Symbol Spectrum24 AP problems

**Markyboyt** · #1 06-Aug-2008, 08:30 PM

Im not sure if anybody can help or if I know enough information.

Basically I work in a vehicle workshop and the setup is that we have 3 diagnostic heads which communicate wireless and 2 diagnostic units which are wireless and 1 wired. We have a Symbol Spectrum24 AP3020 wireless access point in the workshop which then connects to the LAN.

Some computer 'pros' were in week before last doing something which im unsure of but the network link to the workshop pcs on the LAN kept cutting off. Anyways it appears to be since then that we have had problems with our wireless connections, as it stands the diagnostic units can see the diagnostic heads but when we try and make a connection an error comes up saying that the connection cannot be created.

I appreciate that we are using specialist software on the machines, but if i unplug the LAN cable from the AP then it will work via wireless perfectly, it is as if the LAN is causing a fault with the wireless but not disabling it fully. I cant leave the machines working wirelessly via this method because we then lose print functions and have to hard wire the head we use with the wired unit.

If anybody can decipher what I am on about and might have a good suggestion of something to try then I would be most grateful as it is doing my head in.

thanks in advance
Mark

**hbroomhall** · #2 06-Aug-2008, 11:01 PM

My first thought is to get those people back in - tell them about the problem, and tell them they aren't going home until they fix it.

Harry.

**hbroomhall** · #3 06-Aug-2008, 11:03 PM

My second thought is that the network isn't being fully described.

If you disconnect the LAN to an AP then all WiFi connections will fail. If something else happens then you don't know the network!

Harry.

**Markyboyt** · #4 06-Aug-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

“

Originally Posted by hbroomhall

My second thought is that the network isn't being fully described.

If you disconnect the LAN to an AP then all WiFi connections will fail. If something else happens then you don't know the network!

Harry.

”

Thanks for your reply harry, to clarify both the diagnostic unit and the diagnostic head connect to each other, but via the AP thats why when the LAN is unplugged they still connect, this is definate. Obviously this means that the devices cannot connect wireless to LAN devices which is why its causing so many problems

**Sparky** · #5 06-Aug-2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

“

Originally Posted by Markyboyt

I appreciate that we are using specialist software on the machines, but if i unplug the LAN cable from the AP then it will work via wireless perfectly, it is as if the LAN is causing a fault with the wireless but not disabling it fully. I cant leave the machines working wirelessly via this method because we then lose print functions and have to hard wire the head we use with the wired unit.

”

So when the LAN cable is unplugged from the WAP you can connect with no probs to the WAP?

And when you patch the cable back in the connection drops or does the software crash?

**Markyboyt** · #6 06-Aug-2008, 11:55 PM

Quote:

“

Originally Posted by Sparky

So when the LAN cable is unplugged from the WAP you can connect with no probs to the WAP?

And when you patch the cable back in the connection drops or does the software crash?

”

The connection is lost although the head will then show up as free on other machines.

The heads assign to each machine, they can be de-assigned and then used on other machines at the press of a button as there is a connection interface mask for this purpose, when i haed is assigned to a machine it will then once connected to a vehicle power up and then create a connection to the machine it is assigned to, if it isn't assigned then it will show up as free.

**Sparky** · #7 06-Aug-2008, 11:57 PM

Does the connection drop immediately when you patch the cable back in?

**Markyboyt** · #8 07-Aug-2008, 12:00 AM

Quote:

“

Originally Posted by Sparky

Does the connection drop immediately when you patch the cable back in?

”

It shows on the machine within about 5 seconds, but thats pretty much it taking that time to refresh so id say it is as soon as the cable is plugged in.

**Sparky** · #9 07-Aug-2008, 12:06 AM

Obviously I don’t know the full setup but if possible could you switch everything off that is on the wired part of the network and then patch the cable back into the WAP.

Is everything works ok then bring each device on one by one on the wired network and keep checking the wireless connection. If it drops when a particular device is on then at least the problem is isolated that device.

Other things it could be is a network switch failing which is dropping traffic when the whole network is patched in or even a IP address conflict somewhere on the network.

**Markyboyt** · #10 07-Aug-2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

“

Originally Posted by Sparky

Obviously I don’t know the full setup but if possible could you switch everything off that is on the wired part of the network and then patch the cable back into the WAP.

Is everything works ok then bring each device on one by one on the wired network and keep checking the wireless connection. If it drops when a particular device is on then at least the problem is isolated that device.

Other things it could be is a network switch failing which is dropping traffic when the whole network is patched in or even a IP address conflict somewhere on the network.

”

Unfortunately I cant do that, partly because the LAN covers the whole dealership and partly because they wouldnt let me, as it stands im a vehicle repairer who deals with the workshop machines, initially updating software which has over time built up to encompass looking at any niggles with workshop computers or equipment.

Thanks for your help on this Sparky, I posted as a bit of a last ditch attempt to see if it could be something obvious, obviously it makes it more difficult that I cant describe the full system and the fact its all specialist software etc. I think its going to have to be a case of kicking the IT guys up the rear and getting them in to have a ponder over it.

thanks anyway

Mark

**supag33k** · #11 07-Aug-2008, 05:22 AM

Okay it sounds like these diagnostic heads could be either a NCR derivative or a BMW GT 1/OPs type of unit.

A lot of vendors have been packing RF into them with the Symbol Spectrum stuff having been around for years.

http://www.instrument.com/italy/deve...ia/spect24.asp

I think you could have an issue where the preferred network for the RF interface is set to LAN - in that one of the devices could be a hub and a series of cables could be plugged into it now.

This could be what broke it as the unit would work fine with RF and LAN uplink connectors from initial installation of the diagnostic heads, but the moment you use the hub component ["hey there is a spare funny looking hub here..."] - the LAN stops working.

The other option is if your IT fellows changed the network address structure in some way - either IP address or subnet details - or they could now be MAC filtering via a smart switch and forgot to add your RF points...

Either way grap one of them by the throat and ask "what did you change and where..."

HTH

supa
RF and Microwave stuff with my M$ thingies...;)

**Markyboyt** · #12 07-Aug-2008, 07:21 AM

Quote:

“

Originally Posted by supag33k

Okay it sounds like these diagnostic heads could be either a NCR derivative or a BMW GT 1/OPs type of unit.

”

yep its a BMW system, is this something you are familiar with then?

Quote:

“

Originally Posted by supag33k

A lot of vendors have been packing RF into them with the Symbol Spectrum stuff having been around for years.

http://www.instrument.com/italy/deve...ia/spect24.asp

I think you could have an issue where the preferred network for the RF interface is set to LAN - in that one of the devices could be a hub and a series of cables could be plugged into it now.

This could be what broke it as the unit would work fine with RF and LAN uplink connectors from initial installation of the diagnostic heads, but the moment you use the hub component ["hey there is a spare funny looking hub here..."] - the LAN stops working.

The other option is if your IT fellows changed the network address structure in some way - either IP address or subnet details - or they could now be MAC filtering via a smart switch and forgot to add your RF points...

Either way grap one of them by the throat and ask "what did you change and where..."

HTH

supa
RF and Microwave stuff with my M$ thingies...;)

”

At present BMW are in the middle of rolling out the replacement for the GT1 system, its a central server system which allows several diagnostic units and heads to be connected, and it uses rolling IP's for them, they are also putting that equipment onto a seperate subnet so it is highly likely that they have changed something to do with the new unit, that said all the IP's of the workshop pc's and diagnostic equipment has remained the same.

somebody should be out today to install some of the new diagnostic units, with a bit of luck they will be the same guys who were in last week and they can shed some light.

It all makes more sense now, I didn't know that something on the LAN could make the AP change its settings.

Thanks supag33k