New wireless network - connection keeps dropping

[Bateman]

Just bought a DLink wireless network kit - modem/router and a dongle. The connection from my desktop through the modem works fine, but my laptop, which has the dongle in it, keeps dropping the connection. its only 4 feet away, with a direct view of the wireless router/modem receiver. Sometimes it has an excellent connection and then the next minute it drops for no reason and I can't get it connected again.

Any ideas - apart from just running a cable to my desktop network card and sharing the connection......

 

[hops]

they all do that

Just bought a DLink wireless network kit - modem/router and a dongle. The connection from my desktop through the modem works fine, but my laptop, which has the dongle in it, keeps dropping the connection. its only 4 feet away, with a direct view of the wireless router/modem receiver. Sometimes it has an excellent connection and then the next minute it drops for no reason and I can't get it connected again.

Any ideas - apart from just running a cable to my desktop network card and sharing the connection......

I've joined the 'wireless' scene to and mine did that for the first few days then it settled down. Try turning it all off then rebooting the cable modem first, leave it on for 2 minutes, then power up the router, leave for 2 mins and boot up the computer. It worked for me!

 

[GSmonkey]

I've found with my laptop that I can get a much greater range when working at the lower speeds (B rather than G or SuperG). If you're only surfing t'internet rather than sharing files between computers, you will never notice the drop in speed.

 

[Tobers]

Is it by any chance a D-Link wireless ADSL router?

I have one as well and suffer exactly the same problem. I've reverted back to my old 802.11B BT wireless router modem as the D-Link was such a pain.

I tried changing loads of settings (in a controlled way you understand) but no joy - the connection would be very unreliable. The problem is that the router wont give the PC an IP address.

There is an XP patch on the microsoft site somewhere (just looked but couldn't find it) but I installed it and it made no difference. Suggest you take the router back and get a Belkin one instead. That's what I'm doing with mine. Pile of poo it is.

Andy

 

[Cheesy Mike]

From memory, D-Link routers aren't very good at working in mixed mode. If your PC is 802.11g (54Mb/s) and the laptop is 802.11b (11Mb/s) then that is most likely your problem. To prove it, go into the setup of the router and change it to 802.11b only. If this confirms the problem then take it back and change to another brand like Linksys.

Mike

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

I got a Storagetek supplied - nee Sun - Dlink 614+ wireless and it too was poo for about 2 weeks.

then suddenly it became better - don't know why

operator error probly ?

 

[simonm]

Buying all the bits; esp Router, PC cards, NIC's etc from the same manufacturer helps

 

[Cheesy Mike]

I got a Storagetek supplied - nee Sun - Dlink 614+ wireless and it too was poo for about 2 weeks.

then suddenly it became better - don't know why

operator error probly ?

Were there any other wireless networks in the area e.g. at a neighbour's house? If you are both using wireless networks you need to make sure to use different channel numbers than the default channel 6. Ideally you should choose channels that are 2 or 3 apart from each other. In a crowded neighbourhood this can sometimes be an issue.

Mike

 

[HeavyG]

I have had to solve this problem on a number of occasions.

If you have a cordless phone, make sure the powered unit is at least 4-5 feet away from the router, or the recieving PC.

Try unpluging you phone from the power (the base portion), if solves it, move the phone, if it returns move the phone more.

Hope this helps.

HG

 

[Bateman]

Is it by any chance a D-Link wireless ADSL router?......

...... Pile of poo it is.

Andy

It is exactly that - there seems to be no consistency in the connection. The dongle came with it so they are all the same brand/standard etc. I have also played around with the settings with no success. There will be no connection and then all of a sudden it will connect and say signal strength is excellent. Then it will disconnect 5 minutes later. I looked in the system log and it said something about CHAPS and couldn't authenticate. I'll try the tech support line and see what they say - if no success I'll take it back and get a belkin. Thanks for all the responses.

 

[shugie]

All these wireless widgets work at similar frequencies to each other, os if your neighbour has a wireless alarm system, or the bloke across the road has a wireless CCTV system, you are all likely to be using the same bandwidth. The more people get wireless stuff, the slower it will all run.

Its fine if you live at least 100m away from the neighbours, or inside metal framed buildings which block external signals, but I am convinced that it is becoming progressively less useful in houses.

 

[Cheesy Mike]

Try changing everything to a new channel e.g. 1 or 11. As has been said here, lots of things like DECT phones & Bluetooth use the same frequencies.

Mike

 

[Bateman]

Well - it seems to be working now. i phoned the help desk and he finally got it working after about 30 minutes. He changed quite a few things, including to channel 11. So, it seems to be sorted. Not that I ever needed a wireless connection as my PCs are only 4 feet apart. Still, it was a new toy.....Thanks again.

 

[GrinningGSer]

I have just returned a D Link wireless router after suffering frequent need for reboots after about 5 web page downloads. Read (Google search) that many others suffered the same, tried changing settings, tried loads of things and was defeated...
until I purchased a Kcorp KLG 575 and have not needed to reboot it once !!!

 

[Bateman]

The salesman in PC World told me not to bother with the DLink as they get so many returned. He suggested the Belkin instead. But that was £20 more, so I ignored his advice. however, can't fault the tech support line - open until 10pm, 0845 number and very good - didn't seem like the usual tier 1 script reader.