Crosswords3 mins ago
What causes wireless connectivity problems?
I have cable broadband and a wireless router. The router and laptop are in the same room, with a line of sight between them.
Sometimes the wireless connectivity is lost for no apparent reason, and reconnects a little later without me having done or changed anything.
The speed (as shown by hovering over the icon in the notification area) varies erratically - sometimes 6 Mbps, sometimes 24, sometimes 36, sometimes 100 I think.
What's the reason for this?
Thanks for any insight.
Sometimes the wireless connectivity is lost for no apparent reason, and reconnects a little later without me having done or changed anything.
The speed (as shown by hovering over the icon in the notification area) varies erratically - sometimes 6 Mbps, sometimes 24, sometimes 36, sometimes 100 I think.
What's the reason for this?
Thanks for any insight.
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by koster. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I have cable broadband too - my router is in the loft and the laptop is two floors below and my speed is a pretty constant 54.
What router do you have? Is your laptop wifi enabled or do you have a usb dongle?
Do you check the Virgin status page to see if there is any problems in your area?
Is your wifi secure? I can access my neighbour's router admin page, change the settings and disconnect him.
Are you accidentally disconnecting the wifi by hitting a switch on the laptop?
Are the lights on the router stable?
What router do you have? Is your laptop wifi enabled or do you have a usb dongle?
Do you check the Virgin status page to see if there is any problems in your area?
Is your wifi secure? I can access my neighbour's router admin page, change the settings and disconnect him.
Are you accidentally disconnecting the wifi by hitting a switch on the laptop?
Are the lights on the router stable?
Thanks for your answer.
At the moment it says 54 Mbps.
The router is a Linksys Wireless-G broadband router. The wireless on the laptop is built in.
I did check the Virgin status page, and although there were many local issues listed, there was nothing for my postcode.
The wireless network was secure with a password I had chosen, but the router password was still "admin", so I've changed that now.
As far as I know there's no wireless switch on my laptop (an IBM ThinkPad R50e). It has a wireless indicator between the keyboard and screen, which is not steady but blinking.
On the route the WLAN indicators blinks, as does the Internet indicator.
At the moment it says 54 Mbps.
The router is a Linksys Wireless-G broadband router. The wireless on the laptop is built in.
I did check the Virgin status page, and although there were many local issues listed, there was nothing for my postcode.
The wireless network was secure with a password I had chosen, but the router password was still "admin", so I've changed that now.
As far as I know there's no wireless switch on my laptop (an IBM ThinkPad R50e). It has a wireless indicator between the keyboard and screen, which is not steady but blinking.
On the route the WLAN indicators blinks, as does the Internet indicator.
You have the same router as me.
I suggest a simple thing first. Switch everything off at the mains. Wait at least one minute before switching on in this EXACT order:
Modem - wait for lights to settle down, at least a minute
Router - as above
PCs and laptops.
Hopefully this will reset everything (your security will not change) and improve your connection.
Your laptop will have a switch somewhere to disconnect the wifi - mine is cunningly disguised as an orange light next to the headphone sockets. Just where my thumb rests. :(
I suggest a simple thing first. Switch everything off at the mains. Wait at least one minute before switching on in this EXACT order:
Modem - wait for lights to settle down, at least a minute
Router - as above
PCs and laptops.
Hopefully this will reset everything (your security will not change) and improve your connection.
Your laptop will have a switch somewhere to disconnect the wifi - mine is cunningly disguised as an orange light next to the headphone sockets. Just where my thumb rests. :(
Thanks Ethel, your advice is good - I did that yesterday and since then have not lost connectivity.
The speed has been 54Mbps and has just slipped down to 48Mbps since I started writing this message - could this be because my housemate is also connected?
You're right, my laptop has a wireless symbol on the F5 key, so F5+Fn together work as a wireless switch. However, you can configure this so that it either brings up a menu or it switches wireless on or off. The default is to bring up the menu, which prevents you from switching it off accidentally.
I do wonder, as we're all told that leaving a TV on standby uses X amount of electricity, how much it costs to leave a modem and router on. Since you need to wait a minute for the modem and again for the router is not really practical to switch them off each time.
The speed has been 54Mbps and has just slipped down to 48Mbps since I started writing this message - could this be because my housemate is also connected?
You're right, my laptop has a wireless symbol on the F5 key, so F5+Fn together work as a wireless switch. However, you can configure this so that it either brings up a menu or it switches wireless on or off. The default is to bring up the menu, which prevents you from switching it off accidentally.
I do wonder, as we're all told that leaving a TV on standby uses X amount of electricity, how much it costs to leave a modem and router on. Since you need to wait a minute for the modem and again for the router is not really practical to switch them off each time.
many things can affect connectivity, near by cordless or mobile phones, other wireless products. use of microwave ovens nearby. the list goes on and on..
my computer backs onto a room where the washing machine is, and when its going full spin my connection level drops by about 20%.
Try getting a higher decibel ariel for the router (about �3-�5) from ebay. that may improve things for you.
my computer backs onto a room where the washing machine is, and when its going full spin my connection level drops by about 20%.
Try getting a higher decibel ariel for the router (about �3-�5) from ebay. that may improve things for you.
I used to have no end of problems with my system, even when I changed ISPs and got a different router. I tried most of the solutions, moving nearer to the router, moving the nearby DECT phone but nothing really improved the situation.
Then I found a program called Network Magic which has sorted out nearly all the connection problems for me. The link is here if you want to see what they offer
http://www.networkmagic.com/
btw the program is free
Then I found a program called Network Magic which has sorted out nearly all the connection problems for me. The link is here if you want to see what they offer
http://www.networkmagic.com/
btw the program is free
Koster - glad you seem to be sorted. I have to do that every three months or so, but why that is so I don't know.
Occasionally my speed drops and it is rectified simply by disconnecting from the internet and reconnecting again a second later - using my switch. It doesn't interfere with internet browsing - I don't have to sign in again for example. When that stops working, time to switch everything off as you have just done. :)
My router is in the loft with my desktop, printer, filing cabinet, scanner. So now you know. :)
Occasionally my speed drops and it is rectified simply by disconnecting from the internet and reconnecting again a second later - using my switch. It doesn't interfere with internet browsing - I don't have to sign in again for example. When that stops working, time to switch everything off as you have just done. :)
My router is in the loft with my desktop, printer, filing cabinet, scanner. So now you know. :)
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