Dropped Wireless Connection

DaveJH · 02-08-2005, 21:35

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has come across a similar problem or know's how to resolve it? The problem is when ever I use the wireless connection on my router after a few hours (3 hours sometimes longer) the connection drops(unable to get net access or the router homepage), though the PC does not say there is no network connection. At this point I have to turn the router off for a couple of minutes and then reboot both PC's (Laptop and Desktop). When I use the wired connection so far I have not lost the connection once.

The router I have is a Netgear WGT624, PC using a Netgear wireless card and the laptop using a wireless intel centrino card. Both machines are running win xp (sp2) and the router is using DHCP to assign IP addresses to both machines.

I've looked throgh some of the posts on the forum and read some p2p program can cause problems due to high demands on the network, don't know if this is true or not but even without using any I still seem to find the connection drops.

Sorry for the long post, but this problem is driving me crazy

almost at the point of buying a 30m cable!!! Any help or ideas would be greatly appreicated.

Thanks,

nffc · 02-08-2005, 21:48

What's the signal strength like- preferably the SNR. Also try and keep the antenna away from cables and metal and make sure there's no water tanks or a silly number of walls in between your router and PCs.

DaveJH · 02-08-2005, 21:59

Router is sitting on a cabnet above the TV, PC's are in the room above. Single strength is always either v.good or execellent, don't think it is the signal strength as I have even lost the connection when left the laptop in the same room as the router.

Normally when the connection drops I can still see the network however when I try and reconnect without resetting the router is just says "Acquiring Network Address" and is at this point where it seems to struggle!

Raistlin · 02-08-2005, 22:06

Have a look in your router's setup options and look for an option to change the channel (usually numbered from 1 through to 10/11).

Make a note of what the default setting is and then work out which would be the furthest channel from the default that you could change it to.

For example. if the default is 7 and you have channels 1-10, the furthest would be channel 1.

Change to that channel, power off the router and the computer.

Power the router up and wait for the lights to settle, now power up the computer, let the HDD activity light settle and then log in.

Establish the wireless connection and go about your normal business

With a bit of luck this should sort things out, not sure how but it worked for me. My router's a Linksys one, I had nothing but trouble for the first day or so - then I changed the channel and everything's been fine for the last 9 months

__________________

Might also want to check that you haven't got any cordless phones or other sources of interference about as well

DaveJH · 02-08-2005, 22:15

Cheers mate,

I'll give that ago, only issue is that the router supports 108mbps using whats known as "Super G" but this mode can only be used on channel 6. Saying that it only works with the machine using the netgear card and there is no advantage for just one machine over 54mbps.

Anyway will give it ago, will change to channel 11.

Thanks.

Raistlin · 02-08-2005, 22:30

NP, let us know how you get on

DaveJH · 04-08-2005, 06:07

Raistlin,

Just thought I'd let you know and for anyone else having the same problem, by changing the channel that the wireless router my connection has been fine for over a day now. I have not been too demanding on the network so will now try using p2p. will keep you all posted.

thanks again.

etccarmageddon · 04-08-2005, 08:06

could it be the router is pants - if it's still in the guarantee period are you able to take it back and replace it with a linksys? I keep hearing people slag off netgear routers.

DaveJH · 05-08-2005, 06:18

Right after 2 days without any problems (only browsing webpages) with my wireless connection I decieded it was time to try runnig 'Bitlord' and literally within 30secs of the programme being open the both computers lost connection to the Internet/network. At this point I had to reset the router and both pc's before being able to connect to the network again.

When using a wired connection I can run bitlord without any problems what so ever. Could this be a problem with the router, or more likely some settings either with the wireless setup or bitlord??

Any help, ideas would be gratefully appreciated.

Thanks

jonbr · 05-08-2005, 08:10

Have you checked the Netgear web site. Look under support for an FAQ.
I had a similar problem with my Linksys router when I fisrt got it, the Linksys FAQ pointed me to a Windows configuration change which cured it for me.