NetSetMan Support

adlnetsetman

Member

Registered: 2019-10-04

Posts: 3

command-line for 'In-Depth Refresh' or 'NSM WiFi Management'

Hi,

I'm having an intermittent problem with my local WiFi connections (using both USB & on-board WiFi on my PC &/or laptop). On some days they'll drop out every few minutes, or hours. On others, not at all! I have tried several options to remedy this, however, because of the intermittent nature of this problem I have no way of knowing what reliably works or does not.

Upon re-reading this before posting I see that I need to add that:
1. I am on Windows 7 Pro;
2. Unfortunately I am one of those people that have multiple SSID's in my location where only 1 of which (via a specific MAC address) gives me an acceptable connection;
3. I only found out about 'Auto MAC connections' a few minutes ago from this forum (I think I set it up right!);
...4?. (maybe later in the post?) A few days ago I found that using NetSetMan to either open 'NSM WiFi Management' (from the taskbar, with right-click) or to do an 'In-Depth Refresh' (if 'NSM WiFi Management' was already opened) would fix/resolve/reconnect to my WiFi in the similar as my other 'botch attempts' - but in a 100% reliable way!!!

--------------------------------------

History of 'botch' attempts -

My 1st solution was to disable "connect auto when in range" [& re-checked within NetSetMan]
- Result: BIG improvement; but required manual re-connections (I did not know how to 'Auto MAC connect' until today);

My 2nd solution was to unplug/reconnect the USB manually
- Result: FAIR - ie. better that the software solution below [but needed lube sometimes from the multiple/regular USB in/out-ing's];

My 3rd solution was to disable/enable my USB through "Device Manager" (then "DevManView" from Nirsoft with a command-line => shortcut) to avoid the wear & tear from the physical USB in/out-ing's
- Result: Sometimes works.

I've also disabled power save in the device manager;
- Result: No improvement

I think that my problem (but I'm using w7), may be related to: "Netsetman wifi connection (by MAC) is foiled by Win 8.1"
https://www.netsetman.com/support/viewtopic.php?id=1130

....but I can not find a "Roaming Aggressiveness" (Intel), "Roaming Sensitivity" (Realtek) or something similar" on my realtek 8812BU.

Until I disabled the "connect auto when in range" [& re-checked within NetSetMan], W7 would reconnect, regularly, to the strongest wifi signal but after disabling the auto-re/connect, W7 now seems to 'forget/disconnect' the wifi at the same regular intervals - unless I 'refresh/remind' it using 'In-Depth Refresh' or 'NSM WiFi Management' (from the taskbar, with right-click)

My question is then:
Can I run/invoke the 'In-Depth Refresh' or 'NSM WiFi Management' in a command-line? If not, then is there a W7 equivalent?

P.S.

I came here expecting to pay for a wicd type of program to have a MAC connection; & I would have
WOW, incredible app - you guys are the forgotten & almost lost places for the internet - connect via MAC, just like wicd for linux..

P.P.S.
... I'm using this batch file to let me know when it's time to get NetSetMan to manage wifi 'Like A BOSS""

{* ^G = BEEP = ALT + [keypad] 7 =  ALT + [keypad] 07 = ALT + [keypad] 007}
-----------------------vvv_BEGIN_vvv-----------------------
@echo off
:allgood
echo ^G
:start
timeout 15
echo.
:retest
ping google.com -n 2 | find " time="
if not errorlevel 1 goto start
if errorlevel 1 echo ^G^G^G
echo  - - - Re-Testing - - -
timeout 3
echo.
ping google.com -n 2 | find " time="
if not errorlevel 1 goto allgood
goto retest
-----------------------^^^_END_^^^-----------------------

NetSetMan Support

Administrator

Registered: 2005-08-06

Posts: 1,878

Re: command-line for 'In-Depth Refresh' or 'NSM WiFi Management'

You can open the NSM WiFi Management with this parameter:

netsetman.exe -NSMWifi

This is undocumented, because we implemented this mostly for internal use, but you can use this as well for your case. As long as it is undocumented, it could change in the future, but we have currently no plans for doing so.

3. I only found out about 'Auto MAC connections' a few minutes ago from this forum (I think I set it up right!)

Could you please include a link to the page that helped you with this, so that other users that read this topic due to the same problem, can find it directly?

My 2nd solution was to unplug/reconnect the USB manually
- Result: FAIR - ie. better that the software solution below [but needed lube sometimes from the multiple/regular USB in/out-ing's]

There are very inexpensive USB-ON/OFF-Switches that you can use for this. It's basically a short cable with a simple on/off switch, that you connect between your pc and the actual USB cable. That way you can disconnect and connect your USB device without wearing out any USB ports.

WOW, incredible app

Thanks

NetSetMan Support

Administrator

Registered: 2005-08-06

Posts: 1,878

Re: command-line for 'In-Depth Refresh' or 'NSM WiFi Management'

Some additional background info:
The 'In-Depth Refresh' forces the network adapter to perform a full scan for wireless networks. That scan takes a couple of seconds and as soon as it is complete the driver populates the updated network details to the system. Windows can then react to the new networks.

Opening the NSM WiFi Management, we're running this full scan automatically once. That's why you are seeing the same results.

Having said that, we're not sure why it helps in your case. The network adapter performs that (or similar scans) automatically from time to time in the background. Maybe something's wrong with your drivers and the full scan resets a broken state.

I think that my problem (but I'm using w7), may be related to: "Netsetman wifi connection (by MAC) is foiled by Win 8.1"
https://www.netsetman.com/support/viewtopic.php?id=1130
....but I can not find a "Roaming Aggressiveness" (Intel), "Roaming Sensitivity" (Realtek) or something similar" on my realtek 8812BU.

That functionality is present in Windows 7 as well.
It's weird, that it's missing in your case. Are you sure you looked in the right place?
Could you please include a screenshot with the available options for your wireless adapter?

adlnetsetman

Member

Registered: 2019-10-04

Posts: 3

Re: command-line for 'In-Depth Refresh' or 'NSM WiFi Management'

Are you sure you looked in the right place?
Could you please include a screenshot with the available options for your wireless adapter?

To be on the safe side, I followed your instructions from here (I went via DeviceManager):
https://www.netsetman.com/support/viewt … 3795#p3795

I bought 2 x 5GHz USB last week, different antenna configs, but they both have identical device settings (I was hoping the antenna configs would help keep the connection stable - they do not). I have other USB wifi adaptors, but I can't find them right now - I'll let you know if they have those settings you mentioned ["Roaming Aggressiveness" (Intel), "Roaming Sensitivity" (Realtek)] & if it fixes my issue.

3. I only found out about 'Auto MAC connections' a few minutes ago from this forum (I think I set it up right!)

Could you please include a link to the page that helped you with this, so that other users that read this topic due to the same problem, can find it directly?

It was your post here:
https://www.netsetman.com/support/viewt … 3107#p3107

There are very inexpensive USB-ON/OFF-Switches that you can use for this. It's basically a short cable with a simple on/off switch, that you connect between your pc and the actual USB cable. That way you can disconnect and connect your USB device without wearing out any USB ports.

WOW!! USB hubs too!! Even USB3!

Thank you sooo much - ironically, this is the only instance where I needed to plug in/out a USB, & now with your command line argument for NetSetMan I'll not need one!

Lastly, I want to thank you very, very much for your detailed help. Also for you NetSetMan program. If it was not for this program I would be limited to the 256Kb/s that was introduced a year or so ago. With your NetSetman I can use a 2000Kb/s connection for the same price - chalk & cheese.

Thank you.
Mark L.

adlnetsetman

Member

Registered: 2019-10-04

Posts: 3

Re: command-line for 'In-Depth Refresh' or 'NSM WiFi Management'

Just to clear something up.

Windows does not lose the network connection, ie. the wifi icon in the taskbar shows that I'm still connected to the lan/router, I only loose my internet connection - I still have my 3-5 bars showing as in:

...but after a short time it will have the exclamation point superimposed to show a lost connection to the internet - not the router.

I used some misleading words in my OP - 'refresh/remind', 'forget/disconnect', 'fix/resolve/reconnect', 'drop out' - so I thought this may help clear up any confusion.

Thank you once again for this super manager!
Mark L.