Fussy wireless connection

[monkmullen]

We've been having an issue with our router dropping us from the internet for about a week now. Our computers will still show us as connected to the network, but it's a 'local only' connection.

I thought this might have to do with our router being old (pushing four years) so I bought a new one yesterday - Netgear WNR2000. Set up went great, I created a new network, got everything connected (two laptops and the Xbox so far) and we were rolling.

Today I'm playing Xbox and all of the sudden I'm disconnected from Xbox Live. I jump onto the laptop and sure enough we've been dropped from the internet again. The network is still there, but it's 'local only'.

I'm plugged directly into the router right now and the internet is working fine, but wireless is still a no-go.

What could be causing this to go from a local and internet network to just a local network? This has been happening with two different routers, so I can't think that that's the problem, but I just don't know...

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[monkmullen]

ISP: Cox
Modem: Motorola SB5100
Router: Netgear WNR2000

I've read that this may be an issue with Vista and Norton conflicting, but this computer does not have Norton on it. Also, would that cause the Xbox to not connect as well?

[johnwill]

Well, that clearly seems to be a common issue.

My guess is that your ISP or modem is actually the reason for the disconnect, you just don't catch it when you test with the modem only.

If this is STRICTLY a wireless issue, I'd try changing the channel on the router.

[monkmullen]

Ok, channel changed. It was set to 'Auto' and I changed it to 11. We'll see what happens over the next couple of days, I suppose.

It seems to be strictly a wireless issue since I can plug into the router and have internet access even when the wireless is down. I've not tested the modem much so if this doesn't work we'll just plug directly into that and see what happens.

Thanks for your help!

[johnwill]

I have found the Auto channel selection to be troublesome in many cases. I prefer to do a site survey with a tool like Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector and pick the clearest channel.

[monkmullen]

It looks like we're having the same issues as before, even on the new channel. We went all day yesterday with no drops but today it went down when I was working on the computer.

It was only down for a minute or two this time (as opposed to the hour-ish from before), but still...

I'm going to plug directly into the modem and see if the problem keeps reoccuring. I expect to be online a lot over the next two days (Call of Duty! Woo-hoo!), so I'll have plenty of opportunities to monitor the situation.

Just to stay one step ahead, though, if it appears that my modem and internet service are working okay, and I'm having this same issue on two separate routers (one new, one old), what should be my next step?

[johnwill]

Well, the next step would be to run a wire.

[monkmullen]

Everything was running fine after I changed channels, but now the problem has come back with a vengence.

Everything connected to the wireless network dropped, and although it says that I'm connected both to both "local and internet" I can connect to nothing.

I'm plugged directly into the modem right now and, of course, everything is running just fine.

So frustrating...

What should I do now? Just monitor the situation?

Thirty seconds ago the internet was down. Then I plugged directly into the modem and everything is screaming right along.

[johnwill]

Maybe time to beat the router into submission.

1. Update the network drivers (wired and wireless) on your computer to the latest available.
2. Update the firmware to the latest version available on the manufacturer's site.
3. Reset the router to factory defaults and reconfigure.