GolfHos

First issue: OK, so I have two computers and one Linksys router at this time.  Router and laptop live in close proximity and play nicely together.  Desktop lives on second floor and does not interact well.  I get dropped off the network routinely -- like anywhere from every few minutes to every 40 seconds or so.  Annoying.  And then, other times my browser will just hang.  Nothing loads in any tab, even newly opened tabs.  Bellsouth is our ISP, they have a known incompatibility with Linksys devices, so they don't support them.  Oddly, when I shut down the laptop, the desktop and router become best buddies.  Does that mean anything to you nerds?

Second issue: what the hell does one do with an Access Point appliance?  I bought one, having been led to believe it would improve signal strength (which is generally in the "Low" range upstairs).  But Linksys tech support tersely said it was the wrong device and that I needed a range extender.  Internet searching on access points isn't yielding much help.

A few questions on the first issue:

1) What model linksys router?

2) Do you know if your laptop supports bluetooth?  Maybe there's interference similiar to this article:
http://mindfulmusings.net/coexist/Articles/InterferencebetweenBlueto.html
(could test this by disabling bluetooth on the laptop)

3) What happens if you take the laptop to the second floor next to the desktop?  Does the laptop still get a good signal strength?  Does anything change with the desktop connectivity?

4)  approximately how many feet from router to 2nd floor desktop?

really long cables

Really long *smite*.

No, use really, really, really long cables.

(that was really funny Porkchop thread)

I thought is was really, really, really, really long cables. ;D

A few more questions:

1) Have you ever updated the firmware on the router?  That might be the best thing to check first.  I once ran into several problems with my router which were fixed by updating to the latest firmware.  That's a hugely popular model, and there have been a lot of updates. (as well as mods, too)

2) The timing of this is an odd coincidence.  [sm_scratch] Is this another "wireless ruse" to cover up a golf junket/sojourn to Jersey?
http://www.golfdope.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2513#2513

3) Have you ever tried making any of those homemade wifi antennas?  I made one in my former house and it worked very well in boosting the signal.

Template here:
http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/
(http://www.streettech.com/storypics/RubberDucks.jpg)


4) Who is your favorite Kahn?
a) Kublai
b) Genghis
c) Chaka
d) Madeline
e) Ricardo Montalban

A:  "maybe 70 feet" is really only long cables

B:  Chaka

ugh, that router sucks .  no offense.  your best solution is to dump it and get a real product.

I bet Clive would not route the cables directly.  He would probably run them through the garage, toaster oven in the kitchen, and around the outside of the house.
That my friend, would take really, really, really long cables.   ;D  

What??  That's one of the great routers of our time.   >:(

Why do you hate open source firmware alternatives?
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3562391

Further info: said router and Bellsouth DSL more or less harmoniously worked together for some 1.75 years now.  The dumping off the network upstairs always happened but to a much lesser extent; the browser-hanging is a new thing entirely.  Also, Bellsouth may have performed a rolling update to their equipment recently, not that they'd tell me about it.  (Their view: once you have connectivity at ANY computer when hooked DIRECTLY to their DSL, it's no longer their problem; call Linksys.)

Probably got that line from Comcast. :sad3:

Lost my e-mail password three times in one week.

dunno, had nothing but bad luck with 2 of them, and linksys in general

Are you positive your account wasn't accidentally switched over to dial-up? :D

That doesn't sound like the way he would wire the cables since he said he walks around cleaning the mess his wife makes.

Really stupid basic question but have you power cycled the modem and router? (I know, I know, weak ass customer support idiocy but sometimes it's honestly the last thing I think of.)

Also, what I think you need to improve your signal upstairs is a wireless signal booster. In my limited knowledge of such things I think an access point allows wireless devices to communicate with one another on a network but doesn't do anything to boost a signal from a router to a wireless device. (As always it's entirely likely I have no idea what I'm talking about.)

So to sum up, I can't help you.

Then shut up and go away.  You're serving no purpose here.

Thank you sir, may I have another?

Trans-continental testicle self-examination.  But you knew that.  Attention *trollop*.

Did you ever figure this out?


If not, I have a couple more ideas.


1) Have you tried setting your network to a different wireless channel to see if it makes a difference?  I've heard about people having wifi problems because of interference from neighbors' networks.

Here's an article with some tips on this:
http://www.easypeasy.com/guides/article.php?article=146


2) Do you have a cordless phone nearby?  If so, do you know what frequency your phone uses? (900MHz, 2.4 GHz, etc.)

Some links:
http://www.thirdbreak.org/pipermail/wireless/2005-June/000799.html
http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-95283.html
http://www.wirelessforums.org/alt-internet-wireless/linksys-wrt54g-2-4g-telephones-2908.html

I think I put a vague enough answer attempt in the Figs thread you started this time last year about this.


 :P

Is it fixed yet?

Nope.