3 dongle keeps dropping connection

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

My 3 dongle started dropping connection at home a few days ago.

It's been fine since I got it on contract last November and i've continually used it on this same laptop, and it has also worked fine another laptop at home where the connection does not drop, so the problem is obviously on this particular laptop.

It happens every few minutes, no particular time, sometimes it can last 15-20 mins other times it can be every 3-5 mins and so quite annoying. It does restart itself if you leave it long enough.

I've tried turning off the firewall. I'd add it as an exception in the permissions list but I don't recognise the name of the 3 dongle in the list. I have tried uninstalling the driver (which self installs when you first put the dongle in the usb port) and i've tried it in the different usb ports as well. I should add that the laptop works fine when connected to the ethernet cable at the office (which uses high speed cable broadband).

About the same time the problem started, a family member bought a 3 mifi dongle - could this be causing a conflict even though the 3 mifi is often not in use when i'm using my dongle at home? It did pick up the mifi signal on the first day they used it, but I can't see where I can "remove" it from my computer if that's what I need to do.

Any ideas welcome, thanks.

 

[Lucky7CompSolutions]

I have used the 3 dongle before and when ever I had issues I would go to add and remove programs and remove it, once its removed stick the dongle back in and let the software install again, see if that helps.
maybe virus issues?

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

mine installs two sets of drivers, one from 3 and one from Huawei, both needed to be deleted to get it working again when I had issues.

 

[Lucky7CompSolutions]

mine installs two sets of drivers, one from 3 and one from Huawei, both needed to be deleted to get it working again when I had issues.

sorry forgot about the Huawei driver, thanks for sharing that 2.

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

My programs list only shows the huawei driver. I have tried removing and reinstalling, didn't work though.

 

[leemason]

Have you contacted 3 about it? It might be a local transmitter problem.

 

[Lucky7CompSolutions]

Can you download this and pm the log and I will have a look for anything like viruses.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/otl/

 

[Posilan]

It did pick up the mifi signal on the first day they used it, but I can't see where I can "remove" it from my computer if that's what I need to do.

As long as it's not connecting to it, it shouldn't cause a problem. You can go into the wireless settings and "forget" wireless networks there if it is.

Have you checked to see if you have any power saving settings on your USB ports?

Go into device manager (right click computer > Properties > device manager) and under the USB controllers section, right click and choose properties for each "usb root hub" and click the "power management" tab.

Try taking the tick out of "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" on each one and see if that helps.

Steve

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

Okay thanks for the suggestions guys, I ran the OTI scan and it found nothing. I also just unticked the usb root hub thingies so lets see what that does in the next 10 minutes.

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

Well half an hour has now passed and connection has not dropped. Fingers crossed that unticking those boxes has worked, yeh!

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

...and so far 2 hours connected this morning and still not dropped so looks like that has worked.

Thanks very much Posilan for that suggestion, you're a star!

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

Well just an update to say that although that seemed to work and indeed the connection did not drop for 2 days, by Saturday morning it started dropping again

At first, connection lasted about an hour or so, but by yesterday (Sunday) it was back to dropping every 5 minutes.

 

[Lucky7CompSolutions]

Well just an update to say that although that seemed to work and indeed the connection did not drop for 2 days, by Saturday morning it started dropping again

At first, connection lasted about an hour or so, but by yesterday (Sunday) it was back to dropping every 5 minutes.

Without looking at computer its always hard to diagnosis the issues as you are just stabbing in the dark.

Might be worth looking a local computer repair company and get them to look at it or phone three.

Could you do another log with that program and PM the file as you don't know what your looking for, not being funny.

 

[Posilan]

Well just an update to say that although that seemed to work and indeed the connection did not drop for 2 days, by Saturday morning it started dropping again

At first, connection lasted about an hour or so, but by yesterday (Sunday) it was back to dropping every 5 minutes.

Just a thought - have you checked the settings are still there for the USB hubs?

We've just gone past Microsoft's "Patch Tuesday" and if you have installed the Windows updates, it may have changed something.

Steve

 

[anon154650]

It is not unusual for local cell sites to suffer a failure in their data links. I know someone who lives on a narrow boat and they often find their Orange data signal has failed, but their Orange mobiles are working fine. A call to Orange usually confirms there is a problem with the cell they are in.

It might be worth using the dongle on a short USB extension lead, and maybe attaching it to the edge of the screen with a little Blu Tac. Whilst signal polarisation at those frequencies is not overly important, local lumps of metal (in the desk) can affect the signal. Ensuring the stick is out in the clear could help.