Internet Problem?
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From: St. Peter
Internet Problem?
Okay, its the most annoying thing in the world. I've been having internet problems for a while. It seems to be some sort of interference between the computer and the router. I live in an apt complex with a bunch of college students who all have wireless routers.
My Problem is that my internet will just disconnect at random. It probably does it sometimes 2 times per min. Then sometimes it will just reconnect by itself. Most of the time i will have to repair it, and then it will work for a little while longer. I have a D-Link Router. Is it possible the router is just junk? I remember when i started having this problem i went through all the steps of updating the firmware and all of that good stuff and nothing helped. I can be 2 feet away from the router and it will just disconnect. I have tried switching the channels on the router and it doesnt seem to help any. What else can i do to troubleshoot this problem? Thanks!
My Problem is that my internet will just disconnect at random. It probably does it sometimes 2 times per min. Then sometimes it will just reconnect by itself. Most of the time i will have to repair it, and then it will work for a little while longer. I have a D-Link Router. Is it possible the router is just junk? I remember when i started having this problem i went through all the steps of updating the firmware and all of that good stuff and nothing helped. I can be 2 feet away from the router and it will just disconnect. I have tried switching the channels on the router and it doesnt seem to help any. What else can i do to troubleshoot this problem? Thanks!
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: MI
I could be that the router is junk, or it is being affected by other routers and/or cordless phones. Some cordless phones and routers share the same transmission frequencies.
Set your router to only acknowledge "G" (assuming that's what your computer runs, if not upgrade), make sure it is has full encryption enabled (WPA,TKIP, etc.) and enable mac address filtering,, it will keep the bored college kids out of your stuff.
Set your router to only acknowledge "G" (assuming that's what your computer runs, if not upgrade), make sure it is has full encryption enabled (WPA,TKIP, etc.) and enable mac address filtering,, it will keep the bored college kids out of your stuff.
Senior User
Joined: May 2006
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From: MD
Connect to your router with cat5 & make sure nobody has hacked into your router.
Computer wireless check. If you connect ok with cat5 & your router is secure then try connecting to one of your neighbors wireless - with their permission of course.
Wireless router check. If that works ok then try borrowing a router for your connection & see if it still works.
This will at least tell you what is not working & what to focus on. Post your results.
Computer wireless check. If you connect ok with cat5 & your router is secure then try connecting to one of your neighbors wireless - with their permission of course.
Wireless router check. If that works ok then try borrowing a router for your connection & see if it still works.
This will at least tell you what is not working & what to focus on. Post your results.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Maine
We had a D-link wireless router, which we also hard-wired a couple of desktops to. After a while, wireless signal started dropping off if you weren't right next to the router, and shortly after that, even the hardwired computers started having internet problems. Swapped the hardwire-only Linksys back in, and no more problems (except that I don't have wireless for my laptop).
My bet would be on the router.
My bet would be on the router.
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From: St. Peter
Yeah, a hardwire connection is fine, the router is out in the open, and the router was brand new in august. I do have an encrypted connection, and i made sure to get a cordless phone that is a 5.8 ghz so it wouldnt interfere. I'm wondering about the firewall though? Maybe i should try disabling it.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Durham, NC
Originally Posted by Peter94
Yeah, a hardwire connection is fine, the router is out in the open, and the router was brand new in august. I do have an encrypted connection, and i made sure to get a cordless phone that is a 5.8 ghz so it wouldnt interfere. I'm wondering about the firewall though? Maybe i should try disabling it.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Goldsboro, NC
1. I've only used one D-Link and wireless clients had frequent connection problems. Replaced it with Linksys and had no problems. Not trashing D-Link, just offering my experience with it.
2. Other wireless networks can still interfere if they're trying to use the same channels you are. There are only so many channels you can use. The 108Mbit wireless g use 2 channels. Chances are high that there is a conflict with someone else.
3. Old or faulty microwave ovens can cause problems with 802.11b and g
4. There is no security that can't be broken on current wireless routers sold for home use. Depends how resourceful the neighbors are. There are programs widely available that will find the key and sniff MACs. It's not as hard as you might think.
5. The symptoms you described, disconnecting and reconnecting randomly, is similar to the symptoms I've experienced when 2 devices were trying to use the same IP address. Looks like someone else was trying to connect to your network intentionally or unintentionally. Or visa versa.
2. Other wireless networks can still interfere if they're trying to use the same channels you are. There are only so many channels you can use. The 108Mbit wireless g use 2 channels. Chances are high that there is a conflict with someone else.
3. Old or faulty microwave ovens can cause problems with 802.11b and g
4. There is no security that can't be broken on current wireless routers sold for home use. Depends how resourceful the neighbors are. There are programs widely available that will find the key and sniff MACs. It's not as hard as you might think.
5. The symptoms you described, disconnecting and reconnecting randomly, is similar to the symptoms I've experienced when 2 devices were trying to use the same IP address. Looks like someone else was trying to connect to your network intentionally or unintentionally. Or visa versa.
Last edited by scole250; Feb 26, 2007 at 12:37 PM.
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From: St. Peter
could be possible, i dont know how my neighbors could figure out how to hack into my signal, they cant even figure out how to park straight...
I think its just a junk router. I've tried changing though all of the channels, and nothing.
I'll have to give the diagnosis another shot when i get home. And try disabling a firewall. I think this router is going to wind up in the garbage though. Sucks because i think it was around 80 bucks when we bought it.
I think its just a junk router. I've tried changing though all of the channels, and nothing.
I'll have to give the diagnosis another shot when i get home. And try disabling a firewall. I think this router is going to wind up in the garbage though. Sucks because i think it was around 80 bucks when we bought it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,448
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From: CA Central Coast
I don't know if there's a Craigslist (with free list) or a Yahoo Freecycle group in your area, but today I just picked up 2 ethernet cards and was offered a wireless router (which I didn't need, but after readng the above maybe I'll take anyway)...
Point is, you might be able to snag someone's giveaway router. Around here, people give'em away when the switch from cable to DSL and vice versa.
Point is, you might be able to snag someone's giveaway router. Around here, people give'em away when the switch from cable to DSL and vice versa.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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From: MA
Are you using the windows wireless utility for connecting or are you using the wireless card utility supplied by the manufacturer?
If you are using the windows utility then open it up and look at the block that shows prefered networks. If there is more than 1 prefered wireless network in the list and they are close by, the network will constantly change connections to what ever is most powerful.
Just remove the others from the prefered list and see if that helps..
NOTE: if you have a prefered wireless connection in the list that is out of range you do not have to remove it.. You only have to remove the networks that are close by so the card doesn't look for other more powerful networks.
If you are using the windows utility then open it up and look at the block that shows prefered networks. If there is more than 1 prefered wireless network in the list and they are close by, the network will constantly change connections to what ever is most powerful.
Just remove the others from the prefered list and see if that helps..
NOTE: if you have a prefered wireless connection in the list that is out of range you do not have to remove it.. You only have to remove the networks that are close by so the card doesn't look for other more powerful networks.
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From: St. Peter
I checked and the only prefered network is mine. Its strange. Like one day it will work and the next it wont. When i typed this post yetserday it was doing it constantly. Today i havent had to repair it at all.