Wireless network connection problems!

[Spearmint]

I need some advice about wireless networks/routers/settings, for I keep getting disconnected from the internet and its happening very frequently.

The problem seems to have started once I got a new laptop. I still have and use the old one, and occasionally the network is also used by either a PSP or an Xbox but I can have problems when there is only the new laptop using the system.

My old router was a DLink DSL 2640B but when I started getting problems I bought one which had good reviews a TP Link TD8960N. The latter one was even worse, and was very slow, even though it should be quicker, so I reverted back to the old one, which isn't quite as troublesome.

I'd appreciate any advice on sorting the problem out, but if anyone can recommend a different hardware solution I'd consider that too, as I'm getting fed up with trying to reconnect every time I use it.

Thank you

Peter

 

[Posilan]

I need some advice about wireless networks/routers/settings, for I keep getting disconnected from the internet and its happening very frequently.

The problem seems to have started once I got a new laptop. I still have and use the old one, and occasionally the network is also used by either a PSP or an Xbox but I can have problems when there is only the new laptop using the system.

My old router was a DLink DSL 2640B but when I started getting problems I bought one which had good reviews a TP Link TD8960N. The latter one was even worse, and was very slow, even though it should be quicker, so I reverted back to the old one, which isn't quite as troublesome.

I'd appreciate any advice on sorting the problem out, but if anyone can recommend a different hardware solution I'd consider that too, as I'm getting fed up with trying to reconnect every time I use it.

Thank you

Peter

Have you tried changing the wireless channel? You may have a neighbour using the same channel and interfering.

Steve

 

[Spearmint]

Hi Steve

No, I hadn't thought of that one. How do I know if my router is clashing with someone else's channel?

How do I change the channel - is it done on the router or the computer or both?

Thanks

Peter

 

[Posilan]

Try installing InSSIDer http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/ it sniffs the wireless interface for all wifi signals and reports strengths and channels etc (also handy to see what might be interfering with it).

Your PC will normally find the right channel the router is set to automatically, so just change the channel on the routers web interface.

Steve

 

[Posilan]

Other things that interfere are microwave ovens (if in the path of the signal) and some DECT phones.

If it's a big problem, you might want to consider Powerline adaptors - these work remarkably well as an alternative to wireless.

Steve

 

[Spearmint]

Hi Steve

Well, I downloaded that file you suggested but once I ran it, I've no idea what to do next. There didn't appear to be any other network apart from mine, but I suppose the presence of a red line in the vicinity of -80 wasn't so good.

We dont have a microwave but we do have a wireless phone (is that a DECT phone) which is within 400mm of the router!

Peter

 

[Posilan]

Hi Steve

Well, I downloaded that file you suggested but once I ran it, I've no idea what to do next. There didn't appear to be any other network apart from mine, but I suppose the presence of a red line in the vicinity of -80 wasn't so good.

We dont have a microwave but we do have a wireless phone (is that a DECT phone) which is within 400mm of the router!

Peter

Have a go at changing the wireless channel and see if that helps.

Steve

 

[Spearmint]

Hi Steve

I assume you mean - change the channel on the software but when I can't click on channel to change it, and it remains on 1, so how do I go about changing it?

Peter

 

[Posilan]

Hi Steve

I assume you mean - change the channel on the software but when I can't click on channel to change it, and it remains on 1, so how do I go about changing it?

Peter

You should change the channel on the wireless access point's web interface. Most default to channel 6 - try a low or high channel number.

 

[Posilan]

Just checking, if you are using the DLink, go to http://192.168.1.1 in your browser - this should bring you the login page - then the default username/password is admin/admin (although you may/should have changed this?).

Once logged in, look up the wireless settings for the channel number.

 

[Spearmint]

Hi Steve

I changed the channel number from 1 to 5 and then ran that insider software you suggested but it still shows it as being channel 1.
I went back on to the DLink page and it does show that it is now 5

Is there something else that I need to do?

Peter

 

[Posilan]

Try rebooting both the laptop and your router

 

[Spearmint]

Hi Steve

Yes, that seems to have done the trick, the software you suggested now has it down to channel 5. The signal is now about -75 so still in the amber but better than before. I assume that green is the area to be, so maybe I've been getting cut off because of a poor signal.
I've since had more problems and got disconnected again. My wife is using my old computer and that has been fine but mine has been a pain.

It has an Atheros wireless adaptor and in the settings for the wireless network I noticed that I've got a box ticked which asks it to "connect automatically when this network is in range" but there is another which is unchecked which is "Enable Atheros connection settings". Should that be ticked as well?

Is there anything else that I could do?


Thanks

Pe

 

[wilwong1971]

Hi Steve

Yes, that seems to have done the trick, the software you suggested now has it down to channel 5. The signal is now about -75 so still in the amber but better than before. I assume that green is the area to be, so maybe I've been getting cut off because of a poor signal.
I've since had more problems and got disconnected again. My wife is using my old computer and that has been fine but mine has been a pain.

It has an Atheros wireless adaptor and in the settings for the wireless network I noticed that I've got a box ticked which asks it to "connect automatically when this network is in range" but there is another which is unchecked which is "Enable Atheros connection settings". Should that be ticked as well?

Is there anything else that I could do?


Thanks

Pe

I might be completely wrong but I remembered somewhere in the another thread that Windows 7(if you are running this) can cause disconnects when set to turn off in device manager when not in use...

Control Panel
Network and Internet
Manage Wireless Networks
Adapter Properties
Configure
Power Management
Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power


Worth a try.

 

[Spearmint]

Yes, my computer does have windows 7 unlike the other laptop that doesn't seem to have a problem.

I'd seen that posting somewhere as well, but when I checked the setting on this computer it was as you suggested. However, when I tried to follow the path that you suggested it didn't take me to power management but after clicking configure I could see that power saving or something like that was in the box on the left along with other headings, so I selected it and turned that power saving to off, but I know it wasn't the same as the one I'd seen before. Anyway, I rebooted and am trialing it now, but it is really becoming frustrated for I seem to get about 5 minutes online before I get disconnected again!

Peter

 

[Posilan]

Hopefully Wil's advice may sort it for you - power management settings can be a pain at times - if not, check to see if there are newer drivers for the wifi NIC on your laptop.

Steve

 

[Spearmint]

Hi Steve

Yeh the Wifi NIC !! What the f is the wifi NIC? Dont leave me that that headache? You've got to tell me more than that. lol

 

[Posilan]

Hi Steve

Yeh the Wifi NIC !! What the f is the wifi NIC? Dont leave me that that headache? You've got to tell me more than that. lol

Sorry, the drivers for the wireless interface (nic = Network Interface Controller/Card)

You should be able to check with the laptop manufacturers website

Steve

 

[Spearmint]

I tried updating the driver for it, if that's what you mean.
Since my last posting I got disconnected again.

Whats the hardware solution as this is driving me insane?

Peter

 

[Posilan]

How far are you from the router or wireless access point? If it a different room, you could try installing a repeater to strengthen the signal to where you normally use it.

Steve

 

[Spearmint]

I live in an old house and there's one wall between my computer and the router that is about 30 inches thick but the old computer/laptop works perfectly well here but this one doesn't. The distance between the router and myself is no more than 9 metres say 28ft.

I do have that that wireless phone's base station within about 400mm of the router as well mind!

Peter

 

[Posilan]

I live in an old house and there's one wall between my computer and the router that is about 30 inches thick

this is probably the issue. All wireless cards behave differently, but the signal getting through that wall will be the issue. You can get a repeater that may solve the issue though. Other than that, you could use powerlime adaptors, but that would mean you having a network cable from the laptop to the nearest plug socket.

Steve

 

[Spearmint]

Hi Steve

I assume you mean a powerline adaptor rather than a powerlime one! I have a socket available so that sounds good. Can you recommend a particular make/model?

We're gonna have to stop chatting with each other as we're going to be starting off rumours! lol

Peter

 

[Posilan]

Lol yes they are all pretty much the same but you can get some that have a faster throughput. I'll pop some models on here for you in the morning.

Steve

 

[Spearmint]

Hi Steve

I took a look at your website and I noticed that you do hosting. I'm eventually intending to open an online shop, and I've read that this can be achieved by using a company such as yours or self hosting. The thought occurred to me whilst having these wireless connection problems, if I had a problem with my computer and I was self hosting does that mean that I could possibly lose control of my online shop until the problem with my computer was resolved, and does self hosting rely on doing regular back ups etc? Does hosting through a company such as yours eliminate this problem?

Maybe, I should have started this as a separate thread as it could be useful to many people. If you think it is, I'll enter it separately, you may even get some business from it.

Peter

 

[wilwong1971]

Hi Peter,

I know it's cheating but could you as a test relocate your router to another telephone socket in your house? It might reach a happy medium where all your devices would work happily..that's if you got another socket elsewhere that is.

if not I agree with Steve Powerline sockets /repeater is the way to go.

 

[Posilan]

These would do the trick for you regarding powerline:

NETGEAR Powerline AV 200 Adapter Kit XAVB2001 Bridge

http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...=X&ei=yhyATvXACsHB8QOG-4SlAQ&ved=0CK4BEPMCMAQ#

Hi Steve

I took a look at your website and I noticed that you do hosting. I'm eventually intending to open an online shop, and I've read that this can be achieved by using a company such as yours or self hosting. The thought occurred to me whilst having these wireless connection problems, if I had a problem with my computer and I was self hosting does that mean that I could possibly lose control of my online shop until the problem with my computer was resolved, and does self hosting rely on doing regular back ups etc? Does hosting through a company such as yours eliminate this problem?

I wouldn't consider self hosting if you are serious about your online store (or even a personal blog website!). For the sake of a couple of pounds a month, you can let someone like ourselves look after the server and connectivity. You *can* do it yourself, but you will probably see more downtime than uptime and if the store gets busy, you won't have the bandwidth to serve it properly.

Steve

 

[Anjam]

I'm a bit late into this thread but couldn't see what speed your Laptop was connecting at or whether your router was a Wireless-N type. In the past I have lowered the speed of a wireless network to improve stability. In your router you will have the option to select 11Mpbs, 54Mbps or 108 (if it is wireless-n), try it on 54Mpbs to see if it improves stability. Your old laptop may be stable because it does not support wireless-n and defaults to 54Mbps or even 11Mbps.

Worth a try before spending money on new hardware.

Good Luck!

 

[Deleted member 61074]

I presume you have tried using the laptop in the same room as the router? If it doesn't drop there then the wall might well be an issue. I use homeplugs - they work great, one of our laptops struggled in one of our bedrooms, we put another one on our ps3 for iplayer.

Never consider self hosting an commerce site, total madness! You can see the quality of support you are likely to get from Posilan, so defo consider/use Steve.

 

[TSUK]

I need some advice about wireless networks/routers/settings, for I keep getting disconnected from the internet and its happening very frequently.

The problem seems to have started once I got a new laptop. I still have and use the old one, and occasionally the network is also used by either a PSP or an Xbox but I can have problems when there is only the new laptop using the system.

My old router was a DLink DSL 2640B but when I started getting problems I bought one which had good reviews a TP Link TD8960N. The latter one was even worse, and was very slow, even though it should be quicker, so I reverted back to the old one, which isn't quite as troublesome.

I'd appreciate any advice on sorting the problem out, but if anyone can recommend a different hardware solution I'd consider that too, as I'm getting fed up with trying to reconnect every time I use it.

Thank you

Peter

Is your IP virgin media?