My wireless network keeps dropping out...?

Question

I have cable broadband and I have connected a Belkin wireless router. Several other flatmates can log in to the system without any problems, as can I but only for a few a minutes. After that the system kicks me off and I have to repair the connection. I have tried replacing the router, updating my wireless adaptor drivers and changed my firewall settings all to no avail. It starts happily at 54Mbps and slowly drops to nothing
over a period of about 10 minutes. Has anyone any suggestions?

Answer 1

You are probably having a saturation problem.....

(BTW if you are running an open router...(no security and ANYONE can connect) then you probably are being eaten alive by parasitic connections.....Flatmates is one thing...the ENTIRE nieghborhood....is another....)

Assuming you're running a "private" (secured) router....
Belkins default to ch 11 and so do many other devices....
(you can change the channel on the setup webpage)
THIS INCLUDES MANY CORDLESS PHONES.

IT's entirely possible that somone nearby is yammering away on a 2.4ghz cordless and you are not getting yer communications ..under load.

In other words... a quick check shows communications full on at 54... but when you go for a steady data stream you loose data bits and thanks to the dropout you loose throughput.

sigh.. I forgot my password to mine (DOH!) I can't get to the settings...there's a setting to help keep yer data moving smoothly during interference...slower than comms w/o interference..but...it's better to have it on than not....in your case.

but hope I helped
-dawgy

Answer 2

Where are you located in relation to the router. Your signal strength will drop the further you are from the router, and if you have walls, pipes, microwaves, DECT phones, radios in the way then that can cause signal degradation as well. (microwaves and DECT phones on certain bandwidths are a biggy). Try and picture whats in between you and the router. e.g. If your upstairs and the router is downstairs if a different corner of the house, picture a direct line between the two and see if there is anything which could the signal quality.

The best way to find out is to remove some of the factors mentioned above and introduce them one by one.

If you have a dect cordless phone, try swapping it to a normal handset.

Try changing your Wireless Channel on your router. Also, make sure you have the latest wireless card drivers for your machine.

Poss try and use a wireless signal strength program to see if you can see the signal either just drop off or whether it drops slowly.

What speed is your machine WLAN card. Maybe drop the ma down on your router to 80211b or something.

Check out the site listed for more help

Answer 3

Check the following:
- how far is your wireless band supported?
- how many connections does your router support? and how many flat mates are connected?
- does this problem occur at all times or is it specific in certain hours of the day?
- do you have security on your wireless network? check if there are other unidentified users on your wifi when you have the problem
- do you have anything between your PC and router which could interefere with your wireless connection? common culprits are microwaves, cordless phones and other wireless transmitter applicances.

I hope clarifying these will help you identify the source of your problem. If it's a matter of bad reception to your PC, perhaps a range booster could solve the problem... but you need to try to find the source of the problem first.

Answer 4

Try the following steps...

Windows XP
1.Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Network Connections.
2.Right-click the wireless network connection, and then click Properties.
3.Click the Wireless Networks tab.
4.Under Available networks, click the wireless network, and then click Configure.
Or
4a. Under Preferred networks (if your network is already setup), highlight the wireless network, and then click Properties.
5.Click the Authentication tab, and then click to clear the Enable IEEE 802.1X authentication for this network check box, if it is selected.
6.Click OK two times.

Answer 5

hmm, could be interference in ur area, but not sure of ur question.

is ur *flatmates* have the same issue as u? if so, most likely interference in ur area - not much you can do other than go to hardwire.

if ur *flatmates* do not exhibit the same thing as u, then its most likely ur receiver within ur notbook. go buy an external receiver (usb network adaptor) or have urs repaired.

just to make sure u can try to connect ur laptop to someone elses wireless network to verify if its ur laptop or not.

Answer 6

how many connections can your router support wirelessly?
i know my bt voyager 2091 does 10 but i don't know what yours does. plus it could be your reciever on your computer or outside interference such as microwaves which are notorious for messing with wireless connections.

Answer 7

Try a high gain antenna on the router and/or your PC.

Answer 8

See if this works:
http://www.networkmagic.com/download/thankyou.php