Wireless link dropouts - fluctuating link quality.

[alanfleming]

Hi,

I am having a problem with the wireless connection from my PC to Modem Router.

Modem router is a Siemens Gigaset SE587. PC is fitted with a Realtek USB Wireless 802.11g dongle.

All had worked fine for months until recently when the PC's Internet Connection (via the wireless network) has started dropping out for no obvious reason.

I have noticed using the "Realtek USB Wireless LAN Utility" that the display of Wireless Signal Strength is fairly constant at around 90/92%, but the Link Quality display fluctuates around 90% and occasionally drops much lower.

Occasionally Link Quality drops to around 50% or lower and the PC's wireless connection to the Internet is then lost.

I can sometimes work OK for many hours without a disconnect. At other times it is dropping off every 5 to 10 minutes. Wireless router and Internet work fine to Laptop, etc..

I don't think I have changed any settings since the system worked more reliably. I am wondering if another wireless network within range could be interfering with mine. How can I check for this ? Any other comments / suggestions welcome.

Alan.

 

[beerhunter]

Read one of the many threads her on how to use tools like inSSIder to fix your problem.

 

[alanfleming]

Hi,

I have downloaded and run inSSIDer as suggested.

It shows me that there are four wi-fi networks in my area, my own and three others.

I am currently set to channel 2 and the others are at channels 1, 6 and 11 but all are with less than 50% of my channel 2 level.

The thing that is puzzling me now is that if I leave inSSIDer running (at a time when I get the mystery disconnects) it shows me that the four channels are being detected and logged - but then all of a sudden, for no obvious reason, my own channel 2 and two of the other channels just disappear from the log graph. Channel 6 however continues to be displayed.

I then have to do a "Wi-Fi repair" to disable/re-enable the USB Wi-Fi adapter to get all four channels back and detected again.

I really don't know where to go from here. It is looking to me more like faulty hardware rather than close channel interference ? Any ideas ?

Alan.

 

[mickevh]

Wifi isn't the only thing that uses these radio frequencies, anyone can use them for anything (e.g. video senders, cordless phones, baby monitors, microwave ovens, are often cited,) InSSIDer only sees other wifi Access Points.

If C6 survives when the others fail, why not try that? As long as you have a reasonbly good margin between the other AP and yours, it should work, you don't have to find a channel all to yourself.

I live in flats and have 14 other wifi AP's around, (so no chance of getting a channel all to myself) but with 20db-30db or so of margin over the other AP's, I get a perfectly good wifi link.