[JohnWill]

Try changing channels to something in between, like 3, 4, or 8,9. You will not be totally clear of the other channels, but their signal strength will be way down and you should have better luck.

FYI, here's the channel overlap, notice that the signal strength of channels 1, 6, and 11 are way down for the channels I suggest.

[Jason08]

It appears now that success with this (if I can get it) is much harder than I had thought a couple weeks ago. On the other wireless computer that is often connected to my network, I have noticed that according to the router, the speed is often lower than my computer, probably because there are more networks in range on it. Also, that laptop has a built-in Intel wireless card, which may be better than this USB one, perhaps being of better quality and not getting disconnected frequently like this computer.

On this USB computer, disconnections have occurred on these channels, maybe even one more: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11. I have also tried moving the router physically, and that improves the signal on this computer to often over 80%. However, the router can't be moved much more due to the fact that there are 2 LAN computers. As I mentioned above, on the other wireless computer, there are even more networks in range, and I believe thus even more interference, although the built-in adapter somehow still manages to stay connected. So there are frequently 2-3 more networks in range than this USB computer picks up, and the additional ones are running on channel 6 and 1, but with signal strengths of less than 30%. Also, the NN network that I mentioned before frequently changes between 11 and 1. What's frustating about this, I've noticed before when I've tried channel 3, I've seen it on 1, and when I've had my network at 9, I've seen it at 11.

At least 2 out of the past 4 nights around 10 PM my connection drops, and I've had different channels selected at least twice.
Right now I have my network on channel 4, and I'll see what happens.
Also, I tried earlier this week setting the router to auto, and it put the network at 6, but didn't change channels when I got disconnected. Perhaps of note, when it was on auto when enabled WPA a couple weeks ago, it put the network at 1, and at that time, that's what both computers couldn't see the network at. However, they can if I manually change the channel to 1, but I have gotten disconnected at that too.

[JohnWill]

Well, I'd consider boosting the signal at this point.


This Hawking [HSB2] Hi-Gain WiFi Signal Booster coupled with one of these Hawking [HAI7SIP] Hi-Gain 7dBi Omni-Directional Antenna would probably make a significant difference.

[Jason08]

Ok. I'm not sure if it's worth it for that, as that costs more than the whole router itself.

I found the problem why neither computer could see WPA at first. The 802.11 mode set at mixed between all 3. If it's set like that, neither computer can see the network, regardless of the channel width. But if I just set it mixed b and g or G only, then they can.
Can something like a chair mostly made out of wood block the signal? Going upstairs to this computer, there really isn't anything in the way besides that, a desk by the router, and a large sheet of drywall.

[JohnWill]

It seems odd you're having that many issues, it's hard to say what the issue is without actually seeing it first-hand.

[Jason08]

It was all fine before enabling WPA. But the problem is, I don't remember the exact settings I had with no security. I'm assuming the channel was 1 or 6, but both of those and more have been giving me problems. I would think the mode had been mixed between all 3, since I didn't have reason to change it before. Also, a short while ago when I had tried mixed between all 3 modes and failed, I had the channel at 9, whereas when the problem happened weeks ago it was on 1. Do you think real pictures of my setup would help?

[JohnWill]

I think a .45 and several full magazines would be my solution!

[Jason08]

What's a .45? The Wifi Booster?

[JohnWill]

Different kind of .45.

[Jason08]

Ok, I see what you mean.

[Jason08]

Last Wednesday I reset the router to factory default settings (automatically in the router), with no encryption enabled in the router, a mixed 802.11 mode between all 3 modes, and channel 1 (all default settings.) Since then, I haven't gotten disconnected at all. Within the last hour today, a quick power flicker for a couple seconds changed the channel in the router to 6. Since Wednesday, I do believe I have been getting interference, (errors in the router were a few hundred since, and in the last hour 1 error), but I have managed to stay connected. I thought these 2 conclusions up last week and I think they are true.

1. G only mode was causing the problem.
2. Mixed between the 3 modes doesn't work properly with WPA/TKIP (because the computer couldn't see the network, although I could manually enter in the SSID and other settings.) Also, because the network wouldn't show up in Windows networks, it didn't either in Xirrus.

I've thought about trying G and N mixed to see what happens there. Also, with no encryption and the 802.11 mode mixed between all 3 now, Xirrus says the mode is 802.11 N, which is half true.

[JohnWill]

If the router automatically resets itself to a different channel, that would concern me. OTOH, if you are trying to use 40mhz bandwidth 802.11n, it doesn't work on channel 1, which might explain why it refuses to hold that one.

[Jason08]

It's on 20 with channel 6, although I'm thinking when it was on channel 1 with N mode it was on 20MHZ also. Since I think I'm still getting interference, I'll change the channel to 9, which when I had WPA/G only enabled, seemed more reliable than the other channels I tried.

I think the reason why it changed channels was because Auto was on, and the power flicker in my house may have acted like a router reboot to the router. When it started back up a couple seconds later, channel 6 probably happened to be the best out of 1, 6 and 11.

[JohnWill]

Yep, I hate auto for that very reason. I pick the way my wireless connects, because I'm better at it than the router manufacturers.