Router wireless problems

ste-sim2x9 · 10 Jan 2011 at 20:09

I have a netgear WGT624 v4 108 Mbps router and i've been having some issues. When my wife is on her laptop we she's getting a lot of disconnections via wireless. My laptop is connected via lan cable and never disconnects even when my wifes has. Its not her laptop as my laptop seems to also disconnect without reason if used by wireless. This has not happened before the last 7 days. I'm not sure if its router so has anyone got any suggestions. if its the router has anyone got any router suggestions.

Skidilliplop · 10 Jan 2011 at 22:56

Check what other networks you can see, and what channel they're on.
More often than not if this comes along suddenly it's because someone's created another network within range on the same or similar channel. most kit tends to default to channel 11 or 1 which compounds the issue in denser populated areas.

ste-sim2x9 · 10 Jan 2011 at 23:19

I thought that but even if i wanted to the router won't let me change from channel 6 unless i change my mode to b & g from auto 108mbps so i don't know how to sort this.

Skidilliplop · 10 Jan 2011 at 23:29

well you dont' really have a choice, if there's other networks on channel 6 you have to change. It wont' be that detrimental as the netgear 108Mbps tech is a bit fudged and not much faster than standard G with a decent signal. But Wifi doens't need to be as it's not really designed for high bandwidth usage.

The only other solutions are to A. Tin clad your house. B. Point an assault rifle at your neighbours until they change their channel settings.

ste-sim2x9 · 11 Jan 2011 at 08:11

The strange thing is i looked in wireless network connections and i don't see anyone else with a network because there are a few around my area. I downloaded inSSIDer, that program that looks for wireless connections around my area and can tell me what channel they are on but that only ever picks mine up.

Skidilliplop · 11 Jan 2011 at 10:24

Well if there's literally nothing else in range then the interference could be coming from other things. Poorly shielded Microwaves are a common cause of random disconnects.

Couple of helpful tests you could do is, see if both wireless devices disconnect at the same time. This would point to the router most likely, or a source of widespread interference (like a microwave) and pretty much rule out the laptops.
Another is to sit one right next to the router and one further away and see if they both still disconnect. If the more distant one disconnects more frequently than the other it's a strong indication of interference. If they still disconnect together then it's almost certainly the router.

(both tests assume your router isn't sat atop your microwave

)

ste-sim2x9 · 11 Jan 2011 at 12:26

I'll have to look into that, My house is only connected to one neighbour and there are no homes directly behind or infront of my home. My neighbour lives on her own and does not own a pc or laptop and has no internet.

3dcandy · 11 Jan 2011 at 12:42

microwave/cordless phone/lights can all cause interference matey. I had a world of pain with my wireless to an xbox until I changed channels, random disconnects etc. although I couldn't see anything had changed it never worked till I changed the settings...

ste-sim2x9 · 11 Jan 2011 at 13:10

I,ve just selected channel 13 and set it to mode b & g to see if that helps. Me and my bro are big anime fans so i download loads of anime series but when i download i connect my laptop via lan cable so moving to mode b & g won't affect that would it, only wireless.

Skidilliplop · 11 Jan 2011 at 13:26

Nope. Infact I'd recommend leaving it there over the 108mbps. It's far better for interoperability to use the IEEE definitions. Check that all devices can do channel 13. Some devices only do 1-11.

ste-sim2x9 · 12 Jan 2011 at 11:00

Well even though i changed my channel to a channel other than the default 6 i still keep having disconnections and it happened at the same time on both laptops. Once the red x on the wireless icon turns to yellow i click on it and it shows my network but when i click connect it starts to connect then said windows was unable to connect to voyager network. My laptop stays connected all the time via lan cable even when my wifes laptop has disconnected by wireless. Any more suggestions peeps.

Skidilliplop · 12 Jan 2011 at 11:06

If it's happening on both laptops at once then it's probably the router. Worth seeing if you can borrow someone else's router and plug that in just as an access point for wifi. If you don't get disconnects on one laptop using that AP but the other laptop using your router still does then you need a new router tbh.

note when you set up the second AP the channels need to be at least 5 channels appart to not interfere while in close proximity.

ste-sim2x9 · 12 Jan 2011 at 11:39

I tried moving the channel to 13,7 and 1 but its still does it. It never disconnects via lan cable only wireless.

Skidilliplop · 12 Jan 2011 at 12:12

I'd definitely plug a known working access point in and run one laptop on each. If it's the radios on your router then the separate access point will continue to work (as it's connection to the router itself is wired)

ste-sim2x9 · 12 Jan 2011 at 12:48

I have not got another router to try. I'd go out and buy a new router but i don't want to pay for a new router and it still do it. It don't disconnect all the time but here and there.

Skidilliplop · 12 Jan 2011 at 13:00

Just set up wireless on that other router and plug a cable from one of the LAN ports on it to a LAN port on your current router. Make sure to turn off DHCP on it, set the wireless SSID and channel different to your current setup and see if you still get disconnects on both. (you dont' have to have a separate SSID but this will stop it accidentally "roaming" to the other router and messing up the experiment.)

ste-sim2x9 · 12 Jan 2011 at 13:05

I only have the one router.

Skidilliplop · 12 Jan 2011 at 13:59

Well you'd need to borrow one to be 100% it's your router. Else as you said you could go and buy one and it still doesn't work.
Though I'm fairly sure at this stage it's your router at fault.

ste-sim2x9 · 12 Jan 2011 at 14:10

I'm quite sure it has to be the routers wireless part as its not my internet connection because when wired it never disconnects. Is there no programs that can maybe see the dropout. I'm a novice when it comes to networks even though i've set many up in my time.

Skidilliplop · 12 Jan 2011 at 14:25

You should be able to see on the router stats page. If it drops out due to a radio issue then you should see frame errors on that interface as there's bound to be some frames cut in half, and probably a few distorted just prior to the drop.
Depending on your wireless adaptor you might be able to see in the management software any errors recieved by the adaptor.
If you don't fancy forking for a new router, you could just buy an access point and plug it in. For just simple Wifi G without too many bells and whistles that's probably cheaper than a whole new router + time spent setting it up.