wireless router question...

Is the main PC wired or wireless?

You may have a good signal but you may also not have some other settings correct.
Are you using windows XP?

if so hit start/run/ that will open up a command prompt. In the command prompt type ipconfig/all this should show your IP info. If you want, copy and paste that into a post so I can read what you have. I will be able to tell whether or not you are getting a proper address or not.

 

Ok, that is helpful and shows your PC config is good.

Just a hint, rather than get an extender, I would go with a Linksys because they seem to get a lot better range in my experience but I haven't used many D-Link.

I will also have a professional grade 3Com AP up on eBay soon.
We used those at the Indiana State Fair for an outdoor wireless system.

with external antennas we were able to get a connection from a pole (direct line of sight) at 8 blocks away

 

Oh, one thing to try is to see if you can adjust your power.
Most commercial APs have adjustablle power but a lot of consumer ones don't.

It is worth a try though. If it does, make sure it is turned all the way up which should be 100mw or 20dBm

 

we have this problem periodically.

couple of suggestions:

1. reboot the main router. Sometimes the wireless is working but the main router has kicked out.

2. Right click on the little wireless icon that shows you've got the excellent connection that is somehow not connecting and click on view wireless networks. At times, mine will show that windows isn't making the connection.
In the left-hand menu, click on change advanced settings.
Click on the tab for wireless connections and make sure that the box by Use Windows to configure . . .
Then you choose your router and click connect.

My husband was having the same problem with his laptop. Sometimes mine does it -- especially around a reboot, but sometimes it just happens.

 

I have a usrobitics router/dialup with wired/wireless system. The wired end works well, but the wireless is iffy at best.

It shows a good signal and will cause the server to connect and disconnect, but the email/browser don't find anything.

I found that allowing windows to run things on the laptop rather than the robotics utility helped a lot, but still have lots of problems.

I've noticed when my wife kicks her computer on the wireless usually gives trouble and rebooting the server is the only fix.

I spent a couple hours with tech support and they were near worthless till I got the last guy that got it "kinda working" and they don't have toll free numbers :-(

 

Every time I talk to one of these tech support people, I find they are all near worthless. They know NO more than we do and have less incentive!

 

I'd get an extender - just my 2 cents worth.

 

we sometimes have a problem with connecting wirelessly with the pc in the basement. it's easier for us to just attach to someone elses network in the neighborhood. it's funny, a lot of times the laptop will automatically attach to a neighbor's network, even though it configured to automatically attach to ours.

 

It is really bad if you go back to Best Buy if you bought the gear there.
lol

I work for a company that, among other things installs wireless networks.
We have done two large school systems in the last several months.
That is a bit of a chore. A little more than the little Linksys router you use at home.

 

I thought I would explain a few terms for everyone so that they might understand more when they have problems with these.

First, when we install commercial systems. we do NOT use "wireless routers"
We install Wireless Access Points, Routers and Switches.
This is like a HiFi component system you would have at your house.

The AP (access point) in the radio itself that connects to the devices (phones or PC or other wireless devices)

The Router is where you get your IP address from.
IN a home system, it gets one IP address from your internet service provider, then it give out address to wired and wireless client devices that are connected to it.
Usually 192.168.x.x

A switch is what you plug your wired connections into. It is very similar to a hub but with better performance.

The D-Link or whatever brand you have is one unit that combines all three of these.

Knowing the various components can really help you in troubleshooting.

 

Oh, what kind of wireless device do you have? Is it built in or on a PC Card? Or is it USB?
ALso the brand might be helpful.

 

Webdog, on your problem, I am going to defer to Dale-c at this time and jump in when I can help. But I would like to address Richard N Koustas's quote

Not being difficult here at all Richard, but using your neighbor's network is a no no. They should have their router system encryption protected and are open to the world for abuse of their connection and their bandwidth violated. If you can track it back to them at all, I would contact them and let them know their connection is unsecure. Just trying to help here and not being insensitive.

Good Luck,

 

I'd like to know a little more about your configuration.

For example, I'm assuming you have cable internet, connected to a cable modem, which is connected to the wireless router.

How is the main PC (you said it was wired, not wireless) connected to the wireless router? (I'm assuming, since most wireless routers have LAN jacks, that you've connected a LAN cable from the main PC to the wireless router)

How is the cell phone reception in your house? Do you get great cell phone signal, but lousy wireless internet signal? Or is the cell phone signal weak in certain parts of the house, too? If so, tell me about the construction of your house, especially where you have the wireless router set up.

Most wireless routers should have signal output up to 400 feet; can you take the notebook computer outside, but still near the area where the wireless router is? Is the notebook able to connect to the wireless router?

While most of the others here are more experienced than I am, and a heck of a lot smarter on the subject, I need to delve into your problem a little further.

 

One other thing I forgot to mention is something called co-channel interference.
If you live in an area with other houses nearby that have routers that broadcast on the same channel, then you will get interference even if you have a good signal.
not like in a residential area but possible.

 

i agree, (i was trying to be a little tounge in cheek) but i have no idea who's networks they are, sometimes we can see as many as 7 of them, most of them are 'unsecure' and they all have cute names

 

:laugh: Gotcha Richard, I know what you mean by the names on the networks, I don't know how they come up with some of them.

 

Since they all have wierd names, it is almost impossible to know who they belong to...without asking...

 

Wireless router question

D-link routers can be very finicky.

Rob