Wireless Internet Connection

[Yooper]

I'm having a problem that is driving me batty, and I'm a non-techie person and don't know how to fix this.

I connect my MacBook to the Internet using a wireless connection (built in AirPort to a wireless router in the other room). The desktop is also connected to the wireless router but through a cable. Wireless router is then hard wired to the cable modem.

The last few days, I connect just fine with the laptop but after a few minutes (2 or 3) I lose my connection. Desktop is not having the problem.

To reconnect, I turn off the AirPort on the laptop, then turn it back on again and presto, I'm connected, for a couple of minutes.

Any suggestions on what to try? A friend of mine with far more technical knowledge tells me my router is getting tired and it needs to be replaced...he says they only last a year or so. Is this true?

About a week before I totally keep losing the connection, my connection would not respond all the time, I'd have to request a new page a couple of times before I could load it.

I have downloaded nothing for weeks so there is nothing new on the Laptop.

 

[ANDORYUU]

Try clicking on the airport sign in the menu bar, then select Open Network Settings.

In network settings click on Airport, then advanced (a drop down screen will then appear). Ensure you're on the the first tab. Locate and select your router/network in the list and delete it by pressing on the minus button below. Close the window, it will ask you to save, click yes.

Go back to the Airport sign in the menu button and search for your network and rejoin.

If you're still having problems after that, then PM me and I'll try and help you again.

 

[Yooper]

Thanks for the advice.

I will muddle through until tomorrow sometime when my techie friend is coming over for dinner, he gets to 'earn his meal' by helping me out; but I'll show him this thread first. I hesitate to take my router off the list because he set it up to be very secure, and in all honesty, I don't know how to put it back on the list! I know there's a couple of passwords and I don't remember them. I think I wrote them down but can't find it right now.

 

[GamerBear]

I've had this issue with my connection, and its basically your ISP.

I have Verizon and lately I get random disconnects, how I can tell is when I look at my Modem the little Internet Icon light turns off then comes back on after 15 to 30 seconds.

So there's always a possibility that it might be the provider not the hardware or computer itself.

 

[Yooper]

Interesting hypothesis, because later at night I have less trouble.

But we never seem to have the problem with the desktop. And occasionally when it happens I look at the list of networks mine has disappeared.

 

[GamerBear]

Usually Wireless connections have more problems because its bound to lose a signal as compared to a connection that is wired and has less issues unless the ISP has issues which cause the connection to drop.

 

[Yooper]

GUESS WHAT!

Was just talking to the Other Half who uses the Desktop much more than me (98% of the time, actually).

He also occasionally gets the 'You Are Not Connected To The Internet' message too! But he says he does nothing and almost immediately the page he's going to comes up.

The odd thing is tonight I've been on like 45 minutes with a continuous connection and have done nothing.

I think it is time to bitch at Comcast again.

 

[GamerBear]

GUESS WHAT!

Was just talking to the Other Half who uses the Desktop much more than me (98% of the time, actually).

He also occasionally gets the 'You Are Not Connected To The Internet' message too! But he says he does nothing and almost immediately the page he's going to comes up.

The odd thing is tonight I've been on like 45 minutes with a continuous connection and have done nothing.

I think it is time to bitch at Comcast again.

Yeah so I was sort of right, I have the same issue but I have Verizon, it seems not all DSL or broadband connections are stable.

Also I think I might know why mine does it, might be either old wiring or bad weather right now it's windy and figured that might be the issue. But it was a hot day, no wind and my connection dropped so I can check off bad weather. Its the ISP provider I checked Verizon's forum and I'm not the only one with this problem the person who helps always accuses the modem of being the issue.

So my suggestion is to call them and see what the issue is, ask them if its something on their side cause it would be stupid for them to blame it on something like the modem.

Hopefully you get this issue solved.

 

[Yooper]

I've had fantastic help from Comcast solving problems.

The Cable Box went out 2 weeks after it was installed and they tried to blame it on 'old wiring'. They did not understand that I had recently upgraded the wiring in the 52 year old house with all brand new everything just months before, so the 'old wiring' was about 3 weeks old, tops.

Then they tried to blame it on 'a grounding issue.' I then explained to the service tech that my old house in Michigan was 100% knob-and-tube wiring and my Digital Cable worked just dandy there. (Service Tech had no idea what Knob-and-Tube was, when I explained it, he almost had a heart attack. LOTS of old houses are still using the old stuff back East...)

I finally convinced him to TRY switching out the box with a new (read:'remanufactured') box. Solved the problem. Until the replacement box died 4 weeks later.

I'm now on the 4th box in a year.

 

[GamerBear]

I've had fantastic help from Comcast solving problems.

The Cable Box went out 2 weeks after it was installed and they tried to blame it on 'old wiring'. They did not understand that I had recently upgraded the wiring in the 52 year old house with all brand new everything just months before, so the 'old wiring' was about 3 weeks old, tops.

Then they tried to blame it on 'a grounding issue.' I then explained to the service tech that my old house in Michigan was 100% knob-and-tube wiring and my Digital Cable worked just dandy there. (Service Tech had no idea what Knob-and-Tube was, when I explained it, he almost had a heart attack. LOTS of old houses are still using the old stuff back East...)

I finally convinced him to TRY switching out the box with a new (read:'remanufactured') box. Solved the problem. Until the replacement box died 4 weeks later.

I'm now on the 4th box in a year.

Um new ISP would be a better solution instead of the headaches. Also were you talking to an American or someone out in the Middle East where they have no idea when you mention American Culture, I had this issue when my friend tried to contact Dell and the guy had a strong heavy accent and was difficult to understand.

 

[Yooper]

My IT Friend (good grief, it sure helps to have them) took a look at what was going on.

He reset the wireless router because it wouldn't let him in...something had gotten messed up in it. Things are working better, but he thinks my cheapo router is starting to get 'tired' and I need to think about replacing it.

He agrees that my ISP can get wonky sometimes but if it lasts more than a few hours it is the router. But occasional ISP issues 'happen.'

He also upgraded my software a bit which seems to be helping, too.

 

[jcojax78]

I had the same problem and since I have replaced my router, I haven't had a problem since.

 

[ANDORYUU]

My IT Friend (good grief, it sure helps to have them) took a look at what was going on.

He reset the wireless router because it wouldn't let him in...something had gotten messed up in it. Things are working better, but he thinks my cheapo router is starting to get 'tired' and I need to think about replacing it.

He agrees that my ISP can get wonky sometimes but if it lasts more than a few hours it is the router. But occasional ISP issues 'happen.'

He also upgraded my software a bit which seems to be helping, too.

ISP (Internet Service Provider) = provides internet access to your home, usually through a modem/router via a landline/cable.

Wireless = signal from modem/router to computer and vice versa transmitted around your house.

The issue you have is with your computer loosing wireless connectivity from your router. This is a SIGNAL problem. Your router may have issues with dropping the wireless signal, same goes for your computer. That's why there are firmware updates for these items to help resolve them. Other causes could be that your walls maybe too thick and interfere with transmissions from your router, or other electrical appliances and mobile phones. Even some security protections (i.e. WEP, WPA) applied to the router could cause drops in connectivity.

Blaming your ISP for being "wonky" is a waste of time, as they don't control what happens within your home, nor how you have configured your computer or router.

 

[Yooper]

24 hours after the router was reset I've had no trouble. I had no trouble for about a year until recently; something happened about 2 weeks ago in my neighborhood and all the folks I've talked to have had some electronics issues, even if they have good surge protectors, etc. I live about 6 blocks from the regional FAA Center and they have been doing a bunch of upgrades; some folks are blaming it on them. I don't know. Even the Hospital was having wireless problems; a Nurse on the Telemetry unit told me everything went out completely for 12 hours a few weeks ago , which corresponds to the time frame I started having trouble.

With my ISP being Wonky, it's Comcast. Need I say more?

They are usually pretty reliable, but about once a week for no reason we get outages from 5 minutes to two hours long. It is very frustrating since we have a bundle from them, and when EVERYthing goes out, we end up picking our noses for fun (sucks when the phone, the TV, and the Internet goes out at once), that's when I go hit the newspaper for a while or a good book...