Problems with Wireless Network

[Dr_Mike]

Ever since installing our wireless network it's been pretty un-reliable. Here are the symptoms :

Often the PC doesn't connect to the network when first booting up. You can normally fix this by repeatedly repairing Ie disabling & re-enabling the connection in windows.

Once connected, the PC will often disconnect itself and requires reconnecting as above.

Often, whilst on the web you'll suddenly get "firefox cannot find the server at www.google.co.uk" (or wherever) messages. In this case the network is still connected (you can still get to the router configuration page) but you can't get any internet pages. Again repairing the connection usually fixes.

Kit is D-link DSL-904 router and DWL-G122 USB adaptor in the PC. The router is about 6 foot from the PC so signal strength is unlikely to be the problem. I've tried downloading the latest driver for the adaptor but that has made no difference.

Any suggestions ? As said above, 99% of the time I can get it to work but it's along way from being the "fit and forget" sort of thing I'd want. I'm also thinking of getting a squeezebox to play files from the PC and I imagine this would be pretty frustrating if the PC keeps disconnecting itself !

Thanks for reading this far!

[caleebra]

Hi,

It almost sounds like you're actual interconnect connection is falling over - was it pretty reliable when you were wired direct to a USB modem?

It's worth checking your signal strength, just in case there's something funny going! Right click the connection in "Network Connections" and click properties, or double click the little computer in the bottom right of the screen.

The only other thing that would be worth a go at this point is resetting the router to factory default and starting again.

Do you have WEP enabled?

[Dr_Mike]

Signal strength is "excellent" so I don't think that is the problem. Using WPA-PSK instead of WEP as this is more secure (I think !).

The odd thing is that sometimes when it won't connect on boot up, when I go "to view wirelss networks", it can see next door's but not ours. When ours does appear it's on "excellent" signal strength.

Haven't really changed any settings on the router other than to enable WPA and set an acces control (MAC) list. When I loose internet, the router's ADSL status page say's it's still connected so I think this part is OK.

[Chris Muriel]

You are probably using the same channel as your neighbour.
Change the channel used by the link so that you aren't competing with each other.

Chris Muriel, Manchester

[mickbirch2000]

DR Mike
Check your wireless network settings:
Start/Connect to/wireless network connection/view wireless networks, highlight your prefered network,change the order of prefered networks, wireless networks tab,
make sure "use windows to configure my wireless network settings" is checked. make sure your prefered network is 1st in the list. click advanced & check "access point infrastructure networks only.
Regards Mick

[bumper31]

I would also add, try different security settings, Ive had problems with WPA2 in the past.

See if it is any more stable on WEP

[Dr_Mike]

Thanks for the responses.

Will try these and let you know how I get on.

[Dr_Mike]

Just doing this :

Originally Posted by mickbirch2000

check "access point infrastructure networks only."

seems to have made quite a difference. Still not perfect but only two unwanted disconnections in the last 3 days and both times it re-connected straight away.

Thanks Mick