Computer help needed

[Chrissie]

Does anyone know if Routers for wire free computing, gradually loose their strength? I have had mine for four years and at first I could even use it at the botton of the garden, but lately I get signal very low, or cannot find server when working in my bedroom, which isnt that far from the router.

This is related to sailing in that my computer is how I get to read the forums and keep in contact with the sailing comunity whilst my boat is out of the water and I am getting really bad sailing withdrawel symptoms.

 

[fireball]

no ... they dont generally. I assume you have not moved the router or put anything large around it.

which router do you have?

a possibility is that there is another wifi network on the same channel as you. Change you router to put it on a different channel no (1-13). You may have to do this a couple of times to find a free channel.

 

[Chrissie]

a Buffelo Air Station G54, and I havent moved it and nothing new has been put around it, though it isnt password protected and there is a neighbour locally with a network, I forgot to mention its got slower as well.
This one supports my childrens two computers too,

 

[fireball]

Which bit isn't password protected? The Wifi network or the configuration page?

You really should put some sort of network protection on the Wifi network.

I would think it is most likely that a neighbour is on the same channel - it's a bit like trying to hold a 1-2-1 conversation in a room when there is another couple of ppl holding a difference conversation in the same room - you have to be quite close to the person you're talking with in order to clearly hear them ... the further you are away, the more often you have to repeat yourself (or ask the other one to repeat) until you can't actually hear them clearly at all. It is the same with wifi network cards....

 

[rickp]

My dad had the same problem with his - turned out to be one of those TV senders that was on the same channel as his WiFi. I found it using a spectrum analyser I have, so its not always an easy thing to find & fix. Try changing the base channel and see if it improves.

Rick

 

[AlistairC]

Maybe your neighbour is "borrowing" your internet connection, and this is what is slowing you down?

Run WPA or at least WEP128 with a password, and see if things speed up.

 

[Eccles]

Try downloading & installing 'netstumbler' it will show what other wifi stations are in range and what channels they are using - most people stay on the default of Ch11

 

[PembrokeshirePromise]

I had a slow down (though not range reduction) with a NetGear wireless router.

After extensive googling I found that it was the voltage transformer which starts to produce a bit less current - and despite the whole thing still working OK - it was just ona go slow.

Changed the powersupply to another one - and bingo - back to normal. I don't know how common this is - but worth a try if you can borrow another power adapter - just make sure its same fitting and same voltage + amps

 

[eddieo]

All the above answers assume, of course, that your computer is virus/trojan free and that your computers are not busy sending out spam without your knowledge. If you are satisfied that all computers on the network are clean, then definitely change the channels that your wifi is using. This should improve the service.

 

[Chrissie]

Thank you to all, I now have several leads and shall work my way through them.
I cant be sure that my computers are virus and trojan free, my work laptop went through a spate of telling me there was a trojan trying to access it, my own computers dont have such sophisticated virus protection.

 

[thalassa]

The netstumbler route is a very useful one, you learn a lot about your network, especially if you can put it on a laptop.
To the list of possible causes ( same a radio channel etc.) you can add interference from portable phones (DECT type) working on 2,4 Ghz.

 

[rickp]

DECT is 1880-1900 MHz in Europe, 1920-1930MHz in the US so shouldn't interfere with Wifi. Other cordless phones may do though.

Rick