Losing Connection to Server repeatedly...

Hello All,

Been struggling to get into SL for 3 days now. I used to work for WON.net / Sierra, so I'm trying to exercise patience and be as methodical as possible - but any help or suggestions would be appreciated!

The problem: I can log into SL no problem. However, after being logged in for 5 - 10 minutes, the server stops responding and I am either booted or have to manually quit the application. If I immediately restart the client, I can play again - but only for another 5 - 10 minutes.

It is worth noting that when the client loses connectivity to the servers, ALL network activity to my PC ceases. FTP and HTTP requests go dead - BUT the OS claims to still be connected to the LAN/Wireless network. Oddly enough, if I quit the SL client and refresh my web-browser - or restart the FTP transfer, the network "comes back to life" instantly.

My network setup is as follows:

CableModem ---> Linksys 4-port Router ---> Belkin (F5D6231-4) Wireless Router ---> My PC

My System is an Athlon 1.4Ghz, GeForce3, WindowsXP, and ALL of the latest patches and updates.

I've tested using only the Linksys Router, and I seem to have no problems with that. HOWEVER, that router is "full" at the moment - so I can't permanently hook my PC up to it without screwing up the connections for other folks in my dwelling.

Whether wired or wireless, if I connect through the Belkin, I get the problems mentioned above. I've tried disabling both my Windows firewall and the Belkin Firewall - but that has had no effect.

I'm an experienced scripter / "mod" maker in the FPS genre; and I'm itching to get involved in SL... Please Help!

Thanks, take care,

--Noel "HB" Wade
[email]noel.wade@gmail.com[/email]

Yeah, if it works when you bypass the Belkin router, it definitely sounds like the Belkin router is to blame. I'm guessing you can't hook one of the computers plugged into the Linksys router into the Belkin router instead, can you?

Unfortunately not. The Belkin's needed because there's no way to run CAT5 to my room from the Linksys, in the house I'm in. Owners won't let me run wires down the hall or in the wall/attic, so I had to go wireless. And the router technically doesn't belong to me (but it WAS bought specifically so I could have connectivity - so it'd be rude to ask for it to be changed)... *sigh* Murphy, you wacky law-maker, you!

Hopin' to find a way to SL soon...

--Noel "HB" Wade
(Former Quake/Half-Life Engine Geometry Ninja...)

I didn't really find anything that indicated a solution, or even a common cause, but I did find this page:
http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:YLWdadyDUSMJ:www.experts-exchange.com/Miscellaneous/Games/Online_Games/emailFriend.jsp%3Fqid%3D20841833+counterstrike+ping+belkin+wireless&hl=en
Does that sound similar to your problem?

Which model of router do you have? Is there a firmware update on the Belkin site? It's possible the problem has been patched.

Can you run NetStumbler at the same time as SL, to see if it detects any inteference spikes around the time you lose your connection? It's possible it's not your router at all, but something interfering with the signal.

Yeah, similar behavior - except none of my network traffic comes back until AFTER I quit the SL client. Then IE, FTP, and SL resume operation. But logging every 5 minutes is a bit ridiculous.

No firmware updates or info on this sort of problem on the Belkin website, sadly.

I'll check out NetStumbler - but this situation occurs even when I'm connected to the Belkin with a CAT5 cable (schlepped the PC over to the router itself to test that theory).

Thanks for tryin' to help!

--Noel "HB" Wade

OOOOOkay.... So NetStumbler shows a really good signal and no noise - nice 'n' steady. AND, with NS running, I was able to maintain an SL session for an hour - WOOHOO! I have NO idea why NS makes a difference, but apparently it does. *shrug* There were a couple of moments where I lagged for 4 or 5 seconds, but nothing major.

Turned NetStumbler off; and was only able to maintain a connection for about 13 minutes - with an approx. 25 second lag about half-way through. The network seemed to recover OK after that big lag; but 5 minutes later it crapped out completely. *sigh*

I would guess that my problem is the same as the Counter-Strike user's problem - but with the streaming nature of SL, the connection is a little bit more prone to being severed and not easily resumed.

Note to all users: Belkin Routers are NOT impressing me one bit!

Gonna try another long session with NetStumbler running in a while, will report back with the results. I'm being detailed here on the forums so it can maybe help others in the future.

Take care,

--Noel "HB" Wade

Well, the more I toy with this, the more my symptoms resemble that link you posted, Catherine...

Even with NetStumbler running, I appear to have 10 - 20 second lags every 5 - 10 minutes. And how long I maintain a connection to the SL servers is just semi-random.... one of the laggy moments will turn into a long one, and eventually end my client's session.

That one-hour session was just a total fluke.

*grumble, grumble... mutter, mutter*

Take care,

--Noel "HB" Wade

FYI, looks like I've fixed the problem. I need to do some more testing to
make sure - but I thought I'd post here, for posterity.

The "fix" turned out to be simple (but probably only useful to people with
2+ routers). I converted the Belkin WAN connection to a LAN connection with
the Linksys router; and then turned on "Wireless Access Point" mode on the
Belkin. This bypasses ALL routing, firewalling, DHCP, and other features -
in effect making the Belkin a "dumb" Wireless repeater / hub. Have had no
problems since then, and have stayed connected and lag-free for a couple of
30 - 45 minute sessions (terminated at my command, for once!).

Thanks for your help, take care,

--Noel "HB" Wade

Wow, that's certainly not a very ringing endorsement of Belkin's wireless products, is it?
Glad everything worked out.