Wireless issues anyone?

[John]

Assuming your router has an integrated switch (most do), is it possible to connect any of your devices directly using a CAT5 cable?

It's important to ensure that you can identify whether it's a general network problem or just on wireless.

I'd move on to this next and see what you get. If the router is bombing out, this will exhibit wireless and wired.

If it is perfect wired, and because you are still getting issues close up, it is unlikely to be the environment (i.e. building materials used in your building).

I would then check what other channels are in use locally is useful here using that utility - you should have 13 to choose from - just to see if anyone is using the same channel locally and ensure you are using a channel no one else is.

There are so many permutations potentially, and not necessarily one thing at fault, that it will take a bit of work to identify the issue.

 

[evdok]

I am using WPA-PSK & WPA2-PSK, Wireless mode b/g, I've gone through the wireless channels, if i connect the laptop with cable its fine, i've put the laptop next to the router before wirelessly when it's playing up and it makes no difference! if i reboot the router all works well for a while, at the moment this is whats happening:

WORK

iPad
iMac
iPhone
itouch

WONT CONNECT

sony ericsson play
2 HTC mobiles
Epson printer

 

[John]

With a laptop being connected (and you have disabled WiFi) with wire, if you have no problems beyond the time when you normally would, you've potentially ruled out the broadband.

It is best to disable wireless and plug it in when you are experiencing problems with wireless to be sure.

I'm not totally sure whether you are saying the devices that wont connect never connect, or whether the devices that do connect always work fine, but if you are saying when you reboot the router, all the devices seem to work and then multiple devices suddenly seem to stop working, it would seem unlikely to be an issue with the devices but more a problem with the wireless part of the router.

If you then reboot the router again and they start working, this would clarify whether this is the case.

Depends how much patience you have but at this stage, you could take a punt on a new router (which supports 'N' while you are at it).

However, even though you have tried other channels, you cannot easily rule out another wireless router screwing yours over until you have proved that is not the case.

To do this, you ideally want to turn all the devices off except for the laptop, get hold of the utility in the earlier post which scans for which channels are in use (disconnect the connection from the router and have it standalone), and then use another device which goes wrong after a while.

Place them both in very close proximity to each other and the router, and then try running that utility.

Start using the device you chose and then when it goes wrong, have a look at the utility to see if there is another wireless network nearby using the same channel which you are currently using.

If there is nothing, it would seem fairly conclusive it is the router.

Obviously if there is another wireless connection using the same channel as you, it is probably knocking yours out (which is what happens).