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Date:  Mon, 01 Sep 2003 20:38:06 -0400
Sender: os2-wireless_users-owner <os2-wireless_users-owner@2rosenthals.com>
Reply-To: os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com
From:  Lewis G Rosenthal <os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com>
To:  os2-wireless_users@2rosenthals.com
Subject: [OS2Wireless] NetGear MA311

Some additional thoughts...

Ray Hyder wrote:

>>> I realize the IBM driver was designed to run on a ThinkPad  but it 
>>> does recognize the MA311 and works okay as far as I can see.
>>
>>
>> It's all a matter of chipsets... 
>
>
> It is a Prism 2.5 chipset. 

Sorry, I should have said "firmware." Obviously, it would be a Prism 
chipset, like the IBM. :-)

>> There's no universal yardstick. You could try using a parabolic
>> reflector to increase gain at either (or both) end(s) of the connection. 
>
>
> Lewis, that's true  but parabolic antennas are really expensive

I wasn't referring to a parabolic antenna, merely a reflector. You could 
make one yourself by cutting a coffee can (ain't this stuff fun?). For 
some nice ideas, check out 
http://osiris.urbanna.net/antenna_designs/projects/template.

> and for less money I could simply dig a trench  between the two 
> buildings and drop in a Cat 5 cable and run at 100 Mbps.   It would be 
> less than half the price and 10 times the speed...  Why not?  Don't 
> need the speed for  the application  I have and I'm now fascinated 
> with WiFi...  :-) 

I'm not looking to increase bandwidth (you'd need 802.11a or g, at this 
point), just try to make up the signal loss for you.

>>>   I have a 5db gain omni-directional antenna on order for the 
>>> MA311.  Will that help? 
>>
>>
>>
>> Probably. Also try adjusting the placement of the antenna/AP. It's
>> amazing how even a few inches can improve transmission. Also, try
>> adjusting the relative positions of the antennae at the AP (like TV
>> rabbit ears).
>
>
> I've done that  so many times I'm worried about wearing out the antennae! 

Sounds like a reflector (or two) could be just what the doctor ordered!

>>> Stability...   With all of the above considered,  the MA311 somehow 
>>> decides,  after about an hour,  that it is time to quit work and it 
>>> goes "unavailable".   Nothing will bring it back short of a reboot.  
>>> Please!  What am I missing here? 
>>
>>
>>
>> Hehehe... Welcome to the brave new world of Wi-Fi power management (or
>> mismanagement, as the case may be). It sounds like the card's power
>> management functions are being enabled, and unfortunately, Wi-Fi cards
>> of today's vintage(!) are notorious for being unpredictable when power
>> management is enabled. As there are no standards for power management
>
>
>
> Lewis, it turns out not to be a power management problem.  For some 
> reason the MA311 likes to receive data but when it has to transmit 
> data it falls into an unrecoverable coma... 

Hmmm... Jens may have hit on it with his mention of firmware. Sounds 
like a bug, then.

> Lewis, thanks for your input!  - ray
>
>
No problem! Oh, and remember, dumb looks are always free around here, 
too. (They just don't translate well to typing!)

-- 
Lewis
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Lewis G Rosenthal, CNA
Rosenthal & Rosenthal            :  Accountants / Network Consultants
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