TroubleShooting Wireless Router Issue

[Starbuck1975]

I am running a Motorolla SB5100 cable modem and a D-Link DIR-615 wireless router. The cable modem connects to the wireless router, and I have two home PCs that in turn connect to the wireless router.

When I first installed the wireless router, I was having some problems with Wifi connectivity. I always assumed it was location in my home that was causing the problem, so never thought to troubleshoot it.

However, I recently connected my laptop to the wireless router, and I on occasion lose internet connectivity. The connection restores after a few moments without my having to do anything, but there is definitely an intermittent connectivity issue. I've also noticed the same issue with both my home PCs.

I hard wired my laptop to my modem, taking the wireless router out of the equation, and had no connection problems. I assume this means something with my wireless router configuration is causing the issue.

How should I go about troubleshooting the wireless router?

 

[novice]

I hope someone responds to this inquiry, because I am experiencing similar symptoms. I constantly am losing internet connectivity with essentially the same set up as starbuck. (Motorola SB 6120 cable modem, D-Link DIR-615 router trying to serve 4 desktop PC's, 3 laptops and an X-Box 360) Lately my internet connection lasts from as little as 2 minutes to sometimes as long as 20 minutes before it breaks off. Rebooting the router restores it, but sometimes it only lasts a few seconds. Rebooting both the modem and the router seems to make it last long enough to post here. But it isn't a question of if we will lose connectivity but when. Does this sound like an ISP issue, a modem issue or router issue? It seems to be much worse when I try to enable network security WPA-2. Once I get it set up on the various machines, it will lose the internet within minutes and rebooting the router of course restores the factory default open status. It seems to at least last longer unprotected. And DD-WRT firmware is not available for my revision B DIR-615. I have ordered a new router from Newegg to see if it will make a difference. This one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833704051
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks in advance. And at least you know you aren't the only one, starbuck.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I am running a Motorolla SB5100 cable modem and a D-Link DIR-615 wireless router. The cable modem connects to the wireless router, and I have two home PCs that in turn connect to the wireless router.

When I first installed the wireless router, I was having some problems with Wifi connectivity. I always assumed it was location in my home that was causing the problem, so never thought to troubleshoot it.

However, I recently connected my laptop to the wireless router, and I on occasion lose internet connectivity. The connection restores after a few moments without my having to do anything, but there is definitely an intermittent connectivity issue. I've also noticed the same issue with both my home PCs.

I hard wired my laptop to my modem, taking the wireless router out of the equation, and had no connection problems. I assume this means something with my wireless router configuration is causing the issue.

How should I go about troubleshooting the wireless router?

1. Check for Firmware updates on Dlink's website, this is important. Update the firmware if there's a newer version available.
2. If you are running WEP or WPA(2), turn it off and try it out with an open connection for a bit to see fi the issue persists.
3. Hardwire yourself to the router to see if you lose a connection there as well. You already isolated the modem and found the connection to be stable.
4. Look for any type of interference.
5. Wait for JackMDS to post

 

[spidey07]

These are all signs of interference/noise. Change channels to 1, 6, 11 to see which one works best. Wireless is inherently flaky unless you have strong signal to noise ratio. Microwaves, phones, bluetooth, anything in the 2.4 Ghz spectrum in your house or neighbors can cause problems.

 

[RhoXS]

These are all signs of interference/noise. Change channels to 1, 6, 11 to see which one works best. Wireless is inherently flaky unless you have strong signal to noise ratio. Microwaves, phones, bluetooth, anything in the 2.4 Ghz spectrum in your house or neighbors can cause problems.

I agree with this suggestion. Interference from neighbors wireless routers on the same channels will significantly degrade connectivity.

Search for and download a free but outstanding program called inSSIDer. Install it on your laptop and you will have a graphical representation showing:

What wirless signals are present
The channel these signals use
The signal strength
SSID
Type of encryption

Also, do a little research and understand why even though there are eleven channels listed you really only have three non-overlapping channels (1, 6, & 11) to choose from. Then set your router for the channel with the least interference as displayed by inSSIDer.

InSSIDer is not a spectrum analyzer so it will only show wireless network signals. It will not show interference (that might be intermittent) from microwave ovens, baby monitors, portable telephones, bluetooth devices, etc.

I had a long time problem with reliable wirless service in an area of my house. Once I saw the multitude of other wireless signals centered on channels 1 and 6, I switched my router to channel 11 and instantly resolved the problems. I was very surprised how many signals were sneaking into my house. They were relatively weak but they were sufficient to raise hell with my connectivity. One day I will buy a cheap (if there is such a thing) spectrum analyzer and really see what is going on.

Hope this helps.