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Wireless connection constantly dropped

Author
10 Nov 2006 5:06 AM
Daniel.Peaper@gmail.com
Hi,

I have a Belkin wireless router with VOIP at home but it keeps dropping
the wireless connection. I have tried every channel available and I
have tried with/without security and 802.11b/g. The only thing that
keeps the connection up is constantly streaming something over it. I
have created a login script that sends a continual ping to the router
which, although not very elegant, seems to work. When it does fail I
have to restart the PC (Not the router). Any ideas why?

Regards,
Danny...

Author
10 Nov 2006 10:00 AM
FrankChin
I had a similar problem with connection dropping and was advised that if its
PPPoE, I should go into the router and click on the "keep alive" option, or
make the period longer.

For me, turned out to be a totally different problem. It was stupid of me
that I didn't notice, but the cable company guy when they put in VIOP and a
new modem, plugged the modem into a power strip that I switch off after I
walk away (monitor, speakers hooked to it) and after the backup battery is
exhausted, the connection drops.

Some time back, when a had a similar problem with a Linksys router, tech
support had me reset, then reconfigure the router, and that took care of the
problem.

As to rebooting the PC, there might be a problem with the IP address
requiring a IPCONFIG/renew. since the IP address would have changed if it's
DHCP and the connections is renew after inactivity. Try IPCONFIG/renew in
place or rebooting.

Show quote
"Daniel.Pea***@gmail.com" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have a Belkin wireless router with VOIP at home but it keeps dropping
> the wireless connection. I have tried every channel available and I
> have tried with/without security and 802.11b/g. The only thing that
> keeps the connection up is constantly streaming something over it. I
> have created a login script that sends a continual ping to the router
> which, although not very elegant, seems to work. When it does fail I
> have to restart the PC (Not the router). Any ideas why?
>
> Regards,
> Danny...
>
>
Author
12 Nov 2006 12:21 PM
Douglas
HI,

I have the same problem with a belkin router, drops even when I'm streaming
in the radio. Any other ideas out there?

Show quote
"FrankChin" wrote:

> I had a similar problem with connection dropping and was advised that if its
> PPPoE, I should go into the router and click on the "keep alive" option, or
> make the period longer.
>
> For me, turned out to be a totally different problem. It was stupid of me
> that I didn't notice, but the cable company guy when they put in VIOP and a
> new modem, plugged the modem into a power strip that I switch off after I
> walk away (monitor, speakers hooked to it) and after the backup battery is
> exhausted, the connection drops.
>
> Some time back, when a had a similar problem with a Linksys router, tech
> support had me reset, then reconfigure the router, and that took care of the
> problem.
>
> As to rebooting the PC, there might be a problem with the IP address
> requiring a IPCONFIG/renew. since the IP address would have changed if it's
> DHCP and the connections is renew after inactivity. Try IPCONFIG/renew in
> place or rebooting.
>
> "Daniel.Pea***@gmail.com" wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >
> > I have a Belkin wireless router with VOIP at home but it keeps dropping
> > the wireless connection. I have tried every channel available and I
> > have tried with/without security and 802.11b/g. The only thing that
> > keeps the connection up is constantly streaming something over it. I
> > have created a login script that sends a continual ping to the router
> > which, although not very elegant, seems to work. When it does fail I
> > have to restart the PC (Not the router). Any ideas why?
> >
> > Regards,
> > Danny...
> >
> >
Author
12 Nov 2006 6:03 PM
w_tom
What is your signal strength in dBs?  For example, Dell provides a
Truemobile Card Utility so that dB signal strength can be seen for each
wireless port AND a display of the signal to noise ratios.

  Was just at another house where the wireless signal went from -40 dB
to a woefully insufficient --70 something dB in only feet. This was
where a cinder block wall was located.  With such information, you
problems are easily identified first so that you can solve them second.
Currently, it sounds like you are sufficient interference from other
devices (microwave oven, portable phones, etc).  But no one can say
with certainty without numbers.

  You might learn how some routers select different antennas to
eliminate your problem.  What does your instruction manual report?

Daniel.Pea***@gmail.com wrote:
Show quote
> I have a Belkin wireless router with VOIP at home but it keeps dropping
> the wireless connection. I have tried every channel available and I
> have tried with/without security and 802.11b/g. The only thing that
> keeps the connection up is constantly streaming something over it. I
> have created a login script that sends a continual ping to the router
> which, although not very elegant, seems to work. When it does fail I
> have to restart the PC (Not the router). Any ideas why?
Author
12 Nov 2006 6:44 PM
Douglas
Don't know how to display the db. I have a Dell but truemobile doesn't show
up on help. I'm having the same problem on the hard wired pc. Changed the
router yesterday - no improvement. Anything I should consider with regard to
the settings on my pc?

Show quote
"w_tom" wrote:

>   What is your signal strength in dBs?  For example, Dell provides a
> Truemobile Card Utility so that dB signal strength can be seen for each
> wireless port AND a display of the signal to noise ratios.
>
>   Was just at another house where the wireless signal went from -40 dB
> to a woefully insufficient --70 something dB in only feet. This was
> where a cinder block wall was located.  With such information, you
> problems are easily identified first so that you can solve them second.
>  Currently, it sounds like you are sufficient interference from other
> devices (microwave oven, portable phones, etc).  But no one can say
> with certainty without numbers.
>
>   You might learn how some routers select different antennas to
> eliminate your problem.  What does your instruction manual report?
>
> Daniel.Pea***@gmail.com wrote:
> > I have a Belkin wireless router with VOIP at home but it keeps dropping
> > the wireless connection. I have tried every channel available and I
> > have tried with/without security and 802.11b/g. The only thing that
> > keeps the connection up is constantly streaming something over it. I
> > have created a login script that sends a continual ping to the router
> > which, although not very elegant, seems to work. When it does fail I
> > have to restart the PC (Not the router). Any ideas why?
>
>
Author
12 Nov 2006 7:26 PM
FrankChin
You said "I'm having the same problem on the hard wired pc"

I would contact the ISP if this were so. But before that, try direct connect
with a modem, without the router, and see if you have the same problem, for
maybe a day. My ISP said "we guarantee service to the location, to the modem,
but not thru a router". Believe it or not, I once called on dropped signals,
and it turned out to be in the ISP's line.

When I had the drop signal issue, I also got hold of a local consultant that
came on site to troubleshoot for $125.00. I had trouble setting up the
modem/router combo. I called the guy and first asked if he had MANY service
calls on such an issue, and he gets a number of them a week.

Back when I was using AOL, turns out there are only certain routers that
would work with the service, and the Belkin I had wasn't on their list. Got a
Linksys instead.. I asked the consultant if some worked better than others.
He asked me which one I use, told him, and he said "my router is OK".

It was only after he left that I discovered the modem was connected to a
power strip that we turn off. He found that I wasn't recycling the modem
properly because it had a backup battery, and it "had to be removed" first.

Before the service call, I posted here and to the Linksys site, and no one
mentioned anything about power strips and backup batteries.


Show quote
"Douglas" wrote:

> Don't know how to display the db. I have a Dell but truemobile doesn't show
> up on help. I'm having the same problem on the hard wired pc. Changed the
> router yesterday - no improvement. Anything I should consider with regard to
> the settings on my pc?
>
> "w_tom" wrote:
>
> >   What is your signal strength in dBs?  For example, Dell provides a
> > Truemobile Card Utility so that dB signal strength can be seen for each
> > wireless port AND a display of the signal to noise ratios.
> >
> >   Was just at another house where the wireless signal went from -40 dB
> > to a woefully insufficient --70 something dB in only feet. This was
> > where a cinder block wall was located.  With such information, you
> > problems are easily identified first so that you can solve them second.
> >  Currently, it sounds like you are sufficient interference from other
> > devices (microwave oven, portable phones, etc).  But no one can say
> > with certainty without numbers.
> >
> >   You might learn how some routers select different antennas to
> > eliminate your problem.  What does your instruction manual report?
> >
> > Daniel.Pea***@gmail.com wrote:
> > > I have a Belkin wireless router with VOIP at home but it keeps dropping
> > > the wireless connection. I have tried every channel available and I
> > > have tried with/without security and 802.11b/g. The only thing that
> > > keeps the connection up is constantly streaming something over it. I
> > > have created a login script that sends a continual ping to the router
> > > which, although not very elegant, seems to work. When it does fail I
> > > have to restart the PC (Not the router). Any ideas why?
> >
> >
Author
12 Nov 2006 9:40 PM
w_tom
Douglas wrote:
> Don't know how to display the db. I have a Dell but truemobile doesn't show
> up on help. I'm having the same problem on the hard wired pc. Changed the
> router yesterday - no improvement. Anything I should consider with regard to
> the settings on my pc?

  Inthe task bar (right side) are five bars.  Right click on them to
get the WLAN Card Utility.
Author
19 Nov 2006 8:41 AM
Douglas
Hi,
Being really slow, still can't find how to see my db level. The pc I am on
is directly connected to the router. Before going wireless we had the same
ISP and we didn't have a problem.
I now have the internat radio running and that seeme to help keep the
connection however the radio will carry on running but the connection
willdrop every now and then, or, more commonly, a new explorer window won't
connect when opened..

Internet light on router normally flickers rather than constantly on.

Any more ideas?

Show quote
"w_tom" wrote:

> Douglas wrote:
> > Don't know how to display the db. I have a Dell but truemobile doesn't show
> > up on help. I'm having the same problem on the hard wired pc. Changed the
> > router yesterday - no improvement. Anything I should consider with regard to
> > the settings on my pc?
>
>   Inthe task bar (right side) are five bars.  Right click on them to
> get the WLAN Card Utility.
>
>
Author
19 Nov 2006 12:46 PM
FrankChin
Doug:

I'm a bit slow sometimes too. They put new parking meters in my
neighborhood, and I can't see where they dispense the "ticket issued" after I
put the money in. Got to come out somewhare, right?? A passerby told me, and
a day later saw someone with the same problem.

Everything wireless these days, like my cell phone has "db bars" showing
signal strength. It's like cars got to have a speedometer, and if you tell me
that you couldn't find it, there's something wrong. Actually, I was drivng a
rented car one day, nightfall came, and I couldn't figure out how to turn on
the headlights. Don't cars have headlight switches?? LOL.

For wireless adaptors, either the wireless utility runs it, or the WZC, the
windows utility runs it. Usually, an icon shows up in the task bar. Both
gives you the signal strength, either "in words" or by picture, the db bars.
In words, it'll say

Excellent
Very Good
Good
Fair
Poor

In pictures, there's bars that's vertical one next to another.

As to an occcasional "hiccup", I get them too, maybe once every few days.
For the wireless card installed into the desktop via card, I got an extension
antennae off of ebay with a long wire that I can posiition it to get the best
reception, rather than the one fixed to the back of the PC. For the USB
adaptor, I got a Linkysys USB that has a long wire, and I get the signal back
sometimes just moving the adaptor. I considered getting longer antennae for
the router, if signal strength is the issue. It's not.

And if you're veerrry sllllooowww, bring the laptop over to a local PC guy
and maybe have him show you where the bars are. I spent a few days trying to
get a router going at my office, so for $125.00, a local guy came by, and
told me I didn't recycle the new modem correctly. I normally yank the wire
out on the old one. But this one had a backup battery which I didn't yank
out.

If you need connections with no hiccups at at, run a wire, which is what I'm
considering.





Show quote
"Douglas" wrote:

> Hi,
> Being really slow, still can't find how to see my db level. The pc I am on
> is directly connected to the router. Before going wireless we had the same
> ISP and we didn't have a problem.
> I now have the internat radio running and that seeme to help keep the
> connection however the radio will carry on running but the connection
> willdrop every now and then, or, more commonly, a new explorer window won't
> connect when opened..
>
> Internet light on router normally flickers rather than constantly on.
>
> Any more ideas?
>
> "w_tom" wrote:
>
> > Douglas wrote:
> > > Don't know how to display the db. I have a Dell but truemobile doesn't show
> > > up on help. I'm having the same problem on the hard wired pc. Changed the
> > > router yesterday - no improvement. Anything I should consider with regard to
> > > the settings on my pc?
> >
> >   Inthe task bar (right side) are five bars.  Right click on them to
> > get the WLAN Card Utility.
> >
> >
Author
19 Nov 2006 4:31 PM
w_tom
If your wireless is enabled, then no TrueMobile WLAN Card utility is
enabled.  Therefore no five bars are adjacent to the clock (in Taskbar
in bottom right corner) to right click a mouse on.  It's that simple.
What is every icon adjacent to the clock?  Without even that list, then
no one can provide assistance.  Again it is that simple.  Your replies
can only be as complete as information provided.

  In the left corner - Start > Connect to  -
Is Wireless is even enabled?  If not, then no wireless TrueMobile WLan
Card Utility is available in right corner to right click on.

  Five bars is nice for the casual user how only cares about what he
has.  Five bars are not very useful - too crude - to determine wireless
signal problems and to incorporate changes.    Troubleshooters need
better resolution provided in dBs.  If your wireless is enabled, then
the right side of Taskbar has five colored bars. Right click on them.
Without listing every icon in that task bar, then no useful reply is
possible.  If Card Utility does not work, then write reams of details
on everything on the screen and what happened when you did what.

  Flicking internet lights tell us what?  Little or nothing.  You have
a Dell.  Load and use that Card utility to know what you have and to
learn corrections (repairs) from dB changes.

Douglas wrote:
Show quote
> Being really slow, still can't find how to see my db level. The pc I am on
> is directly connected to the router. Before going wireless we had the same
> ISP and we didn't have a problem.
> I now have the internat radio running and that seeme to help keep the
> connection however the radio will carry on running but the connection
> willdrop every now and then, or, more commonly, a new explorer window won't
> connect when opened..
>
> Internet light on router normally flickers rather than constantly on.
>
> Any more ideas?

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