Computer Guru's, I need your help.

[spyder]

Ok, so my laptop is haveing issues with it's wireless connections... I think it may be some kind of interference or something from what I've read. My computer does just fine with staying connected to the internet for some of the day, and at various times of the day, it just keeps losing connection. When it loses connection, I have to manually disconnect from my network, and then reconnect, then, it works for about five to ten seconds, and goes out again. If I want to stay on the internet, I have to keep doing the same shit, over and over and over... Right now, I'm directly linked to the router and have no problems. I have a wireless Linksys G 2.4 Ghz router, and a newer Toshiba Satellite with Windows 7. So, anyone have any ideas as to what the hell is going on with my computer?

I have done a system restore to see if that did anything, and it didn't help... This problem has only been going on for four days now.

[DSB OUTDOORS]

Didn't you have that same problem when you 1st moved to the taint?? Or was that different?

[William]

Do you have any other wireless internet connected devices that you use on the same network? If you do and they are fine you can eliminate the router. How close is your computer to the router and what typical signal strength do you get?

[Delfuego]

Those routers can go bad over time. Happen to my brothers, we messed with it for a while and then replaced it.

[00tec]

My old linksys WRT-54g would do the same from time to time until I loaded DD-WRT to it. May try changing channels...

[Kraven251]

Also, how close is your router to something like a furnace or other appliance that kicks on and off at intervals? Outside of that is your computer might lose connection and then try to re-establish connection and try to pull the same IP down and it fails.

You might want to power cycle the router.

[cfortune]

Yeah I'd try rebooting the router. If other devices are staying on the wireless fine, maybe try updating your NIC drivers.

[th3w01f]

My old linksys WRT-54g would do the same from time to time until I loaded DD-WRT to it. May try changing channels...

I like the idea of the DD-WRT. Also, strange issues pop up all the time. I'm running a Cisco ASA ASA 5520 along with a WLC and 4 APs and I still run into strange issues (this is all Enterprise level equipment courtesy of Cisco). When I've taken the time to take traces and figure out where the problem actually is it has been with Comcast messing with their DNS settings.

Either way if you have an older Linksys that supports 3rd party firmware go ahead and do it.

You want one prior to vxworks if possible - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linksys_WRT54G_series

If you need an AP let me know...... I keep trying to give laptops away but it doesn't seem anyone wants one, I guess I'll try APs.

I thought for sure that someone who does PC repair would take me up on my offers (free parts or reload an OS and sell outright) but oh well. I still have several $$$ in current ebay value of older Cisco routers too but no one has asked for those either.

[spyder]

Didn't you have that same problem when you 1st moved to the taint?? Or was that different?
It was kind of the same problem, just not as bad. It ended up being the actual cable coming into the house, once it was replaced, the problem went away.

Do you have any other wireless internet connected devices that you use on the same network? If you do and they are fine you can eliminate the router. How close is your computer to the router and what typical signal strength do you get?
No other devices are wireless in my house. The computer is at most, ten feet away... Signal strength is maxed out.


My old linksys WRT-54g would do the same from time to time until I loaded DD-WRT to it. May try changing channels...
I have already done the DD-WRT, that was a suggestion the last time that it had a problem a year ago.

Also, how close is your router to something like a furnace or other appliance that kicks on and off at intervals? Outside of that is your computer might lose connection and then try to re-establish connection and try to pull the same IP down and it fails.

You might want to power cycle the router.
It isn't next to anything that cycles.

Are there any settings that would make it realize that it is losing connection, and make it reconnect by itself?

[bogie]

If this is a new thing, a neighbor may have a new device that is causing problems. Try switching the broadcast channel on the router.

[Delfuego]

How old is that router??? Go buy a new one, if the new one still has issues then return it and you have isolated the issue to your computer. If it works, your done. Either way you are making progress and not chasing your tail. Use the scientific method to try to eliminate variables and isolate the problem. It is either the router or the laptop; the software or the hardware; or the RF interference cause by other Wireless or electrical devices like microwave ovens and such.

Diagnosing computer/network problems on a gun forum is like dancing about architecture....

[th3w01f]

If this is a new thing, a neighbor may have a new device that is causing problems. Try switching the broadcast channel on the router.

And most of the time it's not worth the troubhe to figure out what's actually wrong.

[spyder]

I looked up what bogie said about the channel's... I have switched to #1 and it seems to be working... Of course this could be one of those times where I get a decent ammount of time without any cut out...

[rgburdie]

Spyder.. do you only have one device connected to the router? If not do any of your other devices have issues? seems like hard wire is ok... If none of your other devices are having wireless issues I would try reinstalling your wireless device on the computer having the issue.

[Gman]

In the 2.4 GHz band, there are only 3 channels that don't overlap; 1, 6, and 11.

If you have an Android smartphone, there is an app called WiFi Analyzer that's good at seeing which channels have the lowest signal strength in your home.

[spyder]

This is pretty cool. It shows you all the wireless crap around you by channel.
http://www.metageek.net/support/downloads/

[wax_job]

Yep wifi analyzer will get you closer... But odds are, it's exactly what the others are telling you... You have a shit wireless router. I have stuff 30days old act the same way... And worse,the routers with transient problems that can persist one minute and not the next..

When possible, do your modem/routing in one box and wireless in another using 'bridge mode' to let the wireless be as dumb as possible. This will let your wireless a solve itself from duties like DHCP and such... And focus on what it does worst, wirelessly annoy you.

Upgrade your computer and router to the most recent SW/Firmware revisions.

Turn off wireless settings that may be a perk to that router... Anything that says 'max' or 'pre-n' or garbage like that are not IEEE standards and can futz with your ish. Also limit the signals to the lowers common denominator of connected device... If all run N turn off a/b/g... And so on.

At the end of the day, wireless is crap... It's convenient, but unreliable at best. Find a way to retro a wire to your offices and you'll be much happier

[Adam]

I would recommend updating the fimrware on your outer and keeping your drivers up-to-date on your machine. Keep a close on maintaining your router and computers firmware and drivers. Let us know if it keeps happening.