Internet Connection Help

[Fresh Tendrils]

Recently I built a computer and everything runs smoothly. I can connect to the internet when I use an Ethernet cable, but where I put the computer its not really feasible to run a cable to it so I installed a wireless card in one of the PCI slots. I did the setup and that is working well - I am able to connect to my network. The problem I'm having is connecting to the internet. At most I can load one or two pages at full speed but then after that I get a connection timed out error message or the pages take forever to load. In my network and sharing center it shows me being connected to my network and to the internet.

I've tried doing ipconfig/release and /renew, but that hasn't done anything to help. I'm not really sure what else I can do. Any ideas?

[fishepa]

Re: Internet Connection Help

Change the channel on your wireless router?

[BrianFifaFan]

Re: Internet Connection Help

First, download InSSIDer and run it. It's gonna tell you both your signal strength and pick up all the surrounding networks. Then you can decide if it is interference from other peoples routers, in which case you'll have to change your routers broadcast channel. It could just be an issue of placement. It'll tell you how stong your signal is to the PCi adapter, as well. Should be close to -50db.

If you can, check into a Wireless-N router. I'm on my second (went dual-band) and I have no signal drops now. You can find a good Linksys or Netgear refurb on E-Bay for about 40 bucks. I'd also suggest the Wireless-N USB adapter vs. a PCi card. I have a whole 5.0ghz setup based off of Dual-Band wireless adapters now and have 100+mb throughout the whole house. Good luck!

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Internet Connection Help

I changed the channel and also ran InSSIDer. There are no other networks aside from mine and the signal strength is close to -50db.

Before I changed my channel, my computer wasn't showing up on my network on my routers ip page. Since I changed, it my computer is now shown on my network, however, there hasn't been any noticeable change to the internet connection.

Since I installed the wireless adapter, though, Vista has been downloading updates (slowly), but I'm going to turn off automatic updates and see if that affects my internet connection. If it doesn't, I will probably go into town tomorrow and pick up a USB adapter and see if that works for me.

[BrianFifaFan]

Re: Internet Connection Help

I changed the channel and also ran InSSIDer. There are no other networks aside from mine and the signal strength is close to -50db.

Before I changed my channel, my computer wasn't showing up on my network on my routers ip page. Since I changed, it my computer is now shown on my network, however, there hasn't been any noticeable change to the internet connection.

Since I installed the wireless adapter, though, Vista has been downloading updates (slowly), but I'm going to turn off automatic updates and see if that affects my internet connection. If it doesn't, I will probably go into town tomorrow and pick up a USB adapter and see if that works for me.

Did you try to download the latest drivers for your wireless card? Also, go into your router's page and check and see what freq your running on. If it has a 20/40hz mode, enable it. Let me know what your whole network setup is, including your Provider/and the modem they've given you. I'll brainstorm a little and see where we're losing this at. Brian

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Internet Connection Help

I downloaded updated drivers off of Linksys' website and put them on my computer via a thumb drive and updated my drivers through my Device Manager.

My router is running mixed signals (g & b) - if thats what you mean. I don't see any other place where it would let me select 20/40hz.

Here is my setup:

We have Verizon DSL. Our modem is also a wireless router provided by Verizon, so its just a generic, no-name router. I couldn't find a manufacturer's name on it. Anyway, the router/modem is connected to our family computer downstairs via an ethernet. All of our other devices are connected wirelessly - XBOX 360, two Wiis, my brother's laptop and my desktop. The PCi card I installed is a Linksys WMP600N, Wireless-N w/ Dual Band.

My desktop is located in my room, where I used my laptop to connect wirelessly and ran the internet smoothly and quickly with very little drops. The only difference is that my tower is located in my desk's cabinet, but I wouldn't think that would keep me from getting a consistent internet signal.

It some weird way it seems like the connection is getting better. I turned automatic updates off (they are continuous, its insane). The connection is more consistent as I was able to download iTunes last night and have been able some webpages today with a handful of server errors.

[BrianFifaFan]

Re: Internet Connection Help

I downloaded updated drivers off of Linksys' website and put them on my computer via a thumb drive and updated my drivers through my Device Manager.

My router is running mixed signals (g & b) - if thats what you mean. I don't see any other place where it would let me select 20/40hz.

Here is my setup:

We have Verizon DSL. Our modem is also a wireless router provided by Verizon, so its just a generic, no-name router. I couldn't find a manufacturer's name on it. Anyway, the router/modem is connected to our family computer downstairs via an ethernet. All of our other devices are connected wirelessly - XBOX 360, two Wiis, my brother's laptop and my desktop. The PCi card I installed is a Linksys WMP600N, Wireless-N w/ Dual Band.

My desktop is located in my room, where I used my laptop to connect wirelessly and ran the internet smoothly and quickly with very little drops. The only difference is that my tower is located in my desk's cabinet, but I wouldn't think that would keep me from getting a consistent internet signal.

It some weird way it seems like the connection is getting better. I turned automatic updates off (they are continuous, its insane). The connection is more consistent as I was able to download iTunes last night and have been able some webpages today with a handful of server errors.

You need to get a separate router to act as a repeater/bridge. Most of the DSL combo modem/routes are kinda weak on the range side. Plus it does sound as if the network is pretty bogged down. If you guys could get a Verizon modem (without router) hooked to a good wireless-N router, you'd probably have a more stable setup. But for now, a good cheap Linksys wrt54GS flashed with dd-wrt will probably help cover the gaps in your network.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Internet Connection Help

I'm assuming I can still use my current modem? I don't want to buy another modem plus another router just so one computer can get onto a wireless network that is working perfectly for all the other devices.

[BrianFifaFan]

Re: Internet Connection Help

I'm assuming I can still use my current modem? I don't want to buy another modem plus another router just so one computer can get onto a wireless network that is working perfectly for all the other devices.

Yeah, you just set the second router as a bridge. It's slaved to the first and acts as a range extender.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Internet Connection Help

Tonight I went a bought a USB adapter and that is working a lot better (so far) than the PCi card (the USB adapter picked up on two additional networks that my PCi card did not).

We actually have a Linksys wireless N router that we weren't using since we replaced our old modem with a modem/router unit. Tomorrow I will set that up and see if that helps increase the signal/speed at all.

[BrianFifaFan]

Re: Internet Connection Help

Tonight I went a bought a USB adapter and that is working a lot better (so far) than the PCi card (the USB adapter picked up on two additional networks that my PCi card did not).

We actually have a Linksys wireless N router that we weren't using since we replaced our old modem with a modem/router unit. Tomorrow I will set that up and see if that helps increase the signal/speed at all.

Cool. I've been fighting with my Dad's network. Same thing, pretty much as yours. Went over there last night and spent 2 hours to end up with the same cruddy signal with my old Belkin wireless-N as with his DSL router/modem. I told him he really needs to get the system that uses your home wiring to carry signal. But he decided to try something else. And now is like, "I'm gonna have to get that other thing." Grrrr.....

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Internet Connection Help

The USB adapter has been perfect so far. I didn't get time today to mess around with the routers, maybe this weekend if I feel like it.

[fishepa]

Re: Internet Connection Help

You have a Linksys wireless N router you're not even using? I would disable the wireless on the built in Verizon modem/router and use the Linksys as the router/wireless.