For you networking guru's

OneFastEclipse · nLightened

I have a 4 pc network setup in my home. Two of them are wired, 2 of them are wireless, one being my laptop. I am using a Netgear WPN824 wirless router and all wireless devices are using wirless G. I've had everything up and running for several months now with no issues until recently. For some reason, the network connectivity on the wireless computers will die suddenly for no apparent reason. You'll just be surfing the web one minute, and then the next it says your not connected to a network. If I search for a wireless network in range it picks up nothing. I go down stairs to the computers that are wired in and everything is fine, network up and running. The only way I can pull connectivity back to the 2 wireless PC's is to go unplug the cable modem and router and then plug them back in. Connectivity comes back immediately then. This now happens like 4-5 times a day and is getting very annoying. Any of you had similar issues or have any clue as to what my problem maybe? Thanks!

Doc Oc · **Doctopus** Moderator

If it's a problem that builds up over time, that might be some sort of software memory leak, or perhaps a temperature issue, or maybe the router is just broken.

I've had similar problems on my parents' Linksys ADSL modem/gateway. Connections would work just fine, but it'd just stop handling DNS requests, making the connection effectively useless. Ended up RMA'ing the product, which in turn ended up taking so much time that the dial-in costs for the in-between period would have bought them a new router anyway.

daglesj · nForced²

Up until very recently I had been using a Linksys AG241 ADSL Modem router with a WAP54g access point.

For the past 18 months this combo had worked flawlessly. I was really really pleased with it. The a couple of months ago the Gf started saying that she was getting 'network disconnected' messages about 6 times a day (she works from home). I was always skeptical because it always worked fine on my PC which was also hardwired to the router.

Anyway I swapped cables and ports but she still got the messages. Then hey presto I started getting them too. Though the wireless always seemed to be working fine still. As it was happening to me I really had to do something.

Switched out the two linksys boxes for the BT wireless Router I got for £10 and its all worked perfectly since. Annoying as I have a stack of Linksys gear and not sure if the router is frazzled or not. (I've also just got through the post a new BT Home Hub router which is designed to work with their TV on demand service thats coming along later in the year but thats another story).

Networks?.....b*ll*cks more like! Confused

It seems you are not the only one that gets these odd happenings. My theory is that these routers get really warm and over long periods they wear out due to this.

wardog · **Exited the premises.** Ultra nForced

You don't live in close proximity to others that may have a wireless setup do you?

OneFastEclipse · nLightened

I live in a Duplex but as far as I know, I'm the only one with wireless. Unless they aren't broadcasting their SSID. One other thing I noticed is the connection don't die until you try to load specific web sites. I can be playing games online for hours on end just fine. Then my wife will visit one web page on the laptop (specifically certain myspace pages) and it kills the connection just about everytime you try to load it. I know it's certain web pages cause I'll reset the router and try to load the same web page again and sure enough, the connection will die. We'll move on to other pages and the router is just fine. Really weird situation. I don't understand. Thanks for your help.

wardog · **Exited the premises.** Ultra nForced

OneFastEclipse · nLightened

How is that a security risk? I understand that it makes it easier to locate the network but I have it set in the router to only allow the 4 Mac address's of each of my PC's in the network on top of needing the 128bit encryption key. Yeah there are ways around these, but the avg joe (my neighbors) wouldn't know where to begin. Guess it wouldn't hurt to shut that off but I never seen it as a big issue.

daglesj · nForced²

Hiding your SSID is a waste of time.

If there are any wardrivers out there, then the software they use will find the SSID straight away even if you hide it. Netstumbler is a perfect example.

Hiding your SSID hasnt been worth the bother for some years now. In fact I think its a benefit to broadcst it so at least folks know whats out there if they are having problems.

Just make sure you use a decent WPA key, thats all you can do really.

MiniMax · **Jabba the Hutt** Ultra nForced

OneFastEclipse · nLightened

I'm in Ohio of the USA. Fall has just begun so we have a re heat on low. We have electric baseboard heating. You think that could be causing interference?