Trouble with wireless internet connection.

Jessica · 10-10-2006, 08:50 PM

We have a wireless modem, but one of our computers (a desktop) didn't have a wireless adapter, so I bought the card and installed it. No big deal. The problem is that the connection is not very reliable. Even when the connection strength is supposedly "Good" and the adapter is reading from the access point, there are times when the computer won't connect to the internet. The only way to get back online is to restart the computer. This can happen several times a day, and it's getting to be quite a hassle. We have other computers that read from the same modem, and never have any problems, so the problem must be with the desktop itself.

I was wondering if there was a problem with the way I set up the wireless settings. I just went through the generic Internet Connection Wizard. Do you think something needs to be reconfigured? I apologize for all of my stupid questions. I'm not very computer savvy. If you can talk me through this I'd be very grateful.

tlarkin · 10-10-2006, 09:05 PM

Jessica,

Welcome to the world of wireless, it can be at times a pain even when it is implemented properly. You can always start by right clicking the little wireless icon at the bottom right hand of the computer and choose repair, it will try to reconnect to your wireless AP.

What type of wireless modem/router do you have? What is the brand and model name?

Another option to try as well is from the command line.

Click Start > Run > type cmd and hit enter

this will bring up the command line in windows xp ( assume you are running windows xp) and from there you can type the following command

Code:

ipconfig /renew

hit enter and it will try to refresh an IP from your wireless access point.

computerhakk · 10-10-2006, 09:20 PM

Is this a b or g signal? Also, what kind of wireless card is it? Since all your other computers are working fine, are they set up the same way and with the same card? If not, it could just be a bad wireless card that you picked up.

Bobo · 10-10-2006, 09:25 PM

I recently had this problem with my wireless adapter (it just started happening after months of good work) and my only solution was to replace it. (luckily I had another one on hand)

Jessica · 10-10-2006, 11:13 PM

tlarkin, the modem is a VisionNet ADSL W205-4 modem, while the adapter card is Linksys Wireless-G PCI adapter, model # WMP54G. I am running XP, and I've tried the IP refresh, but it never permanently fixes the problem. It's only temporary, and then after a while the computer goes offline again. I've also tried to repair the connection, but with no success.

computerhakk, our other computers are laptops and they already had wireless adapters preinstalled. The tech who installed our DSL set up the other computers, and that's why I was wondering if I made a mistake setting up the desktop. I remember that he manually typed in the code and said that it made the connection more reliable. I have no idea what he did exactly. I should have been watching more closely.

Bobo, that is not what I wanted to hear. The adapter is less than a month old, and I'm sure the box and receipt have both been thrown away. Grrr. I've never had any luck with Linksys.

Bobo · 10-10-2006, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica

Bobo, that is not what I wanted to hear. The adapter is less than a month old, and I'm sure the box and receipt have both been thrown away. Grrr. I've never had any luck with Linksys.

Mine was also a linksys...coincidence?

computerhakk · 10-10-2006, 11:17 PM

I understand what you are saying. But B signal is generally not as fast as G. So if it was B that was being transmitted, than that could be one reason. Another is that since most desktop's don't have wifi readily installed, so I assume your's is a PCI. The laptop wifi is different from PCI, so that is why. If you want, you can manually go into your laptop's settings and look up those manual input that u said the technician entered for you and set it up on your desktop also.

**jimmymac** · 10-10-2006, 11:17 PM

how far from your desktop is the router, i have been having a few issues with mine as its such a distnce, although recently doing a factory reset on it seems to have cured it...for now

also ensure that the router is plugged into the main telephone line for the house and not and extension of any kind as it wil cause issues

tlarkin · 10-10-2006, 11:27 PM

so does it ever connect at all, or does it try to connet then fail? Sounds like it may not be authenticating to your security settings

Jessica · 10-11-2006, 03:16 AM

Quote:

If you want, you can manually go into your laptop's settings and look up those manual input that u said the technician entered for you and set it up on your desktop also.

That sounds like a good idea. Could you explain how to do that? I can't seem to find the same menu that the tech used.

jimmymac, the modem has been moved several times, but the distance doesn't seem to make any difference. It's currently in the room adjacent to the computer, about 12 feet away. My laptop is 3 floors up and I still have no trouble connecting.

tlarkin, it does connect. We can be online for minutes or even hours and then get kicked off, even when the signal strength is supposedly "good." We have to reboot or renew the IP to get back online.

Thanks for all the help!

10-10-2006, 08:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jessica New Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5	Trouble with wireless internet connection. We have a wireless modem, but one of our computers (a desktop) didn't have a wireless adapter, so I bought the card and installed it. No big deal. The problem is that the connection is not very reliable. Even when the connection strength is supposedly "Good" and the adapter is reading from the access point, there are times when the computer won't connect to the internet. The only way to get back online is to restart the computer. This can happen several times a day, and it's getting to be quite a hassle. We have other computers that read from the same modem, and never have any problems, so the problem must be with the desktop itself. I was wondering if there was a problem with the way I set up the wireless settings. I just went through the generic Internet Connection Wizard. Do you think something needs to be reconfigured? I apologize for all of my stupid questions. I'm not very computer savvy. If you can talk me through this I'd be very grateful.

10-10-2006, 09:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 5,955	Jessica, Welcome to the world of wireless, it can be at times a pain even when it is implemented properly. You can always start by right clicking the little wireless icon at the bottom right hand of the computer and choose repair, it will try to reconnect to your wireless AP. What type of wireless modem/router do you have? What is the brand and model name? Another option to try as well is from the command line. Click Start > Run > type cmd and hit enter this will bring up the command line in windows xp ( assume you are running windows xp) and from there you can type the following command Code: ipconfig /renew hit enter and it will try to refresh an IP from your wireless access point.

10-10-2006, 09:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
computerhakk VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: THOJhakk county Posts: 3,635	Is this a b or g signal? Also, what kind of wireless card is it? Since all your other computers are working fine, are they set up the same way and with the same card? If not, it could just be a bad wireless card that you picked up. __________________ "Remember, wrong advice may be worse than no advice at all." ::COMPUTERHAKK:::

10-10-2006, 11:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
computerhakk VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: THOJhakk county Posts: 3,635	I understand what you are saying. But B signal is generally not as fast as G. So if it was B that was being transmitted, than that could be one reason. Another is that since most desktop's don't have wifi readily installed, so I assume your's is a PCI. The laptop wifi is different from PCI, so that is why. If you want, you can manually go into your laptop's settings and look up those manual input that u said the technician entered for you and set it up on your desktop also. __________________ "Remember, wrong advice may be worse than no advice at all." ::COMPUTERHAKK:::

10-10-2006, 11:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
jimmymac Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chester, UK Age: 28 Posts: 3,676	how far from your desktop is the router, i have been having a few issues with mine as its such a distnce, although recently doing a factory reset on it seems to have cured it...for now also ensure that the router is plugged into the main telephone line for the house and not and extension of any kind as it wil cause issues __________________ I tried to put my signature in here but my pen ruined the monitor. http://www.peytonmusic.com/ http://forum.peytonmusic.com/ the most uplifting soulful music you will ever hear...

10-10-2006, 09:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bobo banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pittsburgh Age: 16 Posts: 6,623	I recently had this problem with my wireless adapter (it just started happening after months of good work) and my only solution was to replace it. (luckily I had another one on hand)

10-10-2006, 11:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jessica New Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5	tlarkin, the modem is a VisionNet ADSL W205-4 modem, while the adapter card is Linksys Wireless-G PCI adapter, model # WMP54G. I am running XP, and I've tried the IP refresh, but it never permanently fixes the problem. It's only temporary, and then after a while the computer goes offline again. I've also tried to repair the connection, but with no success. computerhakk, our other computers are laptops and they already had wireless adapters preinstalled. The tech who installed our DSL set up the other computers, and that's why I was wondering if I made a mistake setting up the desktop. I remember that he manually typed in the code and said that it made the connection more reliable. I have no idea what he did exactly. I should have been watching more closely. Bobo, that is not what I wanted to hear. The adapter is less than a month old, and I'm sure the box and receipt have both been thrown away. Grrr. I've never had any luck with Linksys.

10-10-2006, 11:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 5,955	so does it ever connect at all, or does it try to connet then fail? Sounds like it may not be authenticating to your security settings

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