Wireless Connection Drops Every Few Minutes

[CheerUpEmoKid]

hey guys, so as the title states, my wireless seems to be dropping every few minutes. it started a few days ago out of the blue, or so it seems atleast. nothing that i know of has changed recently, except for the weather, that may be causing my problem.

it's happening over multiple wireless devices (phone, PS3, multiple computers) at the same time when it happens, so it's not an issue with my laptop.

i thought the surge protector may have had too much plugged into it, since i moved a computer into that room right before this all started happening, but after testing, nothing that is plugged into that surge protector is turning off, and nothing else is affected, so i've ruled that out...

i called up my ISP, stated my problem, and they sent out a brand new router, same model as my last one, actiontec modem/wireless router combo. it arrived today, thinking it would solve my problem, as the other router was a bit old, but still, the same issue, the wireless connection drops every couple of minutes, and comes back like 30 seconds later.

the devices that are connected to the router via cat4 ethernet cables do not lose connection, so it is strictly wireless...

so, i unplugged the computer i moved into that room and the problem still happens... i can't for the life of me figure out what is wrong here...

i do have cordless phones, but they are 5.8GHz frequency, which are known to not have issues with wireless routers, and they are not on the same channel as the router, so the phones are not the issue

does anyone have any suggestions on what the problem could be here? thanks

EDIT 2:

so i've been sitting here staring at my router waiting for it to happen again

it seems when it happens, all the lights on my router go out for a second or so, then the power LED and ethernet port LEDs kick back on, then a bit later the rest go back on...

could this be my surge protector dying? the computer and phones i have hooked into this surge protector do not turn off and seem unfazed...

 

[VirtualLarry]

it seems when it happens, all the lights on my router go out for a second or so, then the power LED and ethernet port LEDs kick back on, then a bit later the rest go back on...

That sounds like it is rebooting. Do you have a UPS that you could try it out on? When you replaced the router, did you replace its power supply?

 

[CheerUpEmoKid]

That sounds like it is rebooting. Do you have a UPS that you could try it out on? When you replaced the router, did you replace its power supply?

sorry, what is a UPS?

yes, when i replaced the router, i used the new power supply that came with it

i replaced the power strip with one that i knew was working properly, and so far, i've had no issues. it's been about 30 minutes with no drop, so far so good, i'll post back later or if it drops sooner

 

[CheerUpEmoKid]

ok, spoke too soon

connection just dropped, same thing

any ideas?

 

[her209]

sorry, what is a UPS?

Uninterrupted Power Supply, i.e., a battery

 

[CheerUpEmoKid]

Uninterrupted Power Supply, i.e., a battery

oh, thanks for clearing that up, no i do not have a UPS

 

[PUN]

I had a similar problem. Try a different power adaptor for your router (higher rating ones with at least 1.5A)

 

[westom]

oh, thanks for clearing that up, no i do not have a UPS

And it does not solve any problems. If power interruption is causing that intermittent power drop, then fix the wiring problem, loose receptacle, or other problem. Don't waste times a money curing symptoms.

Do you have a wiring problem? An incandescent bulb on the same router power source will dim if and when a power interruption causes the Actiontec to reset. How to see the problem.

Power strip overloaded? That power strip could probably easily power 30 or 50 routers. Surge protector? Surge protectors do nothing until AC voltages exceed 300 volts. When did tens or zero volts become 300+ volts? Surge protector does nothing useful other than provide additonal receptacles. And might create problems if its plug or receptacle are loose. Larger power supply for the Actiontec will do nothing. That supply is already larger than it must be.

Simply moving a power cord in another room connected on the same circuit could be enough to cause a router reset. So fix loose wires inside that receptacle box.

If your Actiontec indicator light behavior is similar to a power on, then find and fix the loose AC wire.

 

[Emulex]

no ups = unacceptable. all electrical (non mechnical) equipment should be on a ups.

not on ups: laserjet,dishwasher,washing machine,water heater,a/c,heat,fridge,lamps,motors

on ups: everything else.

Typical house with geek stuff has 10+ ups in them.

Some a/c adapters and High efficiency power supplies require pure-sine-wave product (cyberpower makes puresine) you will notice these bricks and pc's will die immediately regardless of ups size if the output is a modified square wave. they reject the cheap ups.

(i have a brick that goes to a router that does just this).

 

[gsaldivar]

Login to the router's config page and try turning off uPnP.

If this is a ISP-provided wireless router, you may not be able to login to config.

In that case, return that combo router and get a modem-only device from your ISP. Then purchase your own wireless router that you can configure yourself.

Good luck!

 

[westom]

no ups = unacceptable. all electrical (non mechnical) equipment should be on a ups. ...
Typical house with geek stuff has 10+ ups in them.

Been doing computers for multiple generation. Designed this stuff. So why do I not spend $thousands on UPSes? Why do my informed peers not do that myth? Why would I know how this stuff works and contradict that post? Because I do not automatically believe junk science or recite hearsay. Because I learn hard facts before posting.

Some facts. When is electricity 'dirtiest'? When the UPS is in battery backup mode. Why must a UPS not power motorized appliances or power strip protectors? Because some of the most harmful power is generated by a UPS in battery backup mode.

Those who blindly believe what hearsay orders do not demand, do not learn, and do not post the numbers. Numbers from a typical 120 volt UPS. It outputs 200 volt square waves with a spike of up to 270 volts between those square waves. This is clean power? Of course not. This is why a UPS is harmful to less robust appliances such as laserjet,dishwasher,washing machine,a/c,heat,fridge,motors.

A UPS has one function. To provide temporary and dirty power during a blackout. An informed geek uses a UPS when a blackout may cause unacceptable data loss.

To not fix a wiring defect is to ignore a potential house fire. If the Actiontec is suffering from intermittent power loss, then fix AC wiring. Ignoring the actual problem (ie wasting vast sums on UPSes) is, in rare cases, why houses burn down and people are killed. Just another reason why the UPS is not recommended for the OP. Completely irresponsible is to recommend a UPS to cure a wiring defect. Not just bogus. Irresponsible.

 

[Emulex]

Sorry you clearly do not understand the many designs of the modern UPS. What makes you think the power grid is clean? A cheap cyberpower puresine will output a better signal than the dirty power coming into the ups when on battery mode while retaining most of the efficiency lost using a double conversion (wasted energy) model.

buy yourself a scope and check out modern UPS - anything worth a hoot is putting our a very stable real sine wave. You know what a scope is yeah?

 

[VirtualLarry]

westom, you are being totally unhelpful here.

The reasoning behind the UPS, is not so much a fix, as it is to diagnose. If the UPS clears up the problem, then the problem must have been something with the AC. If it continues to die, then either both the router and the UPS have problems, or the problem lies somewhere besides the AC power.

 

[westom]

What makes you think the power grid is clean? A cheap cyberpower puresine will output a better signal

First because I have been doing this stuff probably before you were even born.

Second, defined was a typical UPS. 200 volt square waves with a spike of up to 270 volts. Which was also defines as a sine wave output. From concepts taught in high school math, you know that dirty power is also sum of sine waves. Or what sales brochures will hype as a pure sine wave output. A sales brochure did not lie. It just manipulated a public that forgets to learn from spec numbers.

Is it a pure sine wave? If yes, then numbers such as THD are posted to define that "purity". No numbers is a first symptom of junk science. Declarations based only upon subjective myths. To have a fact, also provide hard facts and numbers.

How did I example output of this UPS? From an oscilloscope (obviously). A UPS connects appliances directly to AC mains. Then its sine wave ouptput is 'cleanest'. When a UPS switches to battery backup mode, its output power can be destructive to small electric motors and power strip protectors.

VirtualLarry - one does not need a UPS to identify that power problem. If power interruptions or voltage drop is causing router failure, as posted previously - an incandescent bulb will obviously dim. A simple tool that everyone has. Bulb can quickly identify power problems without an expensive UPS.

The OP has defined what could be AC power problems. His reply that answers previous questions is necessary to provide a better answer.

Meanwhile, only myths (without spec numbers) promote a plug-in UPS for 'cleaner' power. A majority will only recite advertising myths and ignore specification numbers. A UPS would also identify some power interruptions. But that is not what he was recommending it for. A most irresponsible post recommends a UPS to ignore/mask a wiring defect. Even a light bulb can identify that defect so that the defect (not symptoms) is eliminated

Defined were some examples of why multiple routers would exhibit that problem. Also essential for a better answer is how that router connects to what kind of broadband.