Strange PC Question: Wireless Internet Problems

[Ecco]

Hey guys,

OK strange computer question.

I've used wireless internet for like 6 years with this same PC and it's always worked perfectly.

Just moved into a friend's house and now the wireless network connection is always coming and going. It either works perfectly, or I get the message that my PC is unable to connect to the wireless network. At best, the web will work most of the time, while still cutting out every 30 sec. or so, but then comes back in a few more seconds. Other times (like now), I have no wireless internet connection for days. (I've been using a direct cable to router, which works fine, but I'd much rather have wireless working right.)

Strangely, my PC picks up the router's wireless signal as very strong, all the time, even when I can't connect to the wireless network for days.

Now here's what the problem is NOT:

--It's NOT a problem with the router itself. It's a brand-new dual-band Netgear. I bought it when these problems started. The older router worked worse than the new one.

--My PC uses a wireless adapter (USB plug), and that is also brand-new (CISCO).

--The cable company has replaced their modem that we use; They've also replaced the wire going to our house from the telephone pole, and ran a new ground wire in the basement.

--My PC is OLD but everything usually runs fast and perfect. And I've used wireless internet for 6 years, even right before I moved into this house. I've also reinstalled absolutely everything on my PC -- WinXP plus all software. Plus like I've said, the wired internet connection works perfectly, even when I can't get wireless network connection for days.

At this point there's almost nothing to blame except the internet service itself -- I've started to wonder if somehow, the strength of the internet service is fading in and out, to the point that my wireless connection is lost, although the wired connection is fine. I don't know if that makes sense, but there's not much else to blame...

My friend who owns the house said that over the years, there have been similar complaints from friends who lived here, about the wireless internet cutting in and out. The cable company can't find a problem so far, and they don't know what to do.

Any ideas? Could the internet service itself really be fading in and out to cause such a problem???

Also I have a couple housemates who have had problems connecting wirelessly a couple times, but not as bad as with my PC. Maybe mine is more sensitive, but I don't see how the problem could be on my PC...

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

How close are any neighbors to this house? Since you are talking wireless, I would look for other things that are using the 2.4 GHz band that may be interfering with your signal, assuming, of course, that you are using 2.4 for your network. Some of the major culprits are older cordless phones, microwave ovens, wireless video surveillance cameras, etc. Also, are there any other wireless networks in your area that could be interfering?

JY

[ThugsRook]

its the cable line. (bad cable line / low signal)

[Ecco]

its the cable line. (bad cable line / low signal)

Please explain more? They did replace the cable going from the telephone pole to the house.

So you think a cable line is bad aside from that? Which cable line would be bad -- one of the cables running from the telephone pole all the way to the company?

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

its the cable line. (bad cable line / low signal)

Why would that cause a problem with the wireless but not the hardwired connection?

JY

[Jadty]

I think it may be either low signal or interference. Your PC may be reporting full signal, but that is only because it's receiving the bounced signal from walls and not directly from the router. Is the router very far from the PC, or are there many obstructions blocking it on the way to your PC? Interference can be a problem too even if the router is close, as other signals in the same frequency spectrum may be scrambling the router signal and basically fucking it up.

[ThugsRook]

Please explain more? They did replace the cable going from the telephone pole to the house.

So you think a cable line is bad aside from that? Which cable line would be bad -- one of the cables running from the telephone pole all the way to the company?

have the cable co check the signal strength at the modems cable.

i had the same problem as you, on and off.
ended up dumping cable and going DSL cause cable co refused to find (cable) problem and fix it.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

have the cable co check the signal strength at the modems cable.

i had the same problem as you, on and off.
ended up dumping cable and going DSL cause cable co refused to find (cable) problem and fix it.

Once again, how would that cause problems for the wireless signal but not cause problems when the computer is hardwired into the router?

JY

[Ecco]

How close are any neighbors to this house? Since you are talking wireless, I would look for other things that are using the 2.4 GHz band that may be interfering with your signal, assuming, of course, that you are using 2.4 for your network. Some of the major culprits are older cordless phones, microwave ovens, wireless video surveillance cameras, etc. Also, are there any other wireless networks in your area that could be interfering?

JY

Hmm I hadn't really thought about interference before. There are a lot of neighbors and they do have a lot of other wireless networks very close to us.

Since you asked, this sick dual-band router always has two wireless networks at the same time:

2.4GHz N/G and 5.0GHz N

^Strangely the router signal always shows up at full-strength for both wireless networks, even when my PC is unable to connect to either wireless network...

Why would that cause a problem with the wireless but not the hardwired connection?

JY

Indeed, it's quite puzzling that the wired connection always works fine, while the wireless comes and goes, or just doesn't work at all for days...

I think it may be either low signal or interference. Your PC may be reporting full signal, but that is only because it's receiving the bounced signal from walls and not directly from the router. Is the router very far from the PC, or are there many obstructions blocking it on the way to your PC? Interference can be a problem too even if the router is close, as other signals in the same frequency spectrum may be scrambling the router signal and basically fucking it up.

Well the router is just in the next room over, but you guys definitely made me consider interference -- There are plenty of neighbors with plenty of wireless networks very close to us.......

have the cable co check the signal strength at the modems cable.

i had the same problem as you, on and off.
ended up dumping cable and going DSL cause cable co refused to find (cable) problem and fix it.

Yeah signal strength is one thing I've been wondering, if it was somehow fading in and out in strength -- I thought that MIGHT explain why the wired connection always works fine, while the wireless connection comes and goes. Perhaps it fades out just enough to kill the wireless connection, while the wired connection remains functional...

I have called them at times and asked them to check signal strength going to the modem. At least once the service guy said the signal was weak, but also at least once I've called when I had NO wireless connection, yet the guy said the signal strength was fine! So that might indicate interference, or maybe they are just really bad at troubleshooting their own equipment and cables.

Also are you saying that DSL has a better likelihood of working properly?

[ELabit]

quick way to tell if its from the modem is to just plug into the router directly after you lose connection, if you have internet then it is something with the router or your pc. If you don't have internet then plug your computer into the modem directly after power cycling it, still no internet call the cable company.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

Hmm I hadn't really thought about interference before. There are a lot of neighbors and they do have a lot of other wireless networks very close to us.

Since you asked, this sick dual-band router always has two wireless networks at the same time:

2.4GHz N/G and 5.0GHz N

That is a good sign, but in order to take advantage of it, you will need the wireless card in your PC to operate at 5.0 GHz also.

Yeah signal strength is one thing I've been wondering, if it was somehow fading in and out in strength -- I thought that MIGHT explain why the wired connection always works fine, while the wireless connection comes and goes. Perhaps it fades out just enough to kill the wireless connection, while the wired connection remains functional...

I still don't see how a weak signal from the cable company would cause it to fail on wireless, but hard wired still work. Either the router is able to receive the data from the cable company or it isn't. All it is doing is passing it to a different port.

Also are you saying that DSL has a better likelihood of working properly?

In this situation, I don't see where that would help since the problem is with the wireless signal. Here is something that you could try in order to do a little trouble shooting. You said that you have roommates who also have wireless computers. Have you tried just setting up a local wireless network in the house not connected to the outside internet and seeing if the computers can talk to each other? If you attempt that and have the same type of problems, then the issue is definitely something to do with interference with the wireless network. Also, I believe that you can change which channel you are using on the router which may help if someone nearby is using the same one. Another option is to ask some of the neighbors if they are having similar problems with their networks.

JY

[TmEE]

Changing the WiFi signal channel in router configs may help in such situation, but I don't think it'll do anything since you say that signal is at max. ELabit gave some nice things you can try.