Wireless network cutting out - any ideas?
Discussion
Chaps,
My hitherto-bombproof wireless network has started cutting out. Not sure why.
The lappie is an IBMX31, with built-in wireless. The base station is a Netgear ME102, hooked into a switch. All has worked fine for the last 2 or 3 months since I set it up, until last night. When I turned the lappie on in the bedroom, and it wouldn't see the network. So, I carried it back to the base station, made the network visible, connected the laptop to it and made it invisible again. All was fine. Took it back to the bedroom, where it had "Good" signal strength, and all was well.
For about 8 minutes. Then it cut out while I was using it. Nothing. Nil. Nada. Annoying. I gave up and went to bed.
This morning, I turned it on in the bedroom again, and it wouldn't find the network. Carried it back to the base station, and it automatically connected, fine. Back to the bedroom, "Good" signal, all fine. Then, 5 minutes later, it dropped it.
Carried it to within sight of the base station (you could see the base station) and it still wouldn't connect. Took it to within 2 yards of the base station and it wouldn't connect. Went to settings > network settings and clicked "repair" (on the lappie) and it disabled and re-enabled the network, and connected.
Previously it has been bulletproof. Anyone any ideas?
Oli.
My hitherto-bombproof wireless network has started cutting out. Not sure why.
The lappie is an IBMX31, with built-in wireless. The base station is a Netgear ME102, hooked into a switch. All has worked fine for the last 2 or 3 months since I set it up, until last night. When I turned the lappie on in the bedroom, and it wouldn't see the network. So, I carried it back to the base station, made the network visible, connected the laptop to it and made it invisible again. All was fine. Took it back to the bedroom, where it had "Good" signal strength, and all was well.
For about 8 minutes. Then it cut out while I was using it. Nothing. Nil. Nada. Annoying. I gave up and went to bed.
This morning, I turned it on in the bedroom again, and it wouldn't find the network. Carried it back to the base station, and it automatically connected, fine. Back to the bedroom, "Good" signal, all fine. Then, 5 minutes later, it dropped it.
Carried it to within sight of the base station (you could see the base station) and it still wouldn't connect. Took it to within 2 yards of the base station and it wouldn't connect. Went to settings > network settings and clicked "repair" (on the lappie) and it disabled and re-enabled the network, and connected.
Previously it has been bulletproof. Anyone any ideas?
Oli.
I suspect either a hardware failure, or interference. The fact that it works at short range tends to suggest interference. There are lots of things that can interfere with it including DECT phones, microwave ovens and other wireless networks. Try turning your access point / router off and see whether your PC shows another wireless network on the same channel. Try changing channels. Try rebooting the router.
I have the same problem, my wireless network sometimes cuts out, usually while playing GTL online, never really happens for general use.
Tried changing the channels several times but doesn't make any difference to online gaming.
I think it's generally down to interference, choose a quiet channel and make sure it's away from sources of interference and it should be ok.
Tried changing the channels several times but doesn't make any difference to online gaming.
I think it's generally down to interference, choose a quiet channel and make sure it's away from sources of interference and it should be ok.
This is a known hardware problem with the Netgear stuff. Supposedly they fixed it with the version 3 firmware, but I still had numerous problems. Ended up switching to D-link which fixed everything in 2 minutes. It's really maddening when companies put out crap products like this. I am not partial to D-link, you can get some other good brand. I just find D-link stuff to be the best.
Hopefully it's still under warranty and you can get your money back.
Hopefully it's still under warranty and you can get your money back.
Chaps,
Lots of good answers, thanks.
The odd thing is that it has been utterly 100% reliable up to now. (And I was quite pleased with it - the ME102 is an access point, not a combined router/modem thing, and cost £7 on eBay.) And it just started playing up at the end of the week.
However, the idea of interference does fit - I did notice that there was another network available in the bedroom which I hadn't seen before, so this could be relevant.
I have changed the channel, and turned restated the access point, and it seems to be a bit better.
Thanks again for the suggestions. I'm not sure how I would be able to cope without a quick cheeky PH-surf in bed before turning out the lights ... !
Oli.
Lots of good answers, thanks.
The odd thing is that it has been utterly 100% reliable up to now. (And I was quite pleased with it - the ME102 is an access point, not a combined router/modem thing, and cost £7 on eBay.) And it just started playing up at the end of the week.
However, the idea of interference does fit - I did notice that there was another network available in the bedroom which I hadn't seen before, so this could be relevant.
I have changed the channel, and turned restated the access point, and it seems to be a bit better.
Thanks again for the suggestions. I'm not sure how I would be able to cope without a quick cheeky PH-surf in bed before turning out the lights ... !
Oli.
I said:Chaps,
I have changed the channel, and turned restated the access point, and it seems to be a bit better.
Quick update. Having done the above, it seems to be as reliable as it was before - so, thanks for the suggestions!
I guess that a neighbour must have set up their wireless network on the same channel as I was using, and this caused the problems.
Thanks again,
Oli.
zcacogp said:
Netgear ME102
I've had a few of these... early ones were shipped with a PSU that had a relatively short working life... 'phone up Netgear and ask them nicely for a new one.
edited to say... D'oh! Must read all of the thread before posting...
>> Edited by pantscat on Monday 3rd April 10:10
zcacogp said:
I have changed the channel, and turned restated the access point, and it seems to be a bit better.
Quick update. Having done the above, it seems to be as reliable as it was before - so, thanks for the suggestions!
I guess that a neighbour must have set up their wireless network on the same channel as I was using, and this caused the problems.
Thanks again,
Oli.
netstumbler is great for finding wireless networks nearby and telling you which channels they are on etc
We've experience dodgy connections, well almost no connection at all for last few days. Have usual Netgear router, but have tried using Orange and Belkin instead with no improvement in performance.
Problem seems to be related to unsecured network in our local area called ALWAYSUP which is using channel 7 whilst we were on channel 6. Have changed our router to use channel 11 and am at last able to access the internet... but... ALWAYSUP seems to be offline right now so it could be that changing channels has not made any difference.
Have tried to connect to ALWAYSUP when it's up and running but even tho is unsecured, cannot get onto it at all. Dont know which neighbour is running this - which means I cant go round and blow the darn thing up!
Has anyone else experience a similar problem and found a way around it? After 3 days of almost no internet connection any fresh ideas are most welcome.
Thanks in advance
Webmistress
Problem seems to be related to unsecured network in our local area called ALWAYSUP which is using channel 7 whilst we were on channel 6. Have changed our router to use channel 11 and am at last able to access the internet... but... ALWAYSUP seems to be offline right now so it could be that changing channels has not made any difference.
Have tried to connect to ALWAYSUP when it's up and running but even tho is unsecured, cannot get onto it at all. Dont know which neighbour is running this - which means I cant go round and blow the darn thing up!
Has anyone else experience a similar problem and found a way around it? After 3 days of almost no internet connection any fresh ideas are most welcome.
Thanks in advance
Webmistress
Webmistress,
Changing channel solved it for me. No problems at all since (apart from a couple of days ago, when the router crashed. Second time in 2 years, can't grumble.)
If a network seems to be unsecured but you can't connect to it, they could be using MAC level security. For me, these appear as unsecured networks but when you try to link-up, it doesn't let you. (I tried to link up to my own network which has MAC level security from a machine whose MAC address I hadn't allowed, and this is what happened.)
Hope this is helpful.
Oli.
Changing channel solved it for me. No problems at all since (apart from a couple of days ago, when the router crashed. Second time in 2 years, can't grumble.)
If a network seems to be unsecured but you can't connect to it, they could be using MAC level security. For me, these appear as unsecured networks but when you try to link-up, it doesn't let you. (I tried to link up to my own network which has MAC level security from a machine whose MAC address I hadn't allowed, and this is what happened.)
Hope this is helpful.
Oli.
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