Wireless keeps disconnecting

[exbass94]

I have a desktop pc that connects wirelessly to my router across the hall. If I'm lucky I can go maybe a half hour without it disconnecting. Usually it's every 5 minutes or less. I keep having to right-click on the wireless icon in the bottom right corner of the screen on the taskbar, and click "Repair." It disconnects the wireless adaptor, says a bunch of jibberish, and reconnects it. And then it says, "If the problem persists, contact the person who manages your network." Well, that person is me, and I don't know why the f***it's doing this!

 

[MountainMike]

I have had that issues before and the solution was rediculously simple in my case. Move the router as far away from the modem, computer and any speakers as you can.Try to put it up on a shelf or something by itself. This limits direct interference with the router. Give it a shot, it could help.

 

[mjonesjr]

Try updating your wireless card drivers

 

[Mark_88]

The driver might help...but moving the router closer or making sure there are no obstructions between your computer and the router are more likely the cause...

It could also be that you have a timeout setting that needs to be changed...such as "disconnect after 30 minutes" if inactive...well, you may think your connection is active if you are typing a reply, but the computer sees no traffic on the connection and auto disconnects...

The other thing can be the direction of the antannae...if they are not optimized then your signal strength may be just below optimum...I'm not sure but IIRC your signal should be above 80% all the time...if it dips below that it may loose connectivity...

 

[brandonwh64]

maybe the router and the wireless card are on diffrent channels. ive had many wireless cards that wouldnt find or would drop connection with my router so my router was set of channel 6 and i set the wireless cards to that and had no problems

 

[Jay FX4]

What kind of signal strength do you have when it is connected?

 

[Ivy Mike]

What router are you using?

Reason I ask is that if its a Netgear, you could be having power problems. Some of the Netgear AC adapters are a bit dodgy and don't supply enough power to keep things stable.

 

[exbass94]

What kind of signal strength do you have when it is connected?

It fluctuates wildy. It goes anywhere between "very high" and "very low"

What router are you using?

Reason I ask is that if its a Netgear, you could be having power problems. Some of the Netgear AC adapters are a bit dodgy and don't supply enough power to keep things stable.

Netgear router and Netgear PCI card.

 

[Nhaz]

Try putting the PC on the DMZ side of the router. Ive solved a couple router problems with disconnection issues like that. Make sure you run a firewall if you are going to stay on the DMZ side of the router.

 

[exbass94]

Try updating your wireless card drivers

How do I do that?

maybe the router and the wireless card are on diffrent channels. ive had many wireless cards that wouldnt find or would drop connection with my router so my router was set of channel 6 and i set the wireless cards to that and had no problems

How do I check which channels they're on?

Try putting the PC on the DMZ side of the router. Ive solved a couple router problems with disconnection issues like that. Make sure you run a firewall if you are going to stay on the DMZ side of the router.

You're speaking Japanese to me...

 

[Doom's Day Custom]

If you don't know what you are doing and you think they are speaking Japanese then i would say take it to someone that does know because you might cause more damage than good !!!!!

 

[Jay FX4]

Jiggle the cable.

 

[Nhaz]

Ok The DMZ on a router stands for DeMilitarized Zone. In effect putting the Computer On the DMZ means telling the router to put a Specific IP On the outside of its internal firewall. The specific IP being the IP that the router is assigning to your PC.

If thats not simple enough => Its like hanging your Butt out the window while you are driving through dense bush =>

Putting a computer on the DMZ allows other people anywhere on the planet that has access to the internet to spam, attempt to hack, install virus's DOSattack, or turn your computer into a zombie. Even if you don't understand any of those terms. what it means is IF you put the PC on the DMZ run a updated firewall to help prevent all that crap.

Most routers have the option for the DMZ turned off by default. Once its turned on its going to want to know which IP address to put there. Generally you can only put 1 address on the DMZ.

The IP Its talking about is the IP that the router itself assigned to various PC's that the router is supplying internet connections. In alot of cases its just going to be a 1, 2 or 3 digit number on the end of the IP string.

by using the windows command START->RUN you will get a command box. type in this box "CMD"

this will open a DOS window (not to be confused with a DOS attack(stands for Denial Of Service attack!) Very different things!)

In the DOS window type in "IPCONFIG"

This will list THAT PC's current IP address

Theoretical situation:

Say you have 3 PC's hooked up to the router. the router Most likely is going to assign IP's like this

192.168.1.1
192.168.1.2
192.168.1.3

or

192.168.100.001
192.168.100.002
192.168.100.003

You have discovered that your PC in assigned the 192.168.1.2 IP
the routers DMZ box is going want the last number in that string.

Looking something like 192.168.1. BLANK you add the 2 to the box and update the router.

Ok Theoretical situation at a end.!

My final advise is if that above to hard to understand don't do it. Also. This may Not Be a Fix. As I said in my first post this has only worked a few times for me where I discovered that a few routers like to refresh their ips internally every now and then which leads to disconnects. Not all routers are created equal or even have the same problems =>

 

[Mark_88]

Huh? I've never heard of a dmz on a router...but, then again...I don't know everything...

The problem doesn't seem to be IP addresses...unless there is a conflict with the DHCP and a static IP address on another device...but we haven't established that he is using other devices or if DHCP is even enabled...yet...

I think we need more information...such as...what has been tried...did you try moving the pc closer to the router or vise versa?

When you type "IPconfig /all" at the command prompt, what IP addresses are listed in the window?

You can also try IPCONFIG /release, then IPconfig /renew and then IPCONFIG /all to see if the ip address is the same...

OH, and if your router is configureable (as in you can assign the ip address...

But, to be honest, your ISP may be having issues so you're loosing your connecfion on their end...so you might want to start by calling the service provider and have them step you through some tests on the connection...or just ask them if they are experiencing diffi culty with the server at certain times...

 

[Nhaz]

Yah Mark, the DMZ on most routers is buried in the advanced options. you turn it on and then it will generally pop up in the assign ip menu or the forward port menu.

And your right. I could simply be his ISP. I know mine likes to drop out for hours at a time. And theres really crap all I can do about it. Complaining to them rarely works and only frustrates me.

Of course I am on a rural wireless ISP. Its actually been pretty reliable considering just how away I am from the city. I had worse service when wired highspeed came out in Ottawa about 12 years ago.