[tanstaafl42]

Hello, I recently got a work laptop and am trying to get everything set up so that I am able to work from home occasionally.

We have a wireless network set up, and we are able to connect to the network with no problems on one laptop, however the laptop that I just got is not able to maintain the connection. It initially connects to the network, then after anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes the connection changes to "Limited or No Connectivity". But it says I am still connected to the network, and that the signal strength is excellent, but I am unable to connect to my work VPN when it does this. Sometimes the connection comes back on its own, or I can reconnect by manually disconnecting and reconnecting to the network, but the connection never lasts for more than 10 minutes.

Lanhelp at work refuses to help, saying that they don't troubleshoot for home wireless networks. Our ISP is also no help, they say that since the other laptop has no problem connecting that the problem isn't on their end either. What can I try to do to fix this?

Here is what ipconfig/all shows when the connection is working:

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix : hsd1.pa.comcast.net.
Description : Intel<R> WiFi Link 5300 AGN
Physical Address : 00-21-6A-63-68-E8
DHCP Enabled : Yes
Autoconfiguration enabled : Yes
IP Address : 192.168.1.104
Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers : 192.168.1.1
Lease Obtained : Monday November 02, 2009 6:09:49 PM
Lease Expires : Tuesday, November 03, 2009 6:09:49 PM

Sorry I don't have the result when it goes out, I thought I took a screenshot, but I must not have saved it. I know that the IP address changes to show 169.254.X.X.

What other information can I provide to help diagnose the problem?

[etaf]

169.254.X.X. that means the PC cannot see a DHCP service

Does the PC work ok on wireless anywhere else ?

You may not be able to do this, as its a work computer, but 1) update the wireless driver 2) change channels on the router, use 1, or 6,or 11

[TerryNet]

What OS?

[tanstaafl42]

Tonight I plan on trying to change the channel on the router. I also saw suggestions when I was searching to update the router firmware to the latest version available and to set a static IP address. I will see if there are any updates to the firmware, but I can't set the static IP on the laptop. I think I read that I can set it from the router, so I will try that option as well.

The operating system on my work laptop is Windows XP. I do not have permissions to make many changes to the settings on the laptop, but if there are suggestions of things to check or try to change, I will make a list and submit it to the helpdesk at work after I have exhausted the possible fixes to the router and network.

Anything else I should try?

[TerryNet]

One of the things that causes your symptoms with Windows XP is having multiple wireless utilities (e.g., both XP's Wireless Zero Configuration and Intel's Proset) running. Make sure you have only one running.

Setting a static IP will do no good. Make sure you have the latest router firmware, the latest wireless driver from the laptop manufacturer's web site, and have only one wireless utility running.

[etaf]

Does the PC work ok on wireless anywhere else ?

for more than 10mins
can you answer ?

[tanstaafl42]

Sorry, I missed that question. I haven't had a chance to test the connection anywhere else, I will this weekend. Last night I changed the channel on the router, once I did that the connection didn't drop at all, though I did shut down only 20 minutes later. I'll be working from home on Friday, so I'll really be able to test it out then, but for now I will put this as solved.

Thanks for the help, I've never had to deal with networking issues before.