Random channel switching

Fat Slide · 11-13-2007, 07:30 AM

Hey!

I'm having a problem with my wireless card. The driver details are:
Realtek Wireless Lan Config Utility, Version 2.3
In the control panel there is buttons for 'Config' and 'Advanced Config' but they are not active.

The problem is that though the channel is set to 12, every minute (approx) the channel will switch to 3 or 4 other channels in the space of about 2 seconds. This causes glitches in any audio and video running on the computer, on or off-line (and presumably everything else running too). It can best be described as 2 secs worth of skipping. Very annoying, naturally!

Can anyone help??

**johnwill** · 11-13-2007, 08:33 AM

The channel switching is probably initiated by a channel setting of AUTO on the wireless router. Configure the router for a fixed channel, and that will stop. I'm guessing that some wireless interferences causes the router to look for a different channel.

Fat Slide · 11-13-2007, 08:38 AM

Cheers johnwill, I'll try that. What's the best channel? I've read that 6 or 11 are..

**johnwill** · 11-13-2007, 09:16 AM

Well, non-interfering channels in the US are 1, 6, and 11. However, in a congested area, you may have to try others as well.

Fat Slide · 11-14-2007, 07:15 AM

I changed the router from automatic channel selection to channel 12 and the same problem presented itself. I then changed it to channel 6 with, again, the same results - the 2 secs of channel skipping still happens every minute or so. I restarted my computer and switched the router off for 30 secs after the two actions above.

I guess the problem's with the wireless card, but as I said before - the buttons for 'Config' and 'Advanced Config' cannot be selected. Am I missing something? Does anyone know who to access these?

**johnwill** · 11-14-2007, 11:27 AM

I'd first try to download and install the latest drivers for the wireless card.

11-13-2007, 07:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
Fat Slide Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8 OS: XP Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 2,	Random channel switching Hey! I'm having a problem with my wireless card. The driver details are: Realtek Wireless Lan Config Utility, Version 2.3 In the control panel there is buttons for 'Config' and 'Advanced Config' but they are not active. The problem is that though the channel is set to 12, every minute (approx) the channel will switch to 3 or 4 other channels in the space of about 2 seconds. This causes glitches in any audio and video running on the computer, on or off-line (and presumably everything else running too). It can best be described as 2 secs worth of skipping. Very annoying, naturally! Can anyone help??

11-13-2007, 08:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,721 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Random channel switching The channel switching is probably initiated by a channel setting of AUTO on the wireless router. Configure the router for a fixed channel, and that will stop. I'm guessing that some wireless interferences causes the router to look for a different channel. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-13-2007, 08:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
Fat Slide Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8 OS: XP Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 2,	Re: Random channel switching Cheers johnwill, I'll try that. What's the best channel? I've read that 6 or 11 are..

11-13-2007, 09:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,721 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Random channel switching Well, non-interfering channels in the US are 1, 6, and 11. However, in a congested area, you may have to try others as well. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-14-2007, 07:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
Fat Slide Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8 OS: XP Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 2,	Re: Random channel switching I changed the router from automatic channel selection to channel 12 and the same problem presented itself. I then changed it to channel 6 with, again, the same results - the 2 secs of channel skipping still happens every minute or so. I restarted my computer and switched the router off for 30 secs after the two actions above. I guess the problem's with the wireless card, but as I said before - the buttons for 'Config' and 'Advanced Config' cannot be selected. Am I missing something? Does anyone know who to access these?

11-14-2007, 11:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,721 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Random channel switching I'd first try to download and install the latest drivers for the wireless card. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience