WiFi problem I do not understand

[Patton Echols]

On 02/13/2009 01:13 AM, Aleks A.-Lessmann wrote:
> Ubuntu 8.10 running Gnome on a Dell XPS M1330, WiFi driver iwl3945.
>
> I can make a connection with an open hotspot with no problems and good
> quality.
>
> I need to log in to the server behind the hotspot via browser. Normally
> this goes smoothly and with no problems, but once in about a week the
> browser can not make any connection at all, giving an "address not
> found" error. The server is running as checked with the hotline.
>   

By "hotspot" I assume you mean a WiFi access point, correct?


> As I am not logged in, I can not access any other sites either. 
>
> DHCP works, as I not only have an IP, but also a default route and a
> primary DNS.
>
>   
Try to see if you can ping the primary dns by number also the router and 
the server as suggested by someone else.  If not, you have no connection 
even though it looks like it.

I had a similar problem with my home access point/router.  Even though 
it was working fine as a router for wired connections, it would drop the 
wifi while appearing to be connected. (I could even log in to it's admin 
interface from a wired connection and it would tell me my laptop was 
connected.)

Try restarting the access point, then attempt to refresh the laptop's 
WiFi connection without a reboot.  Just use NetworkManager to try 
again.  If this works reliably, you may be in the market for a firmware 
upgrade of your AP.  And when that does not work, some new hardware.

BTW, I was curious when I had to restart the  AP once a week, annoyed 
when I had to do it every day.  When I had to do it twice in one day I 
tossed it.  Never had the problem since.


> No firewall is installed on this system. Normally this error happens
> after the Dell went into hibernate. 
>   

There was an issue on some cards after reboot, but a dbus restart or 
reboot always fixed it and I think it has been patched for most systems 
by now.

> Rebooting the OS or subsequent hibernate cycles do not chance the
> situation. In fact, the situation changes sometime, somehow, but I don't
> know why it does in either direction.
>
> Does anybody know where I should look to find what the problem could be?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Aleks
>
>