Why I hate Wi-Fi

Not long ago, I purchased a Netgear WGR614 wireless G router. It's a new router and the G flavor of Wi-Fi is relatively mature so I didn't expect any problems. Silly me.

I set up the wireless network to use WPA-PSK-TKIP and connected to it just fine from my Windows XP laptop. A relative came over and their Windows XP laptop also connected to the Wi-Fi network. But, a few days later a third person tried it and their Windows XP laptop, a ThinkPad T60, refused to make a connection.

Perhaps, the vendor software managing the network connection was at fault. The first two machines had used Windows XP to handle the wireless connection. Nope. Even with Windows XP in charge of connecting, the T60 refused to get with the program. I turned off the software firewall and verified the router was using the latest firmware (which was version 9). I even turned off the firewall in the router. In the end, nothing helped and I had to switch routers.

(Credit: Netgear)

Now, days later, I get to finish debugging this. It turns out, the problematic T60 laptop does Wi-Fi just fine. Using the vendor supplied software, and with the firewall running, it connects to WiFi G routers from both Linksys and Belkin. Then, we try the Netgear WGR614 again, and it refuses to connect.

So, the Netgear router talks to two laptops just fine but not to the T60 ThinkPad. The T60 ThinkPad talks to two WiFi routers just fine, but not the Netgear router.

Go figure.

Last week, I set up a wireless network for a client. It worked fine for a couple days and then nothing. I'm on the phone with the client checking this and checking that, both from the wireless computer and from a wired computer connected to the same router. Some things are working, some aren't, I'm struggling to get a handle on the problem. And then, the network is working. Mind you, we didn't change anything. Like a petulant child, the network just decided to start working. Much like it decided to stop working. My best guess is some type of local radio interference.

One thing we tried was verifying the password for the network, which was also Wi-Fi G with WPA-PSK-TKIP. Rather than have the client login to the router and try to find the sub-sub section where the password is, I had them purposely enter an invalid password. I wanted to see the error message you get, figuring the lack on an error message meant the password hadn't changed. This was on a Windows XP machine using Windows to control the wireless network.

There is no error message.

Thinking that something must be wrong, I verified this on another XP machine on another network. Sure enough, if you login to a WPA-PSK-TKIP network with the wrong password, Microsoft doesn't see fit to issue any error message at all.

I hate Wi-Fi.

See a summary of all my Defensive Computing postings.

[The_Decider]

Why blame 802.11g for the failure of XP to be user friendly and issue an error message?

Are you aware that devices that accept and receive transmissions on the 2.4 Ghz range must accept any and all interference? That makes it unreliable. That is not a failure of the 802.11g standard, but an FCC regulation. That is the price of using open frequencies.

802.11 is plenty flawed most notably that management packets are not encrypted nor is regular traffic encrypted by default.

[Rod Roddy]

The problem is Netgear devices. I went through two, count'um two(2) Netgear routers before I gave up, bought a Belkin and now I write this comment on my Belkin wi-fi network. Netgear has issues it has to deal with.

[AnthonyL88]

I've using Netgear wireless since the beginning and never had trouble with it. I've use over 5 different Netgear wireless router etc., A,B, G, Pre-N- & N, all worked fine.

[Januss331]

I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but laughing as I read this. It just made me smile! But I agree with Rod, when I was using PCs, I went through 4 Netgear routers actually and always had problems with them deciding to commit seppuku for some unknown reason. Using a Mac now, I've been blessed with a relatively carefree Airport Extreme, but it does occasionally lose the internet signal. Though, I think it's more of a Comcast problem...anywho, good luck on your Wi-Fi woes.

[someguy7234]

At the University of Illinois we maintain two sets of routers to serve the laptops on our campus (well 3 actually If you count our WPA network). For a long time, we'd work with vendors to patch connectivity problems with some Intel wireless cards, then the iPhone came out (the first one) and we lost the ability to connect to a small (but significant) number of computers and iPhones. Rather than try to patch again, we simply maintain another network for devices that don't work with the main network. (I'm not a network technician so I don't know the details but I see the effect every time I open my wireless network browser).

[bkedersha]

I am using a Netgear router right this very minute and as you can see, I am not having issues. BUT! You will never have complete security with WiFi, if you really have that highly sensitive data, get a long wire.

[rishti123]

I am using a NetGear WGR614 v6 with one wired port at 10 mbs half duplex (due to some cat 3 wiring) and 3 or 4 wireless users. Every few days the router just hangs and I go power cycle it. Next time I would go with LinkSys.

[ikramerica--2008]

You hate Wi-Fi? No, you hate Windows and Netgear, and you just don't realize it. Wi-Fi works when it's implemented correctly. DLink does a pretty good job, Apple an even better job. Try them. "But the Apple Airport is too expensive" you lament? Well, ever hear of "you get what you pay for"? If you want a product you rarely ever have to reset, pay the extra money and buy an Apple router. Otherwise, prepare to be unhappy over time? :)

[ExtraO]

I don't know where you get calling the WGR614 "new", I have two of them (V6) that I bought over two years ago at Fry's Electronics as refurbs for 20 bucks a pop. They have been running 24/7 since purchase with the same security setup you describe, without a hitch. (which is not to say that NETGEAR doesn't have some real junk on the market) I have never been unable to finally get a machine to connect, though Windows does put up a fight lots of times. Our MacBooks hooked up in a flash. I've even taken one of them into the officeas emergency backup (I'm sysadmin) when our NETGEAR PRO models went on the fritz. It handled the load - 25 workstations - with no complaints.

[pjhenry1216]

I'd have to look into it, but I'm not sure if Windows (or any operating system for that matter) *can* give you an error message that the password is incorrect. I'm not sure if the standard requires the router to submit back to the device that its not allowing a connection because of an incorrect password. I'd look into that before bashing routers and Windows. He may be correct when he says he hates Wi-Fi. The difficulties may be built right in. Also to note, Apple Airport is no better than any other decent brand name router. Its just *sometimes* more expensive and from Apple. I generally dislike when people complain that Macs have less problems then Windows. If you have less than 10% marketshare *obviously* less people will be complaining than if you have such a huge market share like Windows machines do. I get tired of the Windows bashing. It really is a decent system. Most problems arise from user stupidity. Macs just don't allow you to do as much as Windows does, therefore stupid people can't do as much damage, but then again, an experienced user can't do as much as they could on a Windows machine. Linux is the combination of flexibility and stability afforded by Windows and Apple, respectively.