"A network cable is unplugged" - no it's not!

Do you have a wireless phone in the vicinity of your wireless network?

If you do change the channels of one of them!

One other suggestion, try a different PCI slot for the NIC

Klavs,

Have you tried this:

http://www.wispertel.com/reset.html

or this:

http://www.wispertel.com/causes.html

or review this:

http://www.wispertel.com/xp_settings.html

Dennis

Thanks to everyone for their comments. Unfortunately, I've tried all of them with no luck (sorry, should have included that in my original post - but I've trying to figure this one for so long out that I'm beginning to lose track).

As suggested, I've disabled the "allow computer to turn off this device", moved the NIC to a different PCI slot, reset my subscriber unit (several times), and tried to both specify my DNS as well as obtained it dynamically.

Any other suggestions? Earlier today, I bought an USB ethernet adapter - I'll give that a try and post the result.

thanks,
Klavs

Aside from settings, the only other option is that the modem/router or the NIC is bad.

Looks like bad router/modem/switch.  Actually saw this the other day.  Was on a customers site and all there modems and nics got hit.  We replaced all of them and still had no conductivity.  We replaced there hub and it all worked good.

Well, wouldn't you know it. The USB ethernet adapter I got today (D-link) works like a charm. Must be something wrong with those NICs and/or three PCI slots after all. Just can't believe how the built-in 3COM NIC, one Microsoft PCI NIC, one D-link PCI NIC - and/or three PCI slots can all be dead?

stevecuccia - you mention that you were at a customers site and all their HW was dead. I assume you're doing this professionally in some way? Anyway, do you think it's possible that I've gotten some kind of mini EMP or lightning down through my wireless antenna that fried the equipment in my computer but not the subscriber unit?

thanks,
Klavs

Microwave is pretty safe that way Klav, but a ground fault at the PC itself, or a sudden loss of power or brown-out and then power surge would definitely do this. That's why I mentioned either a bad NIC or Modem earlier. Unfortunately it's more common than you might think.

Have you tried connecting your PC directly (without using the router ) ?

You say the desktop works with usb, but not a card.  The laptop works too?  

Check your power or plug your pc into a UPS or another circuit.  You might have a floating ground (disconnected ground wire).  This can introduce voltage on the ground wire.  If this is the case, get your electrical system checked as this condition is dangerous.

Thanks again for the additional comments and suggestions.

I need to go through the wireless/microwave subscriber unit before going into my PC, it's not a router and it also has the power supply for the roof antenna (which goes through a couple of the wires in the Cat5 - or is it Cat7 - cable to the antenna).

Making sure I don't have a floating ground is a very good idea. I'll see if I can pick up a cheap UPS somewhere, instead of just the surge protectors I have it hooked up to now - and also get the electrical system verified. Will let you know how that goes.

thanks,
Klavs

We just had someone bring in an FM114P, wireless router/firewall, and it was completely fried.  So yea wireless routers can be hit in lightning storms.  Sorry for the delay.  I did not work yesterday.

Yeah I guess Steve, as most are plugged into a power source!

More trouble. I thought using the USB ethernet adapter was the answer to my prayers, and while it works most of the time, every 10-15 minutes my connection with the outside world dies. When that happens, the link light on the USB adapter is still on, and the activity light blinks occasionally.
Sometimes I can get it back to life after 15 minutes or so of messing around with it, enabling/disabling the connection, renewing my dynicamically assigned IP address, and trying to ping various servers. However, most of the time I need to reboot in order to get it working again.

Oh yeah, and regarding some of the things brought up earlier - my local electrician says the ground is solid, and I also got a UPS that everything is now hooked up to.

Any suggestions for further diagnosis and troubleshooting? As you can imagine, it's driving me nuts!

thanks,
Klavs

I agree about the XP reinstall being one of the last things to try, but I've been reluctant to do that since it was a completely fresh install that I started having these problems on (thus I'm sceptical as to whether it wouldn't just start all over again until I find the root cause).

Anyway, what do you mean about testing the system on a dialup? Do you mean just verifying that I can get internet connectivity through any kind of dial-up? I know that works, that's what I've been doing when the high-speed has been down. That still brings me back to it being related to ethernet hardware and/or TCP/IP settings.

thanks,
Klavs

Klavs,

While I have had some premium NIC's give me problems, for the large part they don't. Likewise, if the CAT cable is known good, that eliminates that. That leaves you with Whispertel's device, presuming that you have taken any switches, hubs and routers out of the mix and plug the one machine directly into the Whispertel device. If doing this, the connection still fails, you've pretty much ruled out the hardware in between, as well as the NIC and cable. On an aside, what cable does Whispertel recommend between your machine (or a router) and their device, regular CAT cable or a cross-over cable?

In essence, you've pretty well narrowed the issue down to (1) your machine; (2) Whispertel's device; or (3) Whispertel's service in your area. Microwave and 802.XX has certainly not yet attained trouble free status.