Debian Pogoplug mobile/V4 Kernel 3.17 Wireless Help

Hi-
I have successfully updated the U-boot per Bodhi's posts and booted the newest Debian Rootfs on my pogoplug mobile. I am trying to get wireless up and running with a usb wifi card (Edimax EW-7811 which is Realtek RTL8188CUS).
This dongle works but I can't set up reliable wifi. It keeps dropping out on me.
Most recently I have tried "wicd" but I have also been trying network-manager, through a VNC LXDE desktop.

Can anyone suggest a wireless configuration that will not drop out? Has anyone achieved reliable wifi on these things?

I have two other pogoplug V4's setup as Squeezelite players using Arch Linux per Qui's configuration, and they are working but I had to set up cron jobs to reboot them 3 times a day to make sure they stay connected because they have the same wifi issue.

Is there an issue with the Kirkwood hardware and wireless networking?
Thanks
P

I have several PogoPlug E02s running wireless using these adapters:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=RT5370&linkCode=ur2&tag=blogqnologyco-20

which are identified as 5370 Ralink Technology, Corp. RT5370 Wireless Adapters.

I have no problems keeping them connected over reasonable distances.

Thanks for the quick reply.
What I have is a software issue.
Can you tell me which Debian wifi setup you are using? Wpa-supp vs wicd vs network-manager, etc>

Thanks!!

I am using wpa-supp.

Have you run (as root):

iwlist wlan0 scanning

If so what are the Quality and Signal levels to your access point?

FG- This is really great of you, to help me.
I am currently rebuilding the rootfs.
I have found that this system is intolerant of changing methods mid-stream, and I just finished trying to configure wicd.
Once I have it up and running, can you aim me toward a tutorial for wpa-supplicant that works on these devices?

More to come. Thanks again for your help.
Peter

Here is the output of iwlist wlan0 scanning:

Cell 01 - Address: F9:ED:A6:3D:8B:E1
                    Channel:6
                    Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
                    Quality=70/70  Signal level=-40 dBm  
                    Encryption key:on
                    ESSID:"223 Garfield"
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
                              18 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
                    Bit Rates:6 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
                    Mode:Master
                    Extra:tsf=0000002a9d8c7890
                    Extra: Last beacon: 70ms ago

There is a bunch of other stuff too that I think is nonsense. Does this help?

That's (70/70) the highest possible Quality. How far apart are the wireless AP and the Pogoplug?

Mine is nowhere near as good, Quality=49/70 Signal level=-61 dBm, with about 40 feet separation thru one wall and door. But it always stays connected.

I am 3 feet away. Like I said, the issue is software.
So, how do I set up wpa_supplicant?
Can you steer me toward a pogoplug-specific guide, or do I not need one that specific?
Thanks!

I used this howto, but only sections 3 & 4.

https://wiki.debian.org/WiFi/HowToUse

Well, FG, that was amazingly helpful and now I appear to be working.
I will let it run for a few hours/days and let you know if it craps out again.
I am grateful for your help.

By establishing reliable wifi, as well as an LXDE desktop accessible by VNC, I am using this to talk to, and listen to, an Arduino.

Thanks again for your kindness
Peter

I hope it holds up for you. Good luck and enjoy!