Losing Wireless on Home Network

[myrc60]

I have three computers networked on a Netgear WGT624 108mbps router. I run WPA security on this router.

Computer #1 is hard wired and I don't think it has any problems.

Computer #2 is running wireless on a 108mbps netgear card and WinXP SP2. I think this computer loses wireless but I'm not entirely sure.

Computer #3 is running wireless on a 54mpbs netgear card and Win2000. This computer consistently drops the wireless connection; I can hear the audible it makes when it gains connectivity and it happens a lot.

Charter's website prompted me to check DHCP and it is on as required. I'm not sure what else I should be looking for.

Thanks for your help.

 

[JohnWill]

Well, I'd be looking for wireless interference at the top of the list. Change the channel on the router, I like channels 1, 6, or 11 and non-interfering channels in the US. If that doesn't do it, I'd download and install the latest firmware for the router, then reset it to factory defaults and reconfigure.

 

[myrc60]

Thanks, JohnWill!

Interference from what? Wireless keyboard/mouse? All landline phones are wired but I do have at least 1 cell phone in the vicinity of these computers.

I've read somewhere that I have to be on channel 6 because I'm running 108mbps so I don't think changing the channel is an option.

 

[TerryNet]

Try the router on standard 54Mbps and see if the Netgear card does any better.

Wireless interference is often from another network on the same or close channel.

 

[JohnWill]

I've read somewhere that I have to be on channel 6 because I'm running 108mbps so I don't think changing the channel is an option.

If it doesn't work at all, that's a lot slower than 108mbit, right? Try the channel change and see how it goes, you can always go back.

 

[myrc60]

Okay, well I updated all my drivers both for the router and the cards. I switched to 54mbps and swapped out one of the cards because I thought maybe it was the card. Its better, but still drops from time to time. I will play with it some more this weekend. I use most settings at the default level so if you know Charter requires a different setting somewhere, please let me know.

 

[JohnWill]

I don't know that Charter requires anything special.