DIYbanter - Wireless Cuts Out

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Wireless Cuts Out - Interference ?

Every once in a while it disconnects. When I go to "Connect to" it can't find any networks. This last time I unplugged the MODEM or whatever you call it to see if it was putting out some interference and Windows could still not find any networks. Later it found some neighbors' wireless and displayed it though I can't connect because I don't have the password/key. Plug this one back in and after it reboots it connects again and all is well.

I have already changed the wireless board in this PC, a Gateway laptop. I had 4 of them so I got parts. One got broke, one got stole and one got whatever. With a different wireless board it still happens. My sister lives upstairs and her wireless reception is unreliable so she usually plugs in the RJ45 connector. I can't use any information from her because my connection down here is usually solid.

the way I see it, there is probably a strong source of interference. It seems the only logical explanation. My OS is tweaked well and normally it runs fine but this happens practically at random, but I think I can say it is during the day, not night.

Time before last I ran real quick down in the basement where the connection is wired and it was fine. If the MODEM had shut down or something it would not be, and that does not explain why this SECOND wireless board can't pick up anything when that happens.

I doubt it is Windows going onto some mode or updating because this is not 10, it is Vista. I don't feel like being an unwitting beta tester and all updates are turned off. It doesn't even look for them. So it ain't that.

So, while I can find out what frequencies these things run on easily, what I CAN'T find out is whatever else might run on the same frequencies. Intermittently.

I remember a wireless security camera years ago. It was a good deal except for one thing - whenever it was on you couldn't talk on any cordless phone in the house. I think this is something like that, some sort of thing people use that uses the same band as wireless internet.

What ?

Wireless Cuts Out - Interference ?

On Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 6:26:42 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Every once in a while it disconnects. When I go to "Connect to" it can't find any
networks.

That reminds me. I heard a couple of people talking about about making a paper cube and covering it with aluminum foil and putting it near the router. I never tried it, though.

Wireless Cuts Out - Interference ?

"It would be helpful to know the maker and model number of the wireless router or "gateway". Some of them are notorious for being unable to maintain and reliable connection. "

Pace 4111n

"Oh-oh, that's bad. Kinda sounds like your unspecified model Gateway
laptop has a problem either in the hardware, wireless drivers, or in
the operating system. I can't tell from here. "

P-6318u

"Not finding any networks is not caused by interference."

Well I changed the wifi board and it did no good. Data from upstairs is probably no good because of the layout. Where she sits the antenna plates (if they're behind the screen like these) would be just about parallel to the signal from the router. I doubt they pick up well like that. She gave up and ran a 100 foot CAT-5 up there a long time ago, and that's with a completely different router. That was a 2wire 2701hg. Though not for her, that one seemed to connect for me just fine. It was replaced due to losing the DSL itself. It is on a completely separate phone line shared only with one FAX machine and filters are properly installed all over the place. We called, they sent the Pace and didn't even want the 2wire back.

"How much later? Did you reboot before it found the neighbors? "

The outages are about 5 - 10 minutes usually. When it starts picking up again that happens all by itself, I don't even have to close and reopen the browser(s).

The only time I reboot the browser is when FF can't connect and Chrome will.. That is due to security issues with the older version (23) I use and prefer. That is likely a security issue, I have tried to tell it to use a higher TLS mode but got tired of trying to figure it out. At one time Chrome had no bookmarks, it was all "Paste and go"ed. At any rate, that is a separate issue and only happens on certain sites. Then the router throws up the wrong error, about filters. Well nothing changed. I almost never reboot. But bottom line is it fixes itself with no intervention at all. That's why I thought it a hardware problem, something thermally intermittent. But 2 with thew same problem ? And drivers don't go thermally intermittent. In fact I have found once they're toast that's it and they need to be reloaded. But it wasn't the wireless board either so I don't know what to do except maybe go back to a CAT cable.

"Do you have another wireless client device other than the Gateway
laptop? "

Not that I can get to at the right time usually. Plus that one does not connect reliably to this wireless. I have a Gateway WGU-210 but IO never got that to work right. I also have a Linksys PCMCIA card but I have no slot for it. There is an older laptop in the basement but I just put the wrong version of Ubuntu on it - too new. It seems to see the Linksys but is so slow everything times out. Maybe I'll put XP back on it, that's what it originally came with. I think it amazing that anything would run XP better than Linux ever, but it seems so.

I guess I'll have to give that old laptop another shot. Load it and see if I can get that wireless working just so I know.

I know it is inconceivable that all these wirelesses in the hood go dead at the same time. But what in software could go wrong and fix itself in a few minutes without even reopening the browser ? All I have to do it hit refresh and there it is.

"Customer arriving with checkbook in hand. Later..."

Money ? And here I thought you were living on pine cones like Yule Gibbons.

Wireless Cuts Out - Interference ?

On Friday, June 15, 2018 at 3:55:08 AM UTC-5, wrote:
On Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 6:26:42 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Every once in a while it disconnects. When I go to "Connect to" it can't find any
networks.

That reminds me. I heard a couple of people talking about about making a paper cube and covering it with aluminum foil and putting it near the router. I never tried it, though.

Hmmm, maybe some sort of reflector would help the reception upstairs...

Wireless Cuts Out - Interference ?

"I suspect that it might not be very sensitive and is having
trouble hearing anything. Maybe the U.FL antenna connectors fell off
the wireless card?"

When it works I get 5 bars out of 5 on the signal level. It calls it "Excellent". Also, I had this thing out on the highway one time and it picked up all kinds of signals.

Just so happens the thing is right in front of me and has the covers off. The little black and white wires are connected.

"Vista is a PITA mostly..."

Stop right there. I know. Stupid thing can't even view a GIF. It opens IE to do it ! And I tried, the picture and FAX viewer cannot handle GIFs. It does in XP, and you can zoom them and really see them. But Vista is so much better it can't do that.

I almost upgraded this to XP when I first got it, had the drivers and everything downloaded but never got around to it. If I could find a really good comprehensive security package for XP I would run it until I drop dead.

And when I installed a second HD in it the DVD disappeared. That might be the mobo though. I guess I could boot off a live stick of Linux and see what it picks up.

Wireless Cuts Out - Interference ?

On Friday, June 15, 2018 at 11:11:14 AM UTC-4, wrote:
On Friday, June 15, 2018 at 3:55:08 AM UTC-5, wrote:
On Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 6:26:42 PM UTC-4, wrote:
Every once in a while it disconnects. When I go to "Connect to" it can't find any
networks.

That reminds me. I heard a couple of people talking about about making a paper cube and covering it with aluminum foil and putting it near the router. I never tried it, though.

Hmmm, maybe some sort of reflector would help the reception upstairs...

Or, I've also heard that putting an empty paper-towel or toilet-tissue roll covered inside and out with aluminum foil there can help, too.

Wireless Cuts Out - Interference ?