Wireless Router Issues
 

At Philadelphia we had our scouting system up and running for everyone to use. We constantly ran into issues with our router crashing however. We used a Linksys WRT54G with dd-wrt firmware. Stock settings are to hand out 50 dhcp addresses, which we hit midday Thursday I think. I upped it to 250 maximum users, but we started running into issues with the Wi-Fi just dropping out of existence (no one's device could find it). We had a few things hardwired into the router, and they continued to function normally. We had about 70-80 DHCP entries around this time.

Is the issue with the router handling too many DHCP users? Would running the DHCP server on a computer behind the router, thus making the router function only as a access point/switch? Or can a WRT54G absolutely not handle this traffic load?

Is there any wi-fi system that is more powerful?

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

hmm.. dd-wrt, means you are using a v5 router which has only 8mb ram and 2mb flash?
You'd be better off with an older one which has more flash ..
But if you are thinking of serving a whole arena of users (probably > 250) I think you will be better off with a linux box giving out serving DHCP on class A or B subnets, with the router merely bridging your wireless and wired interfaces (i.e. disable internal dhcp).
The number of requests / flows may also be maxing out its ram.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

Generally, more than about 25 associated clients on a single access point will start to lead to problems. This is true for higher-end AP's as well. The number of DHCP entires or MAC entries are unlikely to be limiting factors.

You might see a somewhat greater number of simultaneous users if you run in G only mode.

If you want to increase the number of connected clients, you could run 3 access points on the non-overlapping channels 1, 6, and 11, and route them on the WAN side of the 3 WRT54G's.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

Yeah.. but running in G only mode limits the range. If you are far away enough that it drops to even 36mbps, the router won't serve you anymore. (Or that's what my testing in the past proved)

I have a v2 WRT54G, so it is with 16mb of RAM. I just upgraded to dd-wrt v24 RC 6.2, and I'm going to try and disable as many functions as possible. It's impossible to test until we get to an event though :(

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

While I was reading the Championship Essential Information I noticed that it asks people not to set up wireless networks at the Championship.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

I <3 the DD-WRT firmware. It does wonderful things traditional router firmware cannot. I've used it on a WRT54G v7 and it would use up about 94% of the memory just idling. So, perhaps you are hitting the upper limits of your memory?

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

Tomato firmware rocks too :) :cool:

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

You can try wiring a second router behind the first router to ease the load instead of having a computer.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

Bad link. In the past I know teams have setup their own access points at Championship. The manual explicitly says not to arrange for Internet access while at an event... could you find where it says no wireless networks?

I'm going to try using a gigabit switch with two wireless access points connected, and either a computer or a wired router giving out DHCP addresses. This way, all wireless connections are split between the access points, and all traffic goes through the switch - which should be more than capable of the load.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

I am similarly disappointed by this, as The Blue Alliance was going to have TBATV installs set up in each of the divisions to provide hopefully seamless coverage in the pits.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

Do you know if this is for the stands, the pits or the entire event? This really kills our scouting system then... :(

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

Although I believe this 'rule' covers the entire event (Stands + Pits), I don't see where you would get power to run one in the stands anyways, as I am pretty sure there is no AC easily accessible.

That being said, I don't think they would mind an ad hoc wireless network being run in the stands, which ought to work for a scouting system.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

Yeah that should work in the stands for match scouting, but for team scouting we rely on a server in our pit with clients connecting + entering info.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

Yes they would! An ad hoc system is equally "disruptive" as one based around a router. Also, the stands are probably worse than the pits for such activities, as they are closer to the fields.

I'm not sure why they are showing negative love for the WiFi, but please respect their decision.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

This could be because maybe FIRST is doing a frequency study for the new control system.

If FIRST decides to go with 2.4 Ghz for the new control system, it could spell the end for all team owned WI-FI networks at events.

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

The wireless ban is disappointing but understandable.

What is equally disappointing is the whole "no food on the property" rule. Are people in northeast Wisconsin (a la Lambeau Field) the only ones who can appreciate the good food, good folks and good fun of a classic tailgate party??!!

Aaarrgghh!!!!! Tailgating in a hotel parking lot just doesn't seem the same!

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

I would suggest that you use a better router. I would suggest that you use a HP procurve. It is an extremely versatile router that will take a lot of network abuse, that is needed when you have hundreds of people trying to "hack" it. :ahh:

Re: Wireless Router Issues
 

I would hope that FIRST has a little more sense than that. If, as it is widely rumored, they are developing a new control system from the ground up it would seem like common sense to put it somewhere other than right smack dab in the middle of the WiFi range.

WiFi in 2008 has become a pretty ubiquitous tool and at this point I think it is widespread enough that it could be considered a tool that most would expect to have in their arsenal. For FIRST, an organization that touts its dedication to technology, to handicap teams in such a manner well it certainly defies any logic that I can come up with. Though FIRST never ceases to amaze me and give me reason to be surprised when I shouldn't be after so many years.

-Justin