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valenciana · Dooney & Bourke

home wireless network issues

Deuce · Dooney & Bourke

Try doing this: open the available wireless networks, click on properties, go to the wireless network tab, choose all of the ones that are not your home network (individually) click the properties button in this screen, them click on the tab for connection, thin uncheck the box that says to auto connect to this network when it is available. This should work, I don't know if that is exactly your problem because I have several that are still checked and mine works fine, but I imagine this would help.

Let me know if it doesn't. Good Luck

kiwi · BCBG

computers are ridiculously fickle, so sometimes, doing something like unplugging the router and/or cable modem, reinstalling the drivers and whatnot can help. it's definitely been a problem solver in quite a few of my network dilemmas.

(it might just be our temperamental router/modem, though... good luck!)

Cecilia · Nine West

If the two other answers didn't fix it for you, I'd suggest upgrading the drivers for your wireless card. Check the manufacturer's (first check the card's manufacturer, and if that's no good, then the computer's manufacturer) website to see if there are any updates.

Also check to see if you can connect to the cable using an ethernet cable and pluggin in directly to the router (or directly to the modem). If you can connect using wires, then you know the problem is not in the cable/modem/router.

If you want to get more advanced, I'd suggest changing the SSID of your router to something familiar (valenciana's network) and even setting up WEP. Or at least dedicating your MAC IDs. This is MUCH easier than it sounds. The benefit is that other people in your building would not be able to connect to your router without your permission. I'd be happy to help you if you need it.

-- Edited by Cecilia at 18:25, 2005-10-03

bex · Chanel

sometimes mine does that (and we live in an apartment building with other wifi networks)

what i do, is turn off my computer, unplug my router and unplug my cable modem. wait a few minutes. plug back in the cable modem... wait a few minutes until it boots up. plug back in the router... walk back to my computer and turn on- voila! my wireless is working perfectly.

my company IT guy (i work out of my house) told me to do this b/c sometimes the computer becomes confused and it just needs to be readjusted. i only have to do this about once a month or so...

hth!

Cecilia · Nine West

Hi Bex,

>what i do, is turn off my computer, unplug my router and unplug my cable modem...snip

>my company IT guy (i work out of my house) told me to do this b/c sometimes the computer >becomes confused and it just needs to be readjusted. i only have to do this about once a >month or so...

Yes, this is true, a hard reset will often help when you suddenly lose your wired connection (and can't re-connect), but if you have to do this as often as once a month, or even every 3 months, you've probably got bad hardware. I'd call the cable/dsl company and ask for a new modem. It sounds like your modem is having trouble making connection with the company's server. Whether or not you "bought" it from them, they should replace it for free as faulty hardware, especially if they want to keep you as a paying customer.

If you want to check it before taking up the issue with them, the next time you can't connect, shut down and plug your laptop directly into the router (no wireless). If you can't connect through wired ethernet when you reboot, then try plugging directly into the modem (remember to reboot in between). If you can get through when directly plugged into the modem, then it's your router. If you can't do either, it's the modem.

If a new modem doesn't help, then I'd do the router, but in my experience it's more often a modem issue.

-- Edited by Cecilia at 18:29, 2005-10-03

valenciana · Chanel

Cecilia wrote:

Hi Bex, >what i do, is turn off my computer, unplug my router and unplug my cable modem...snip >my company IT guy (i work out of my house) told me to do this b/c sometimes the computer >becomes confused and it just needs to be readjusted. i only have to do this about once a >month or so...Yes, this is true, a hard reset will often help when you suddenly lose your wired connection (and can't re-connect), but if you have to do this as often as once a month, or even every 3 months, you've probably got bad hardware. I'd call the cable/dsl company and ask for a new modem. It sounds like your modem is having trouble making connection with the company's server. Whether or not you "bought" it from them, they should replace it for free as faulty hardware, especially if they want to keep you as a paying customer. If you want to check it before taking up the issue with them, the next time you can't connect, shut down and plug your laptop directly into the router (no wireless). If you can't connect through wired ethernet when you reboot, then try plugging directly into the modem (remember to reboot in between). If you can get through when directly plugged into the modem, then it's your router. If you can't do either, it's the modem. If a new modem doesn't help, then I'd do the router, but in my experience it's more often a modem issue.-- Edited by Cecilia at 18:29, 2005-10-03

interesting Cecilia... i'll bring this up with my IT guy and see what he has to say. he believed my issue to be b/c i am constantly traveling and when i come back sometimes i need to do the song and dance i described above to get my computer to access our company's server... i actually haven't had an issue in about 2 months though... but i'll keep your advice in mind if and when i do!

sorry valenciana to hijack your thread...

Cecilia · Nine West

<<he believed my issue to be b/c i am constantly traveling and when i come back sometimes i need to do the song and dance i described above to get my computer to access our company's server... >>

Hi Bex,

This is a different issue altogether. What he's probably talking about is your computer's DHCP server is getting confused when you hook up to different systems. This is definitely a possibility, although I still maintain that it has nothing to do with your router or your cable/DSL modem (unless you're taking them on the road with you?).

It's kind of hard to troubleshoot these things without knowing exactly what equipment you're using and what the setup is. If the issue is that your wireless doesn't work on your home network when you get home from travelling, then I'd consider upgrading your wireless card (or at least upgrading the drivers, if possible).

The idea here is that your cable/DSL modem makes contact with your ISP's server, in whatever way it does that (static or dynamic), but generally, that should not have to be reset, unless there is a disruption in communication between modem and server (the ISP server goes down, power outage, or malfunctioning modem). Your modem then translates that connection so that you can connect to your ISP from your computer (so you are connecting computer-->router-->modem-->ISP). This can also be done statically or dynamically, and as long as there's nothing wrong with the router, it too should not have to be reset. If you're travelling, you may have to reboot your computer. (Note: The ISP controls all (or most) of these settings.)

When you're talking about connecting to a company server on top of that, you're confusing the issue by several more levels: what kind of system are you logging into (RCN, VNC, etc) and what kind of security they use to authenticate you on that system (usually some sort of certificate), what kind of server you're logging into (including questions about whether you're logging into the server directly or through a proxy). This list can go on and on, even past my knowledge

So, as this post is now getting less and less useful, good luck with your connection issues, although based on what you've told me, I still do believe you should not have to cold boot (unplug and replug) your cable/dsl modem or your router every month.

Cecilia