Computer & networking gurus! Need help on router/card situation.

[in4mation]

Posted this on another board, but wanted DA members opinion.

Our office has a Linksys wireless router. However, during the day our connections get dropped frequently with our desktops and laptops. However, different people are complaining of different things and I'm not sure how to approach and check for things. Here's the scenario in which I tested:

1. IBM laptop with internal wireless card: works about 95% of the time and connection is great. Not much dropping of connectivity at all.

2. Dell desktop with Netgear USB wireless network card: works about 80% of the time.

3. IBM desktop with Belkin USB wireless network card: works about 20% of the time. When starting the computer in the morning, there's no connection. Have to unplug the USB and re-insert it to get a connection. Even that doesn't work. Have to restart several times before it holds the connection. Releasing the IP works, but it seems to not want to renew or repair when I click on that option.

4. Dell desktop hardwired: works 100% of the time. Duh.


So is it the Belkin or the Linksys router? Keeping in mind that the laptop runs pretty well compared to the Belkin and it's on the wireless.

Any ideas on how to approach this?

[VTECaddict]

take the Belkin USB and try it on the other computers (disable the other wireless cards first). if the connection is equally crappy then its the adapter.

[namegoeshere]

Sounds like it could be the Belkin USB adapter. Try what VTECaddict suggested above. The other possibility is that there's something wrong with the IBM.... perhaps the USB port itself? Have you tried plugging it into another USB port on the IBM to see if it has the same problems?

If you're also frequently getting dropped connections throughout the day, maybe there's interference with other 2.4GHz devices (e.g. 2.4GHz cordless phones, microwave ovens, security cameras, bluetooth devices, baby monitors, etc?

It could also be wifi pollution. If there are too many routers/access points in that area, the channels could overlap and block access or prevent the use of the router/access point by others.

Regarding the Linksys router, check to see if there are any firmware updates too.

[chanke4252]

I've seen those onboard wireless adapters fail quite a bit, it is often on older laptops (new enough that they have an internal wireless card) that have been either left on or something where there is an abnormal amount of heat buildup.

Also, like someone else said, interference on the channel that you are on can cause a few issues in the connectivity department. Are the dropped connections related to location at all? Use one of your computers to scan for the different networks in the area and try to see what channel they are on. Try the channels that you see unused or less used. Try others if one doesn't help the situation as there are probably other networks in the area that don't broadcast their ssid.

[in4mation]

Thanks for the responses......testing different scenarios now. I think it could be the Belkin, however.