Wireless Internet Connection Problem With New Laptop?

Question

We have a desktop pc downstairs that is hooked up to a router. We have a work laptop that we use all of the time in the same location where we now have our newest personal laptop. The problem is that the wireless keeps disconnecting radomly, but usually after a couple of hours of non use. Then I have to restart the laptop and try to connect 2-3 times before it is successful. It does connect, but it says limited connectivity, but the strength is excellent. We have tried the work computer again in the same location and do not have the same problem with it. The only difference between the work laptop and the new one is the new one is an Acer brand, and it has a wireless mouse; but I even tried to not use the wireless mouse and I still have this problem. Oh and finally, we also have a wireless printer on the desk behind it, but again the main pc with the router is downstairs. 10 points to whoever suggests anything that works. :-)

BTW it is password protected (the wireless network).

Answer 1

Jill,

You could be having RFI (Radio Frequency Interferrence) from another source(s) that conflicts with your signal. Such as other wireless or electronic devices that emit radio signals.

And it sounds like you could be having ip timeouts for that computer. The laptop is issued an ip with a specific time allotted to it. After that time expires, so does that computer's ability to access the system with that given ip adress. If that is the case, then you would need to tweak that setting for a longer time.

When having the limited connectivity problem, usually you can right click on the wireless connection icon in the lower right hand taskbar and click on repair.

Sounds like the Acer's wireless settings need some tweaking as well. You could try setting up a specific peer-to-peer network.

Hope that works!

Answer 2

most of the time its the router thats acting funny, not the laptop. If u have a wireless phone u will notice that w/e u use it while wirelessly connected, the connection will drop/become miserably slow so avoid using ur wireless (home phone) when ur on the net.

I would suggest to change the frequency on the wireless router to something other thn the ones on ur wireless printer and if ur laptop picks up other wireless connections, it might also help if u set ur wireless router frequency different then ur neighbors...
and try restarting the router w/e the connection drops.

Answer 3

Is it failing to pick up the wireless connection or the wireless adapter is not yet fully installed. If its the "Local accss only" issue after connecting to the wireless network. Try to make sure that your machine has the valid TCP/IP protocol and of which it has an ip address, subnet mask & default gateway. To see these things go to start>then type cmd (in the search box) and press enter> in the black screen (command prompt)>type ipconfig> then see if the three things that i mentioned are there. If they are not there type in ipconfig /renew and then restart your machine.

Answer 4

It sounds to me like your wireless network is not password protected or encrypted. so the problem could be that someone else or others are using your wireless network.
When this happends I would power off the router and then and then power it back on and try reconnecting to your wireless network.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

You need to try setting a little closer to the router, if u go any little bit out of range, it will do that.
And make sure ur not hitting the connection button on front of the lab top, if u hit that, which it doesn't take much to accidently hit it, it won't work at all.

Answer 6

Hi. I would reposition your wireless router. Any interruption (sometimes even walking between the two) that disturbs the signal will cause a drop out.