I have two XP laptops accessing a wireless access point (actually currently a Cable & Wireless router just working as an access point).
Mostly it is fine, but fairly frequently the connection doesn't work, with the Wireless network connection showing Connected - Signal strength Good, but I have no connection and cannot ping the AP.
Today for instance I switched on the Lenovo 3000 laptop and got the above issue. Ran Network Stumbler and the AP shows up fine. Tried a repair connection (sometimes this worked especially on my now defunct DLINK AP), then I switched on the Dell Inspiron. Even without logging on the Lenovo connection suddenly became active once the Dell had booted up.
Without fail a switch off/on of the C&W AP works as also did when I had the Dlink 700AP.
Currently I'm on fixed IP's but that doesn't make any difference.
The network is not straightforward and is as shown below:
C&W AP (home) -> Linksys WAP54G -- 400m wireless bridge mode -- Linksys WAP54G (office) -> C&W router -> ADSL and LAN
The Linksys work perfectly, on Channel 6, the C&W AP is on Channel 1.
Where do I start to get a reliable wireless connection every time?
Is the a Windows XP wireless issue?
Many thanks