Wireless connection unstable
I have an XP laptop (ThnkVantage) that has been connecting just fine to a wireless router until last week.
Other wireless connections seem to be working fine as is the dedicated (hardwired) connection.
Now my connection seems to shut off somewhat randomly every few minutes. I finally found that I just have to "Power On Wireless Radio" and then it's okay for a few more minutes.
The only thing that happened recently is that I installed Skype, but not sure if that's related.
Oh, and signal strength is "Good" (40%-60% range)
Any ideas how to force this wireless radio to stay on and not lose the connection every few minutes?
Other wireless connections seem to be working fine as is the dedicated (hardwired) connection.
Now my connection seems to shut off somewhat randomly every few minutes. I finally found that I just have to "Power On Wireless Radio" and then it's okay for a few more minutes.
The only thing that happened recently is that I installed Skype, but not sure if that's related.
Oh, and signal strength is "Good" (40%-60% range)
Any ideas how to force this wireless radio to stay on and not lose the connection every few minutes?
ASKER
Good questions Darr.
The phone's not usually on, but I'll see if I have the same problem when I move to a new location.
No microwave on at the time.
Latest firmware? Good idea! I'll check.
Other networks? I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. I see other ones in the neighborhood but they are all weak signals. Could that interfere? Otherwise I don't think it's anything in the house.
The phone's not usually on, but I'll see if I have the same problem when I move to a new location.
No microwave on at the time.
Latest firmware? Good idea! I'll check.
Other networks? I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. I see other ones in the neighborhood but they are all weak signals. Could that interfere? Otherwise I don't think it's anything in the house.
> Could that interfere?
If they're on the same or overlapping channels.
inSSIDer is a free program you can install on a machiine that has a wireless card and it will show you graphically what channels are being used nearby and if they overlap. Even though 11b/g/n wireless devices all advertise 11 channels in the FCC enforcement zone, there's really room for only 3 non-overlapping 20-22MHz-wide channels in that bandspace. See attached.
Typically, using only channel[s] 1, 6 and/or 11 is recommended. But often there will be someone not aware of the overlap that will use one of the other channels (or their router is set to 'auto-select' and it chooses a channel that overlaps with 1 and 6 or 6 and 11... and there it will stay until the next time it's power-cycled). :-|
2.4GHz-frequency-map.jpg
ASKER
OK, downloaded the tool and see three on channel 1, six on channel 6, 2 on channel 11, and one each on channels 3 and 4 (plus one on channel 6+10, whatever that means.)
I'm not quite sure how I can use this to fix the problem...
Do I have to change the router to, for example, use channel 11?
Will that mess up the other peripherals connected to the router (i.e. do they need to be re-configured manually?)
I'm not quite sure how I can use this to fix the problem...
Do I have to change the router to, for example, use channel 11?
Will that mess up the other peripherals connected to the router (i.e. do they need to be re-configured manually?)
ASKER
So it's not the distance since I'm right next to the router and still the same problem.
Maybe it's some other settings?
Is there a way to force it to connect to a specific IP? Would that even make a difference?
Maybe it's some other settings?
Is there a way to force it to connect to a specific IP? Would that even make a difference?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Although this may not be the answer, I really want to get this wrapped up rather than wait until I get a new router so I'll assume that this is the problem and go from there.
Thanks!
--
Rob
Thanks!
--
Rob
ASKER
FYI Switching channels to 1 or 11 didn't help.
Maybe a new router would help, or maybe the wireless card in the laptop has gone defective.
Maybe a new router would help, or maybe the wireless card in the laptop has gone defective.
ASKER
I think I found the answer.
About a month ago, I took the laptop to a new location and defined a new wireless access point.
Apparently, even though this was defined as an alternate location (which to me means only look there if you're not connected) it seems that the Thinkpad decided it should disconnect every few minutes and check this alternate location. I disabled it and it now seems stable without powering off the wireless radio.
I still learned some great stuff about wireless so this was still a worthwhile questions.
FYI for others looking for an answer, I had to Launch the ThinkVantage Access Connections from the sytem tray, then go to the tools tab and pick the Location Switching button then uncheck the option for "Enable automatic location switching"
(I suppose I'll need to remember this is I go back to that location so I can re-enable, but I'm not sure.)
FYI
There's also a global setting for "Allow the wireless LAN radio to be turned off when inactive" and I'm not sure if that can remain checked, so that could be another option. But so far all looks good. Thanks again!
About a month ago, I took the laptop to a new location and defined a new wireless access point.
Apparently, even though this was defined as an alternate location (which to me means only look there if you're not connected) it seems that the Thinkpad decided it should disconnect every few minutes and check this alternate location. I disabled it and it now seems stable without powering off the wireless radio.
I still learned some great stuff about wireless so this was still a worthwhile questions.
FYI for others looking for an answer, I had to Launch the ThinkVantage Access Connections from the sytem tray, then go to the tools tab and pick the Location Switching button then uncheck the option for "Enable automatic location switching"
(I suppose I'll need to remember this is I go back to that location so I can re-enable, but I'm not sure.)
FYI
There's also a global setting for "Allow the wireless LAN radio to be turned off when inactive" and I'm not sure if that can remain checked, so that could be another option. But so far all looks good. Thanks again!
Got a 2.4GHz cordless phone?
Is your microwave oven running when it happens?
Is your wireless router running the latest firmware for it?