Linksys DMA 2100 disconnects after 30 mins

[marcdavies]

I have a Linksys DMA 2100 extender which is loosing it's connection to my Vaio Media Centre after about 30 minutes of use.

After going through the setup process the extender connects wirelessly to the Media Centre, streaming video, images or music without any issues. However after 30 mins or so though it looses the connection. Trying to re-connect fails and I then have to go through the setup process again, re-entering a new setup key, etc. This then connects and works again for about 30 mins before timing out and disconnecting again. This disconnection happens even if I am not watching any media and just leave the extender on the home screen. This is incredibly frustrating as you can imagine.

On trying to solve the problem I tested connecting the box wirelessly to my Acer laptop (also running Vista). When I did this there was no timeout and no disconnection. The system ran happily for a number of days (I even retstarted the laptop a couple of times, without any issues.) This would seemingly rule out a problem with my router. This isn't an ideal solution though as my laptop isn't my main media centre PC.

My main Media Centre PC uses a Marvell Libertas 802.11b/g Wireless LAN for its wireless, unfortunately I can't replace this as it is integrated into the system and I don't have any more PCI slots to spare. I decided to buy a Buffalo WLI-TX4-G54HP Wireless Media convertor and used this but the problem remained. This would seemingly rule out wireless driver problems.

Does anyone have any idea of how to fix this? I've tried so many different things trying to get this working and don't want to keep buying hardware with the hope that it will work, there must be a software solution!

Thanks in advance.

[Moocow]

power management on the wireless nic in the VMC?

right-click on the Wireless NIC, got to properties, then thick on configure, and the far right tab is power management, untick the options that set it to go to sleep.

hope this helps.

[njcoop]

I have been suffering from almost identical problem. I have changed the power management setting however these seemingly random disconnections are continuing.

The only way I have found to avoid having to re-enter setup key is to disconect my htpc from the wireless network and then reconnect and re establish connection to dma2100.

Such a frustration! Any other idea's?

My dma2100 is wire networked to a linksys WRT300N router so the only wireless link is from router to htpc.

[rangersman]

Originally Posted by njcoop

I have been suffering from almost identical problem. I have changed the power management setting however these seemingly random disconnections are continuing.

The only way I have found to avoid having to re-enter setup key is to disconect my htpc from the wireless network and then reconnect and re establish connection to dma2100.

Such a frustration! Any other idea's?

My dma2100 is wire networked to a linksys WRT300N router so the only wireless link is from router to htpc.

Goto Admin tools -> services (from the Vista Control Panel).

Right click the Windows Media center extender service and select properties.

On the tab that shows how to deal with disconnection, change the first, second and subsequent tries to "reconnect" (or something similar, shooting from memory here!).

That should solve the issue.

[njcoop]

I found another forum that gives in detail instructions about the solution that you have sugegested. Thanks

But it still doesn't fix the problem! I got so excited and thought that I had fixed my problem that had been going for months.

Anyone got anymore suggestions?

[rangersman]

Originally Posted by njcoop

IMy dma2100 is wire networked to a linksys WRT300N router so the only wireless link is from router to htpc.

I didn't think that was possible? I thought the router had to be connected to the HTPC for the Extender to work?

Have you tried running a cable between the HTPC and router to see if that helps?

[coma]

Just posted this suggestion on similar thread elsewhere.
A friend had this sort of problem for months - he installed Vista sp1 which fixed it - worth a try if you havent done it yet.
coma.

[marcdavies]

thanks Coma,

installed SP1 a while back, that didn't help, also changed my wireless card, no success there either! I've tried a few of the recommended the different things with power settings, etc...

Will keep a lookout, it's been 2 months since I bought it now, getting fed up, may send it back!