Wireless Media Sharing Problem

[JonnyLaurence]

I've just bought a new wireless router (a Zyxel P660HW-T1) since my old US Robotics router had started giving me internet connection problems. It has cured these connection issues, but the new router is now giving me media sharing issues which I cannot figure out.

I've got an XBox 360 using a wired ethernet connection to the router, and a PC which is connected wirelessly. Since installing the new router, the 360 can no longer see the PC, unless I connect the PC to the router with an ethernet cable, in which case the whole thing works perfectly.

I've tried turning Windows firewall off, deactivating the firewall on the router, rebooting both the PC and router numerous times. I know very little about routers and networking, but I've fiddled around with various options on the router, since I figure that's where the problem lies (especially since connecting everything back to the old router sorts the problem). I currently have UPnP activated on the router, but really don't know what I'm doing when it comes to port forwarding and suchlike. I'd even be happy with a workaround to get this thing working wirelessly - I tried installing TVersity on my PC but still, the 360 cannot see it when the PC is connected wirelessly.

I can provide further information about my setup if required. Any help or suggestions would be massively appreciated and should save me from tearing more of my hair out!

[johnwill]

Are you SURE you're connection to your wireless network? It could be since the change you're connecting to the wrong network.

Have you made the router's SSID unique so you can be sure you are connecting to the proper gateway? FWIW, networking wired or wireless shouldn't be any different.

[JonnyLaurence]

Yeah, I was definitely connecting to the right network, and have given it a suitable comedy name.

I've half sorted this out now. Turns out windows was recognising my wireless USB adaptor as some other brand, so I re-installed the drivers, and despite the 360 still not being able to work with WMP11, it can see TVersity, so I'm going to use that.

Now, since doing this, my problem seems to be varying signal strength and connection speeds. The connection fluctuates between weak and excellent, with connection speeds starting at around 54Mbps then dropping to usually around 24Mbps. Occasionally xp will hang if I do so much as click on "Network Connections".

I'm guessing I've screwed up some setting or have conflicting drivers going on my system or something. It makes me realise how lucky I've been when setting up my internet connections previously!

Anyway, the battle continues. Thanks for the suggestions.

[johnwill]

Actually, I'd start by changing channels, that's most likely wireless interference.

[JonnyLaurence]

I've tried changing wireless channels. There don't appear to be any other channel 1 networks detected in the area, but when I choose that I can't even connect to the router wirelessly. Channels 6 and 11, of which there are a few other networks in the area, both work but give me a connection, but then I get then I get the whole gradually weaker signal/connection speed issue.

I think what may have something to do with it (but I'm guessing, because I'm not exactly sure what's happening) is that my Tenda 541U wireless USB adaptor is occasionally recognised as just that, but sometimes as a RT73 USB Wireless LAN Card. Is this the same thing? It also seems to vary with connection speed and strength depending on which USB port I have the adaptor plugged in to.

I've tried showing hidden/disconnected device drivers in device manager, and deleting old drivers, and then re-installing the drivers from the packaged CD. It seems to make no difference though - the device is still eventually recognised as the RT73 thing. But then I guess this might not even be the issue.

One thing I forgot to mention is another PC I have, just feet away, gets perfect connection speed and signal with either this or another wiress USB adaptor (a Zxyel one which came with the router - which my computer doesn't seem to like. With it, it seems to connect to the router, but then not be able to access the internet). And my computer did a few days ago, before I got this replacement router and had the whole media sharing issue.

I'm thinking all these little problems are just driver issues. I'm think my best chance is to get it working properly with the Tenda USB adaptor, since that's was it was working perfectly with, until I started swapping them about in an effort to get something else working!

[johnwill]

Well, from the new information, I'd have to be looking at drivers or perhaps simply better hardware.

[JonnyLaurence]

In terms of better hardware, do you mean a wireless PCI card, or different USB adaptors, or the router itself?

[johnwill]

Either or both the wireless card or the router.

[JonnyLaurence]

Thanks very much for your help.