Connection issues

flogen

I have a Netgear WGR614 router and am connecting my PC to it with a 3com usb dongle, but for the last day or so I've had loads of trouble with the connection.

It seems to be stable when I connect via ethernet, so the connection itself wouldn't be the issue, but even when I have the laptop next to the router it has trouble connecting, so it's not a range issue either.
It's wierd, up until now I've had no trouble at all with it, could it be the dongle (given that a connection is going through the router, and the wireless light is on even though the pc cannot connect)? Or could it still be the router that's causing the trouble?
I keep meaning to get a PCMCIA card for my laptop so I don't have the usb dongle sticking out, maybe it got damaged or something, although it seems OK.

Any thoughts or ideas on how I can test to see which is causing the issue?

Karoma

Can you just clarify one or two things:
- How many USB dongles do you have? (I think you're trying to say that you share the dongle between the PC and laptop..not clear..)
- What is the actual problem? (The PC is not connecting? ..but the laptop is..?)

flogen

sorry, I just have a laptop, by PC I meant my laptop, force of habit!
So I just have 1 usb dongle, and while the laptop is connecting it keeps dropping, sometimes it stays for ages, and sometimes it drops after only a few seconds connection.

Karoma

Thanks:)

Have you tried running netstumbler for a while to see if anyone nearby is using Wireless nearby?

does the connect drop when it's in use, or during a period of inactivity?
do you use static IP addressing or DHCP?

do you know someone that could provide you with a temp. loan of a PCMCIA or USB card?
(if not, PM me on Monday and I'll dig one up and post it..)

For now:
- disable power saving on the client and router (Set it to C.A.M. or similar)

It is a bit odd that it would just fail after it had been working..
- change the channel on the router (to rule out interference)

- if it's still not working
- do 3COM offer software that can test the dongle's functionality?
- reinstall the driver for the dongle
- remove the connection (Remove it from Preferred Networks) from your machine and set it up again..and if this still fails, reset the router as well.

flogen

thanks a lot for your help and kind offers, given that I'm new to wireless I didn't even know where to begin, but changing the channel seems to have done the trick so there must have been some kind of interference on the one I was using.

Would that always be a wireless network? I assume any kind of wireless signal (radio, even) could effect the connection.

irlrobins

cordless phones, microwaves are some things that can cause interference.

Karoma

other WiFi networks can disrupt the signal if they're close enough,
cordless phones to a lesser (Yet conceivable) extent.
I have never heard of a microwave disrupting a network connection. I couldn't imagine it doing so unless the microwave was right next to the computer... (IMO: it'd be worth it for the convenient popcorn!)

Aside: Has anyone ever experienced (and confirmed) a microwave interfering with their network?

irlrobins

not personally but its often cited as an interference source. But then again maybe thats only if ur router is inside with the pop corn.