Hi all,
I'm really starting to tear my hair out over this I have the following setup:
Main PC wired to Billion VGO wireless router
Laptop with Linksys WPC54G wireless card
I've had this set up for quite a while, but recently its really starting to play up. I basically have it setup so my girlfriend can use my internet connection and also so she can copy work files across from her laptop to a folder on my PC for backups. For this I'm just using simple file sharing.
I have a workgroup set up (called MSHOME at the moment) and on the laptop, in MY NETWORK PLACES, I can see the shared folder on the main PC. I can browse it most of the time with no problems.
The internet also works fine on the laptop.
Now, lately, it seems that whenever the interent is used on the laptop, the Network Speed drops until it hits 1mbps and the internet is unusable. It starts off OK at 54Mbps, but only drops when the internet is used. The signal strength at all times is reported as Excellent.
Because of this (I'm assuming), the file sharing is rendered useless. Often if I browse through My Network Places and attempt to copy a file into, or view a file from, the shared folder it just tries for a while and then says something along the lines of "the network folder is no longer available".
Something is causing the network to die The thing is though, I recently bought a Z500 network DVD player and that has zero problems accessing the network. I browse SMB shares on my main PC and play back videos with no problems. I've tried doing it at the same time as the laptop having problems and the Z500 chugs along fine, so it's a problem with the laptop somewhere I'm assuming.
The frustrating thing is that it used to work, and upon connecting it DOES work for a few mins until the network speeds drops and it becomes useless. I'm pretty much stumped as to whats causing it.
It seems there is another (unsecured) wireless network floating around the area, but the signal strength is always 'Low' and I'm unable to connect to it (I have tried, but only to try and judge if it's a problem with my router or with my laptop/wireless card, but since getting the Z500 that's pretty much ruled that out). Could this other network be messing with mine somehow? My network is on Channel 1, there's is on Channel 11.
One thing I tried last night is manually changing the 'speed detection' of the card to 54Mbps constant, instead of having it on Auto. I found that that did fix the problem of the network speed dropping (its now reported as 54mpbs constantly) but the internet still seems flaky. I was able to browse the net for a while, but Windows update refused to check to see what updates I needed (the screen after you press Express or Custom). It just times out. Also I still can't access my network shares properly.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me at all Could it be that the wireless card is stuffed?
I'm really starting to tear my hair out over this I have the following setup:
Main PC wired to Billion VGO wireless router
Laptop with Linksys WPC54G wireless card
I've had this set up for quite a while, but recently its really starting to play up. I basically have it setup so my girlfriend can use my internet connection and also so she can copy work files across from her laptop to a folder on my PC for backups. For this I'm just using simple file sharing.
I have a workgroup set up (called MSHOME at the moment) and on the laptop, in MY NETWORK PLACES, I can see the shared folder on the main PC. I can browse it most of the time with no problems.
The internet also works fine on the laptop.
Now, lately, it seems that whenever the interent is used on the laptop, the Network Speed drops until it hits 1mbps and the internet is unusable. It starts off OK at 54Mbps, but only drops when the internet is used. The signal strength at all times is reported as Excellent.
Because of this (I'm assuming), the file sharing is rendered useless. Often if I browse through My Network Places and attempt to copy a file into, or view a file from, the shared folder it just tries for a while and then says something along the lines of "the network folder is no longer available".
Something is causing the network to die The thing is though, I recently bought a Z500 network DVD player and that has zero problems accessing the network. I browse SMB shares on my main PC and play back videos with no problems. I've tried doing it at the same time as the laptop having problems and the Z500 chugs along fine, so it's a problem with the laptop somewhere I'm assuming.
The frustrating thing is that it used to work, and upon connecting it DOES work for a few mins until the network speeds drops and it becomes useless. I'm pretty much stumped as to whats causing it.
It seems there is another (unsecured) wireless network floating around the area, but the signal strength is always 'Low' and I'm unable to connect to it (I have tried, but only to try and judge if it's a problem with my router or with my laptop/wireless card, but since getting the Z500 that's pretty much ruled that out). Could this other network be messing with mine somehow? My network is on Channel 1, there's is on Channel 11.
One thing I tried last night is manually changing the 'speed detection' of the card to 54Mbps constant, instead of having it on Auto. I found that that did fix the problem of the network speed dropping (its now reported as 54mpbs constantly) but the internet still seems flaky. I was able to browse the net for a while, but Windows update refused to check to see what updates I needed (the screen after you press Express or Custom). It just times out. Also I still can't access my network shares properly.
Does anyone have any suggestions for me at all Could it be that the wireless card is stuffed?