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Wireless Router Woes

Ironically, two tech jocks have had similar router issues in the last few weeks, so we share your pain. In my case, I was happily working when my Internet connection appeared to go out. Thinking it was just one of those things - a cable outage - I gave it until the next day before I started troubleshooting in earnest. My detective work led me to believe that the router had gone bad. Three phone calls later (cable company, Linksys, and Vonage) confirmed my suspicions and Vonage sent me a replace router via UPS. Life is good again.

Troubleshooting Sudden Router Failures

In your case, you did some moving around of equipment, so it could be related to the new configuration. Let’s turn everything off, including the computer and the cable/DSL modem and router. Keep them powered off for at least ten minutes to completely clear the “memory” of the modem and router.

Physical Connections

While powered down, double check all cables. I know you’ve probably done so already, but let’s just make sure that everything is hooked up as it should be. Is the cable from the cable company connected into the modem? Is there a cable going from the modem into the router? Is it going into the proper port? Is your wireless adapter on your computer in the “on” position? My son loves to slide this switch to “off” for some reason, so you never know if you have little ones.

Once all connections and wireless adapter settings have been confirmed and the equipment has been off for at least ten minutes, turn on the modem. Let it fully turn on. Once all lights are on, turn on the router. Let it fully power up before finally turning on the PC. Any luck?

Router Settings

Still no go? Time to pull out the router’s user manual and double check the settings. Usually, you’ll enter the IP address into a Web browser followed by a user name and password. The default information should be in your user’s manual. If you changed these settings originally, hopefully you remember them or wrote them down in the manual. Click on the Wireless option (this will vary depending on the router) and write down the settings such as the SSID and mode, etc.

Now, look in the System Tray and look for the “wireless networks are available” notification. Click on that. Is your wireless network listed? If so, can you connect?

Diagnose and Repair

If you have Windows Vista, click on Start >Network. Now, click on Network and Sharing Center. Click on Diagnose and Repair. Let Windows check out your network and possibly make corrections.

Contact Router Manufacturer

Finally, you may need tech support. If your router is still under warranty, they’ll help walk you through a variety of troubleshooting steps. If you have a combo router, such as Vonage/Linksys as I did, you may have to call both companies. In my case, Linksys wanted to charge me for tech support, so I called Vonage who handled it for free - and replaced the router for free.

If your computer is randomly booting you off of the Internet, it’s unlikely that it is related to a particular website. It’s possible that you spend more time on MySpace than other websites, so you notice it more often there. My guess is that you have a hardware problem with your modem or router, but it is worth exploring a few other possibilities first.

Check for Viruses

You could be the victim of a virus that is causing your Internet connection problems. Make sure that you keep your antivirus programs updated and running regularly. You can also run the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool by clicking on the link. If you do find a virus, you might want to wait and see if this solves the problem.

Is it possible that your connection is taking too long to respond and is timing out? If you have a dial-up connection this might be a possibility. You can take an internet speed test like the one from speedtest.net .

Check Your Cables

Sometimes, the most obvious thing is the real problem. Check your connections and make sure that all cables are securely seated and that nothing is loose.

Modem Connections and Settings

If you’ve checked the cables and settings and everything looks fine, then you need to check the modem and router.

Check your modem settings and update your drivers by going to:

1. Select Control Panel, then open the Phone and Modems Icon.
2. Choose Modem and then Click Properties. You can now update your drivers as well as troubleshoot problems and find conflicts.
3. Make sure your system isn’t set to Auto Disconnect - most computers arrive with this disabled, but it can be reset on accident. Look in the Advanced tab. Choose the default Preferences and then make sure that the option “Disconnect a call if idle” is not checked.

If you do have a problem with the modem, you may need to get a new one in order to solve it.

Check Your Router

We just had this happen in our office a few weeks ago where the Internet connection was disconnecting and then reconnecting every few minutes. Thinking it was our modem, we had our service provider replace the modem, but we still had the same problem. We eventually replaced the router and it’s been fine every since. Replacing the router is a more expensive solution than some of the other options, so try other fixes first.

If you check all of these issues and you are still having a problem with your Internet shutting down, let us know some specifics - what computer you are using, how often the Internet is shutting down and who your Internet service provider is and we can try to give you other solutions.

The Acer Aspire 1310 Notebook Computer and Wireless LANs

Your Acer Aspire 1310 notebook computer may or may not have a built-in wireless network adapter as the 802.11b wireless LAN was an optional feature on this particular computer. Most laptops that have built-in wireless have a switch on the laptop that you use to turn wireless on and off. The two most common places for these switches are in the upper right corner of the laptop’s surface or along the front edge, near the latch. Look for a tiny “on/off” switch with an icon near it that looks like a radio tower emitting radio waves.

Enabling Wireless on your Aspire 1310

If your computer is so equipped, enabling wireless is as easy as flipping the switch. You will need a wireless signal, of course. This may come from a wireless network that you’ll be setting up in your home or from a Wi-Fi hotspot such as at the local Starbucks or your public library. When the switch is in the on position and you are within range of a free Wi-Fi hotspot, you should see a notification in your System Tray saying “Wireless networks are available.” From there, you can click on a link to connect. Your Windows Firewall (or other installed firewall) should prompt you to choose a profile which is a security measure to keep hackers from wirelessly intruding into your computer.

Public Hotspots

If you’re at a public hotspot, choose the “public” profile. Some Wi-Fi hotspots require that you enter your customer number or hotel room information to verify that you are a paying customer and that you qualify for the service. You may need to check with an employee for assistance connecting.

Installing a Wireless Adapter on your Aspire 1310

Since the wireless LAN adapter was optional, there’s a good chance that you do not have this option. Don’t worry, you can free yourself of cables soon enough. The two main types for laptops are PCI wireless network cards and USB wireless adapters. Both are easy to install and use. If you have a free PCI card slot, I’d go with a PCI card because USB ports fill up fast, especially if you have a USB mouse, MP3 player, printer, and so on. These wireless adapters simply plug in to your free PCI card slot or USB port (depending on the type you get) and require a simple installation. Once installed, your computer should be able to see other wireless networks. You will need to enter a password to log onto secured wireless networks such as your home network, so double check with whoever’s in charge to make sure that you have the proper log on credentials.

Several ideas come to mind including cabling, interference, and bandwidth thieves. Let’s take a look.

Testing Internet Speeds

Several online tools are available where you can check your actual connection speeds. CNET’s Bandwidth Online Test is one such tool. I just tested my own connection with this tool and was pleased to see that my speed appears to be about what I expected it to be.

When you sign up for high-speed Internet access, you are often given several different plans from which to choose with the fastest connections costing more. If you’re paying for higher speeds, you certainly don’t want to live with a slow connection. Apparently, the speed being delivered from the DSL line into your modem is coming in as it should. But from the modem to your computer to your Internet experience, something is causing a bottlejam.

Physical Connections  

Back when I worked in broadcasting, cables were often the culprit when quality issues arose. It didn’t matter if it was a video or audio signal, if the image or sound was bad, swapping out the cables often resolved the problem. I would try a fresh Ethernet cable from the modem to the PC as well as a new DSL line from the jack to the modem. In addition, if you are using splitters or adapters of any type, lose them and invest in the appropriate type or length of cable. Adapters and splitters further degrade signals.

Interference

Have you noticed whether or not the slow connection speeds are intermittent? Does the connection slow down when another part of the DSL line is in use, such as when you’re on the phone or sending faxes? Do you have numerous USB peripheral devices such as scanners and printers? If so, these could be using the computer’s external bus which in turn could cause a slower than expected DSL speed.

Bandwidth Thieves

One of the most common causes of slow Internet connections, DSL or otherwise, is having too many programs and processes using the available bandwidth. Some of this is necessary and legitimate. For example, your antivirus program regular transmits back and forth with its developer in order to download the latest updates and keep your computer safe. Likewise, Windows regularly downloads hotfixes, updates, security patches, and other operating system files from Microsoft. I can always tell when Microsoft Updates is doing its deed without even looking for the icon in my system tray because my entire computer slows down, especially my Internet connection.

The real bandwidth thieves are those you aren’t even aware of. If your computer is infested with spyware such as keyloggers or Trojans, these nasty little intruders are busy recording your keystrokes and downloading other spyware applications which have missions of their own. Soon, you may have dozens of unwanted visitors performing malicious tasks - and hogging your bandwidth as they communicate back and forth with their master.

What to Do

I would start by investing in the right cables, especially if your current cables are old or funky. Next, I would run a complete, system-wide virus and spyware scan to rule out spyware (after downloading the latest updates of course). If you don’t have these products, you are strongly urged to invest in them. Here’s a series of antivirus reviews we recently conducted on the latest editions for 2009. Look for a product that provides virus and spyware protection as well as real time blocking.

I would also keep my eye on the connection speeds and observe what seems to affect them. Try unplugging multiple USB devices and see if that helps. If none of these tips speeds up your connection, the modem itself may need to be adjusted or may be failing.

IP Addresses

An IP address is a lot like your street address, and one is given to every computer that is connected to the Internet. It will be a string of number such as 192.68.4.7. The last two numbers are what will tell you what kind of address you are using. If the second to last number is between 0 and 255 and the last number is between 1 and 254, you are using a private IP address so that you can have your own network.

You said that both computers are using the IP addresses that have been provided to you, but I want you to be sure they are different. You need to go to Start, then click on Run. In the command window, type in cmd and click OK. The command window will come up. At the prompt, type in ipconfig. You will see your IP Address listed. Do this on both computers to see if the addresses are different. If they somehow were changed and are the same, then you’re going to have to assign a new address to one of the computers. Make sure the numbers aren’t arbitrary and work with your network.

Check Your Network

If your addresses are different, then you need to check your network. Are you using wireless? If so, then you need to check the security of your network. If you don’t have security enabled, then anyone in your vicinity can log onto your system. Also see if you have any other devices that are connecting to the Internet. We have an IP phone that connects us directly to the office that could also be using the same IP address.

Use Dynamic IP Addresses

If you want to avoid this altogether, you can set your system to get dynamic IP addresses, where you are assigned a new IP address automatically each time you log on, rather than a static system like you have that keeps the same IP address all the time. You have to first set your router to use dynamic IP addresses - most of the time you can do this using your web-based router configuration. I use Netgear, and after logging onto their website, there is a menu on the left side of the screen that gives options about setting your router to get dynamic IP addresses. You need to also set your LAN to use your router as your Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server.

Once you’ve set your router correctly, you can get into your computers and set each one to get dynamic IP addresses.

1. Go to Start, then Control Panel and then click on Network Connections.
2. Right click on Local Area Connections. Choose Properties.
3. Find the TCP/IP and right click to choose Properties.
4. You want to see that Obtain IP addresses automatically and DNS Servers Automatically are selected.

In my opinion, setting your IP addresses to dynamic is a good way to avoid this problem, unless you have a specific reason for keeping them static.

In order to get at the bottom of this, I am going to suggest a few troubleshooting strategies. I researched the error number that you are getting, but I am not locating any information on it. If you could provide us with the make and model information as well as the exact error message, we may be able to provide more specific advice. In the meantime, here are some ideas.

Use a Different PC Card Slot

A possibility exists that the PC card slot is bad. Therefore, you need to use a different one to see if that is the problem.

Seat the Wireless Card Properly

Make sure that you have seated the card securely in the PC slot that you have chosen for it. If it is not securely set, it will not be recognized. Try this several times since this is one of the most common reasons for this type of error.

Visit the Website for the Manufacturer of the Wireless Router

In general, manufacturers put together a support or help page for their customers in order to assist them with problems related to their hardware/software. Check out your router’s manufacturer and see if you can locate any information that might be of help for you.

Obtain the Latest Drivers

Visit the manufacturer’s website and check to make sure that you have the latest drivers. If not, download them now.

Uninstall and Reinstall the Drivers

If you discover that you already have the latest drivers, uninstall the drivers and reinstall them. Sometimes a faulty installation can lead to problems such as the one that you are experiencing.

Use the Device Manager

Enter the device manager and check out your wireless router set up. Look for any problems that exist and correct them if you find any.

Motherboard Issue

It is also possible that the motherboard no longer recognizes the physical connection of the PC card slot. Even if reseating the card doesn’t work, it could still be a motherboard issue.