Gentoo Archives: gentoo-user

From: Grant <emailgrant@×××××.com>
To: gentoo-user@l.g.o
Subject: Re: [gentoo-user] Wireless: Limit rate to strengthen connection?
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:52:36
Message-Id: 49bf44f10803261952u517d87ecv4052dfa8175df3dd@mail.gmail.com
In Reply to: Re: [gentoo-user] Wireless: Limit rate to strengthen connection? by Grant
1 > > > > > I'm trying to strengthen a wireless connection that spans about 150
2 > > > > > feet and has to go through about 5 walls. I bought two of these:
3 > > > > >
4 > > > > > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164110
5 > > > > >
6 > > > > > for either end of the connection, but I'm having trouble making it
7 > > > > > work well. I've noticed the connection will be perfect for a short
8 > > > > > time, but then disappear. When watching iwconfig during this process,
9 > > > > > it looks like the connection is good when on a low rate, but when it
10 > > > > > goes to 54 Mbps it falls apart.
11 > > > > >
12 > > > > > Should limiting the rate solve this problem? If so, how can I do
13 > > > > > that? I'm using hostapd on the AP and wpa_supplicant on the client.
14 > > > > >
15 > > > > > - Grant
16 > > > >
17 > > > > Grant,
18 > > > >
19 > > > > Yes, lowering the rate to a "slower" speed will help greatly. The lower
20 > > > > rates use less compression and modulation... less complex wave forms
21 > > > > better connects over long hauls.
22 > > > >
23 > > > > The antennas look very good, but what's driving them? I use and whole
24 > > > > heartedly endorse SENAO products and have had very good luck with these
25 > > > > models: ECB-3220 (400 mw) or 2611CB3 PLUS (200 mw) at:
26 > > > > http://www.wlansolution.com. Either unit with the high gain antennas you
27 > > > > have, will penetrate what you stated and probably go pretty high on the
28 > > > > speed scale doing it too.
29 > > >
30 > > > I'm using a Netgear PCI adapter on the AP and an Edimax USB adapter on
31 > > > the client. Do you know how I can limit the rate? Should it be done
32 > > > on the Gentoo AP or the client?
33 > > >
34 > > > - Grant
35 > >
36 > > I use wireless-tools from portage. In it is iwconfig. A simple man iwconfig
37 > > will show you what you need. Other thing you could do is configure the
38 > > Wireless AP for a fixed rate... works for me.
39 >
40 > I found this:
41 >
42 > rate_wlan0=( "5.5M" )
43 >
44 > which isn't documented in net.wireless, but it doesn't seem to have
45 > any affect. I've tried it on the router and the client which uses
46 > wpa_supplicant. I still see the rate on the client fluctuate all the
47 > way up to 54 Mb/s in the output from iwconfig. The router's rate is
48 > always reported as 0 kb/s.
49 >
50 > - Grant
51
52 It appears 'iwconfig wlan0 rate 11M' works (at least as far as the
53 output from iwconfig is concerned) but how can I set /etc/conf.d/net
54 to always use this rate?
55
56 - Grant
57 --
58 gentoo-user@l.g.o mailing list

Replies

Subject Author
Re: [gentoo-user] Wireless: Limit rate to strengthen connection? Richard Marzan <richardmarzan@×××××××××.net>