# Wireless signal from router is all messed up **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 6, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561 "2006-10-06T22:22:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/1 "2006-10-06T22:22:53Z")
The wireless signal from my router seems to lose internet access. By that I mean that the computers that are connected with an ethernet cable keep their internet access fine, but my computer, connected wirelessly, losses internet access, _but not network access._ My system says I am connected to the network just fine, and I can check that by accessing the router itself, which I can do. The internet loss occurs a lot. I lose access for minutes at a time, only to have it for maybe a minute, then lose it for ten seconds, have it for an hour, lose it for ten minutes, etc…very random, and very annoying. I don’t have any other computers that have wireless cards to test to see if it’s my computer or the router that’s messing up. It’s not my firewall either (Sygate personal firewall,) because I turn it off completly and still have no connection. I’m running XP Pro w/ SP2, the router is a netgear WGT624 V3. I have updated the firmeware on it, have rebooted both it and our DSL modem, and this problem still occurs (though rebotting it does seem to get my connection back until the next time it decides to go away.) Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/2 "2006-10-06T22:53:55Z")
I was having intermittent problems with my router (a Buffalo brand) for the longest time after inital installation. Finally, I turned on WEP encryption and it all just went magically away. My theory: I was conflicting with other signals in my dense area. Turning on encryption uniquely identified my packets from others allowing my router to ignore surrounding traffic. Beats me, really, though. YMMV, etc. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/3 "2006-10-06T23:26:53Z")
I have WPA (TKIP) turned on, and mine is 99% of the time the only wireless signal my card sees. Every now and then, a very low signal from a linksys router is seen (I know it’s a linksys router because whoever is using it never changed the default SSID, which is linksys.) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/4 "2006-10-07T03:10:51Z")
I’m assuming you’ve made sure that it’s not about how far you are from the router? I get the “connected” icon sometimes when I’m dropped, but moving closer to the device sometimes helps. I also get more dropout (with icon screw-ups) if two wireless laptops are using the same router simultaneously. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/5 "2006-10-07T03:19:50Z")
I’ve had exactly the same issue at my girlfriend’s apartment. I know it is not my laptop because my laptop works without issue with the wireless at my apartment. I have also tried two seperate routers and encryption. I am guessing there is some sort of interference but I am not sure how to fix it. In the end I just gave up and bought a longer cable :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/6 "2006-10-07T07:19:29Z")
[QUOTE=Shoshana] I’m assuming you’ve made sure that it’s not about how far you are from the router? I get the “connected” icon sometimes when I’m dropped, but moving closer to the device sometimes helps. I also get more dropout (with icon screw-ups) if two wireless laptops are using the same router simultaneously. [/QUOTE] I’m the only computer using the wireless, and I am about 25 feet away. I don’t use a cable cause 1) I don’t want to have to buy one if in theory I should be able to use wireless, and 2) I don’t want cables drapped and run along the floor of my house, since it’s in a rom across the hall. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2006, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/7 "2006-10-07T08:37:37Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Any thoughts? [/QUOTE] What type of wireless nic are you using on the machine having problems? ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/8 "2006-10-08T00:02:15Z")
Try changing the channel the router is using. Routers default to 6 and most folks are too dumb to change it. Pick almost any other channel and try your luck. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/9 "2006-10-08T00:46:45Z")
[Newer model cordless phones & other stuff operating witlessly in the gigahertz range is known to cause all sorts of havoc with wireless routers](http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wifihomenetworking/qt/wifichannel.htm). Do you use cordless phones or other wireless devices in your house? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/10 "2006-10-08T04:38:18Z")
[QUOTE=astro] [Newer model cordless phones & other stuff operating witlessly in the gigahertz range is known to cause all sorts of havoc with wireless routers](http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wifihomenetworking/qt/wifichannel.htm). Do you use cordless phones or other wireless devices in your house? [/QUOTE] Yes. FTR, the router is on channel 11, and we have a Vonage cordless handset, but it says it’s in the 5.8 GHz range, so shouldn’t it not be an issue for my 2.4 GHz wireless signal? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/11 "2006-10-09T03:52:09Z")
A 5.8GHz phone will not interfere with your network(unless you’re running an 802.11a network, which runs on the 5.8GHz band). Microwaves use 2.4GHz waves to cook food. If a microwave is running, especially an older one that leaks more radiation, that could cause the interference that you’re seeing. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/12 "2006-10-09T04:05:25Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Yes. FTR, the router is on channel 11, and we have a Vonage cordless handset, but it says it’s in the 5.8 GHz range, so shouldn’t it not be an issue for my 2.4 GHz wireless signal? [/QUOTE] What kind of wireless connections do you have on the PC’s? Make sure on the device settings the computer does not have the “computer may shut this device down to save power”. Might want to consider flipping power saver features completely off and disable suspend/sleep modes if enabled. If your NIC’s are the little USB types there are all manner of issues from not enough power to USB ports on some laptops, issues with overheating, loose connectors, getting bumped or jarred out of place depending on where and how you computer is arranged at your desk. Card based Wireless NIC’s are far more reliable IME. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/13 "2006-10-09T04:12:13Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] Yes. FTR, the router is on channel 11, and we have a Vonage cordless handset, but it says it’s in the 5.8 GHz range, so shouldn’t it not be an issue for my 2.4 GHz wireless signal? [/QUOTE] If you are in an apartment building a neighbors phones could interfere as well. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/14 "2006-10-09T04:14:47Z")
[QUOTE=drachillix] Card based Wireless NIC’s are far more reliable IME. [/QUOTE] It’s a PCI card in the dekstop, so no power saving mode crap. No nearby microwave, and the one in the kitchen isn’t used much. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-signal-from-router-is-all-messed-up/375561/15 "2006-10-09T04:36:37Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] It’s a PCI card in the dekstop, so no power saving mode crap.. [/QUOTE] Did you check it, the settings are still there even on a desktop, just a matter of checking a box or two.