Problems with Wireless LAN

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Toxin

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Hi All, need some help.

We have a wireless LAN setup at our flat. 3 PCs connected to a Netgear wireless switch/router using Netgear USB wireless dongles.

Connecting a PC to the LAN is not a problem. The Netgear software pops up when it sees the USB dongle and connects to the network automatically. According to the software everything is working fine, but we keep losing the connection to the other PCs and to our NAS.

For instance. If I explore my Network, it'll see the other PCs and the NAS. But after half a minute or so it would stop seeing them. Refresh and nothing. This is irritating when you want to stream an episode of How I Met Your Mother. :rolleyes:

It's not an issue with the USB dongles as my one friend's laptop (with built in Wireless) does the same thing. If we use the hard line Ethernet network everything works fine.

We updated the firmware for the router last night with no success. Is the Netgear's wireless borked? :confused:
 
Toxin said:
Hi All, need some help.

We have a wireless LAN setup at our flat. 3 PCs connected to a Netgear wireless switch/router using Netgear USB wireless dongles.

Connecting a PC to the LAN is not a problem. The Netgear software pops up when it sees the USB dongle and connects to the network automatically. According to the software everything is working fine, but we keep losing the connection to the other PCs and to our NAS.

For instance. If I explore my Network, it'll see the other PCs and the NAS. But after half a minute or so it would stop seeing them. Refresh and nothing. This is irritating when you want to stream an episode of How I Met Your Mother. :rolleyes:

It's not an issue with the USB dongles as my one friend's laptop (with built in Wireless) does the same thing. If we use the hard line Ethernet network everything works fine.

We updated the firmware for the router last night with no success. Is the Netgear's wireless borked? :confused:
Click to expand...

Welcome to the world of Wireless. These kind of symptoms have been my experience since day one of using the Wireless LAN's. Sometimes they work "reasonably" well, but dropped connections, weak signals, PC's not seeing each other have all been my frustrations with this technology for a long time now. Sorry I can't give you more advice than this...

Solution: install fixed cables with a switch/hub

That is the guaranteed sure fire way to solve this. Honestly. Wireless networking is just not a mature technology... yet (if ever).
 
WKJ?:beanie said:
What kind of encryption do you have enabled on the router?
Click to expand...

WEP encryption. 64bit key.

Garyvdh said:
Welcome to the world of Wireless. These kind of symptoms have been my experience since day one of using the Wireless LAN's. Sometimes they work "reasonably" well, but dropped connections, weak signals, PC's not seeing each other have all been my frustrations with this technology for a long time now. Sorry I can't give you more advice than this...

Solution: install fixed cables with a switch/hub

That is the guaranteed sure fire way to solve this. Honestly. Wireless networking is just not a mature technology... yet (if ever).
Click to expand...

My problem is that it's so random. I mean we have Netgear equipment, arguably some of the best, we're no further than 4 meters away from the router and we have issues. Whereas my uncle has the (supposedly) crappy Telkom wireless router but I can be more than 10 meters away and still connect up with no disconnects.

Te hells up with that? :mad:
 
Well the Telkom router is crap. But it still works nevertheless.
I haven't had problems with Netgear routers before. Just their USB dongles (across some distances however).
Seems you have problem of some kind. But honestly I've not seen something like this- I mean, you have a standard network setup (ie only Netgear), you aren't out of range either.
 
If you get dropped connections check that signal is decent and if it is change the channels.
 
When you have problems with your wirlesss NIC, does the netgear agent tell you if the wireless network has dropped?

I would suggest changing the channel your AP uses, as I had problems previously on certain channels
 
Yes, change the channel. Also make sure your wireless router is not sitting close to a cordless phone, microwave oven etc. All of these devices tend to use the 2.4GHz frequency range which can cause interference.
 
Globetrotter said:
Yes, change the channel. Also make sure your wireless router is not sitting close to a cordless phone, microwave oven etc. All of these devices tend to use the 2.4GHz frequency range which can cause interference.
Click to expand...

No the router isn't near anything that would cause interference. We are running on channel 11. Will try a different one and check.

Thanks guys.
 
Toxin said:
My problem is that it's so random. I mean we have Netgear equipment, arguably some of the best, we're no further than 4 meters away from the router and we have issues. Whereas my uncle has the (supposedly) crappy Telkom wireless router but I can be more than 10 meters away and still connect up with no disconnects.

Te hells up with that? :mad:
Click to expand...

that is just it. The randomness. My major irk is with other devices, like smartphones, cellphones and pocket pc devices. They are just so flipping quirky with Wireless LANs. Sometimes they work and sometimes they do not work. But you can never rely on them for business use. They are just not reliable enough. Right now I am sitting here with my Windows Mobile device trying to connect to the office Wirless LAN. I know the LAN is on... but internet explorer refuses to connect and keeps going back to the 3G connection.
 
Actually, try running it with any encryption and let us know the results?
As stated above, Cordless phones and microwaves mess up the signal alot. As well as Any big metal objects and antenna improperly placed.
 
I would suggest something, which might or might not work.

Use a WPA-Pre-shared key using AES encryption.

Use channel 6, 11, or 13 (I'm using 6)


I have found after I configured my Billion router this way, I have about 100% strength throughout our house (with thick walls), the connection never, if ever stalls or disconnects and I've had 2 different laptops on this configuration.

If you are looking for a easy to remember AES key, just use 1357913579 which will work very well, but you can change it if you like.
 
No encryption = much better signal.....but it also means someone is gonna steal all of your cap.

Also try getting usb extension cords. wifi signal right behind the case where the dongles are usually sucks...with an extension you can move it around a bit.
 
Toxin said:
Well, changing the channel seems to have sorted out our issues. Thanks guys. :)
Click to expand...

Cool beans ;) Try the encryption suggestions I mentioned as well, it's working great for me ;)
 
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