Author Topic: Intermittent WiFi connection  (Read 6149 times)

Intermittent WiFi connection
on: March 20, 2006, 10:16:08 AM
Hi guys.

I am currently having some connectivity issues with my Home wirless setup. It only seems to be whilst I am using my Work laptop and not other wireless devices, i.e my brothers and GFs laptops.

I have a Netgear WAG511 PCMCIA card in the HP compaq nx9005 laptop. And the wireless router is a Netgear WGT624. I have now configured it to MAC acess and taken off the WPA-PSK authentication, as this seemed to cause even more breaks in the connection!

Any thoughts/ideas would be greatly appreciated?!

Cheers
Andy

Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #1 on: March 20, 2006, 13:32:04 PM
A knackered WiFi card in the laptop! Try a different WiFi card if you can get your hands on one

Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #2 on: March 20, 2006, 15:07:06 PM
That card has a very common chipset and should have very few problems. "Should" is the operative word here. Try pulling it and cleaning the connections with a pencil eraser, and reinstalling. If that doesnt work, Id try a new/different card.

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #3 on: March 20, 2006, 16:23:43 PM
Get netstumbler on your computer and give a good scan around your area with a different wireless card.

I had the same issue turned out my neighbour had set a wireless G network up on the same channel as mine. I set mine 3 channels away from him (meh.. little illegal in the uk, but pfft...) and voila.. perfect connection.

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #4 on: March 20, 2006, 16:25:49 PM
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Get netstumbler on your computer and give a good scan around your area with a different wireless card.

I had the same issue turned out my neighbour had set a wireless G network up on the same channel as mine. I set mine 3 channels away from him (meh.. little illegal in the uk, but pfft...) and voila.. perfect connection.


Whats illegal about that???

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #5 on: March 20, 2006, 17:12:24 PM
Hey andy!

Theres your problem right there.  Its netgear.

I have terrible problems trying to get the PCMCIA card working properly on my mums laptop, she can be sat next to the AP and still get a crap signal.  On my Acer I get full signal all over the house and out at the car.

The USB sticks seem a bit better, but I find Linksys and D-Link give a better range.

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #6 on: March 20, 2006, 17:13:39 PM
Also, if theres a space inside for a mini PCI card (with an aerial lead) I have a spare card you can have.  The card slot should be just underneith a screw door on the bottom.

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #7 on: March 20, 2006, 19:13:43 PM
Reckon Ill have a go at changing the channel before buying a new card. Thanks for the suggestions people. Kepp em coming :-)

Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #8 on: March 20, 2006, 19:18:24 PM
The chipset on that card is an Atheros, which is in a lot of the cards out there including the one in my desktop.

I would steer clear of buying anything Netgear in the future as it took me four letters to get my rebate check from them, then I got a check that the bank refused to honor. Their routers are absolute crap though. The wireless cards are simply silkscreened "Netgear" and as good as anything else.

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #9 on: March 20, 2006, 19:18:47 PM
To me it sounds like a signal problem,

Do you use the same device for them all?
If not try changing them over. You may find the cards transmitt/recieve is crap

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #10 on: March 20, 2006, 20:25:58 PM
Quote from: brummie
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Get netstumbler on your computer and give a good scan around your area with a different wireless card.

I had the same issue turned out my neighbour had set a wireless G network up on the same channel as mine. I set mine 3 channels away from him (meh.. little illegal in the uk, but pfft...) and voila.. perfect connection.


Whats illegal about that???


im using channel 11 I think which is outside of the 2.47ghz unregulated band for general use and slightly into the military and emergency service band I believe. You can only use certain channels in certain countries. In fact some wireless equipment ask you to specify your country of operation and will disable the channels that are illegal in your country.

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #11 on: March 20, 2006, 20:27:29 PM
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Quote from: brummie
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad
Get netstumbler on your computer and give a good scan around your area with a different wireless card.

I had the same issue turned out my neighbour had set a wireless G network up on the same channel as mine. I set mine 3 channels away from him (meh.. little illegal in the uk, but pfft...) and voila.. perfect connection.


Whats illegal about that???


im using channel 11 I think which is outside of the 2.47ghz unregulated band for general use and slightly into the military and emergency service band I believe. You can only use certain channels in certain countries. In fact some wireless equipment ask you to specify your country of operation and will disable the channels that are illegal in your country.


Chanel 14 is illegal but UK is ETSI so upto channel 13 is ok

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #12 on: March 20, 2006, 20:30:35 PM
Quote from: M3ta7h3ad


im using channel 11 I think which is outside of the 2.47ghz unregulated band for general use and slightly into the military and emergency service band I believe. You can only use certain channels in certain countries. In fact some wireless equipment ask you to specify your country of operation and will disable the channels that are illegal in your country.



Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #13 on: March 20, 2006, 22:13:01 PM
My bro uses his Sony Vaio and my GF uses a Dell laptop. They bth have onboard Wrieless cards and have no problems.

Ive just checked The Netgear wireless utility on my work HP laptop and the transmit/recieve performance meter reads around 1% !!!

....Arrrrrgh   :(

Might pay you a visit Soopah to check this mini PCI theory of yours out!  :D

Real pain with this is that its not even my laptop!!!!!! :thumbdown:

Re:Intermittent WiFi connection
Reply #14 on: March 21, 2006, 20:15:40 PM
They dont have to know ;)
Has working at lynx taught you nothing??

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