Wireless Network issues

[Abe_Crenshaw]

I recently had a wireless network set up at my home so that I could access the internet wit my laptop(because My PC is deceased/Fried). Everything was going fine until I hit a little snag. Firefox coudn't load web pages, nor could live messenger connect, even though I had good signal strenths. This usualy happens about 20 minutes into a connection. The strange thing is, if I'm already connected to live messenger, sometimes firefox still craps out and is unable to load web-pages, and if I disconect live messenger, it can't reconnect. After scanninglive messenger it gave me a diagnostic that said it migt have something to do with DNS. I can get the internet back if I shut down the system and my routers at the same time and restart them both, but it never lasts. If anyone can help me with this it would be greatly appreciated because I need to get this working and I was futzing with it for about five and a half hours last night trying to keep it working.( Looking through help files, shutting down and restarting, disconecting and reconnecting) :-? I've got a lot of work to do and I can't do it without a network connection



Abe [smiley=dankk2.gif]

[honvetops]

Let me guess ? u use  Windows XP  right ?

[Rob Pomeroy]

Start by connecting your laptop to the router by ethernet cable.  (Just buy a cheapo network cable if you don't have one).  See if the same problem arises.  It's worth spending a tiny amount on a cable before we talk about replacing a possibly faulty router...

[Abe_Crenshaw]

Yes, it's Xp. I managed to use the net when I plug directly into the router with the patch cable for starters, and it works on my pc now too(had motherboard and hard drive replaced this afternoon), But my wireless net still bugs out every 20 minutes or so. It looks to me like the routers are ok when you plug into them.....



 it's about ten minutes later and now I can't connect to firefox through the patch cable. The strange thing is, I can still use this firefox window tha I'm using right now..., i just can't open anymore of them or connect to any other program...maybe it's something on my laptop because i had the pc going on the router for about an hour and it was fine...I'm gonna switch directly to the ethernet now and disconect the wireless router.


I just completly disconected the wireless router and I'm running on my main router now through the ethernet cable like you suggested. It looks like it's working........any suggestions?


My Pc was working off of the patch cable but the laptop wouldnt. I've managed to connect to other wireless nets with my laptop without any trouble.

[Rob Pomeroy]

So it looks like it's down to a problem with the wireless router.  Any chance you could borrow another router to try?  Failing that, reset the router to factory defaults and reconfigure.

[Abe_Crenshaw]

    I was hoping that it wasn't the router. I wasn't the one who set it up. I actually had a friend of the family who is a technician come in and install it, and it took him a little while( longer than it should have maybe, or maybe I'm imagiing it), he had to screw around with the command prompts etc. I guess I'll try to reset it to factory defaults( Does this involving sticking a paperclip in it somewhere to press a button? I think the technician did that), and I suppose if that fails...I'l buy a new router. When I bought this one I got a discount on it because it was an open box. Maybe it was a return or something.

[Rob Pomeroy]

Does this involving sticking a paperclip in it somewhere to press a button?

Probably.

When I bought this one I got a discount on it because it was an open box.

No comment!  

[2k_dummy]

One of windows default settings can wreak havoc on wireless connections. It wants to automatically log on to a domain server, which will prevent or disable the wireless cards settings. Most home networks do not need, want, nor use a domain server. Try going into the network properties, click on microsoft client for networks, click properties, and disable the "feature". While in network properties, check to see if the cards settings match those of the router (channel, SSID, encryption, etc.). You will probably need to reboot after changing any settings.

[Abe_Crenshaw]

Alright. Well I went out and bought a new router(but I made sure I could get a refund on it just in case I figured out how to get my old router working.). I futzed with my old wireless router for a whie and eventually my pc was hvig trouble connecting through it too.

The new router seems to be working fine. I ran the inernet for a few hours and I havent been diconnected so it looks like that was the case.

But just in case I disabled the microsoft client thing too.



Thanks for all the help folks, you really pulled me outa' the fire on that one. Npw hopefully no one manages to mess it up on me .(And if something does go wrong apparently this is the place to go ). I hope I havent spoken too soon though, my luck with computers.....

Abe Crenshaw


Thx Again

[Rob Pomeroy]

Glad you got it all sorted.  Yes, do keep us bookmarked for any future troubles, and don't presume bad luck's at play - all computers are possessed, plain and simple.  

[patio]

Glad you got it all sorted.  Yes, do keep us bookmarked for any future troubles, and don't presume bad luck's at play - all computers are possessed, plain and simple.  

Couldn't have said it better myself...