same time, it might be better to split the load.
You're welcome. Though it's a shame that you need to replace something that shouldn't need to be replaced just for one device. It may be that the Zoom is doing something weird, but I have a feeling that the Eris radio and driver is also doing something strange (and I am convinced of this because, when researching this, I found people who had issues with their Hero and this modem/router but no issues with a Nexus One.)
I'll have some time to look into the router config for the 120N to let it work as an access point on the same network as the Zoom later this weekend - probably tonight or tomorrow - unless you already did what I said and it worked. That is, I'll have time tonight or tomorrow unless my roof caves in, as the TV news is trying to convince me WILL HAPPEN ANY MINUTE NOW! To quote somebody else, snow is one problem that goes away on its own if you don't do anything about it long enough.
I'll have some time to look into the router config for the 120N to let it work as an access point on the same network as the Zoom later this weekend - probably tonight or tomorrow - unless you already did what I said and it worked. That is, I'll have time tonight or tomorrow unless my roof caves in, as the TV news is trying to convince me WILL HAPPEN ANY MINUTE NOW! To quote somebody else, snow is one problem that goes away on its own if you don't do anything about it long enough.
Meh... I've not been particularly happy with the quality of service provided by the Zoom modem. A wifi file transfer from my laptop to the desktop peaked at 3.5 Mb/s. I found this to be rather poor considering both the laptop and desktop are less than a year old. With the new router, I am expecting good things. So, I don't view this as a fix limited to only the Eris.
I am eligible for a new phone at the end of my two year contract in October... but I'm kind of fond of the small form factor and performance of the rooted Eris. So, I will probably hang on to it until something comparable comes along.
The router is setup, and allows me to connect to the office PC and control XBMC. So, as far as I am concerned, everything is satisfactory. Thank you again for your help.
I would gladly trade you the snow for your temperatures... we've had -27*F here a couple of times. We had -35*F last year. There is nothing more miserable than trying to move snow when you literally cannot breath because it's so cold... hence the fact that I have not cleared my driveway since Christmas... 4WD is a requirement for us.
...good news though, only two more months of this.
I am eligible for a new phone at the end of my two year contract in October... but I'm kind of fond of the small form factor and performance of the rooted Eris. So, I will probably hang on to it until something comparable comes along.
The router is setup, and allows me to connect to the office PC and control XBMC. So, as far as I am concerned, everything is satisfactory. Thank you again for your help.
I would gladly trade you the snow for your temperatures... we've had -27*F here a couple of times. We had -35*F last year. There is nothing more miserable than trying to move snow when you literally cannot breath because it's so cold... hence the fact that I have not cleared my driveway since Christmas... 4WD is a requirement for us.
...good news though, only two more months of this.
Demache
Android Expert
Actually, 3.5 MB/s for a Wireless G router isn't terribly bad. That's about 30 Mb/s. Of course, unless you meant 3.5 Mb/s and that wasn't a typo, than yeah, that isn't so good. Wireless G is a pretty slow standard for network file transfers.
radio7babe
Lurker
Why won't my Eris llink up with my wireless router so I can have wifi? It shows connected but nothing. Comes and goes. I don't know what to do.
radio7babe
Lurker
I still can't get my phone to switch over to wifi and I really need help.