Is wireless internet connection normal/common?

TITLE EDIT: DISCONNECTION

I JUST installed my modem and wireless g router yesterday and my internet service just began yesterday as well. Anyhow, It seems that my wireless signal drops every couple hours or so for about 2-4 seconds. It's annoying but is this normal? If not, is there a way to fix this? (I have the latest firmware and the router is in the same room as me).

Sorry, but I'm new to the whole wireless scene!

THanks!

EDIT: It seems that when I drop connection, I go to the router and all the lights are still on, even on the modem. I'm beginning to think its my wireless card.

 

What router do you have?

 

linksys wrt54g2

I read this issue on other forums, specifically, the "no cable connected" that the error diagnostic showed when i tested it after a drop of activity..

what i did was, as suggested by the other forums, disable the Ethernet adapter in device manager. So far so good...will have to see.. will update if it does not solve the issue.

 

****it. it dropped for a second.

 

If you think it's your wireless card, then go to a hotspot with free WIFI to test it out for a few hours to see if it drops like it does at home. Is your router refurbished or new? I've had problems with Netgear's refurbished router in the past.

 

I think it's my card as well. It is happening alot more than I thought.. About 3 times so far in the past hour. Each time I try to repair (even though it re-connects in seconds anyhow) it gives me

"There may be a problem with one of the adapters on this computer Try: Connecting network cable and press retry"

I press retry and by that time my connection is back and it says its fixed...even though I know that wasn't the true solution....


Any ideas what I can do? I have the latest firmware for my router and even updated my wifi card (intel 5100)

The odd thing is that as soon as I'm back up, my signal is always EXCELLENT.

 

I had a problem with the internal wireless NIC on my VAIO Z1A dropping signal all the time, particularly during a large d/l; however, my system is about 5.5 years old now. I finally got tired enough with the constant dropping that I just got a plug-in wireless adapter, and haven't had a problem with dropped signals since then.

You could check to see if it's your internal NIC by buying a wireless adapter, putting it in, and seeing if you still get dropped signals. If you don't, then it's probably a problem with the internal NIC. At that point, you could either just keep the adapter, or return it and see about finding a replacement for the internal NIC (either warranty through _Sony, or online if you're out of warranty). If the adapter doesn't stop the dropped signal problem, then it's probably not a NIC issue, and you could then just return the wireless adapter for a refund and then try to replace the router to see if that's the problem.

 

hmm dang. well i'm pretty sure its the wireless...either router or wifi card. im on wired now (from the router's ethernet ports) and so far not a problem...

dang...guess i'll have to go take my laptop to campus or a friends house to try it. this sucks. i wouldn't mind if it was once a week or so..but it seemed like it was occuring more frequently...thing is..i'm not downloading or anything. i was the only one on the network just browsing the net and it still dropped every 5-15 minutes.

 

This has been a known issue on some Macbooks. Intermittent connections due to wireless card problems. I forget the exact reasons.

While router problems are by no means unheard of, chances are its a problem with the wireless card based on the fact that the interruption is only a few seconds. When I had router problems with a Netgear router a couple of years ago, it would go out for a significantly longer period of time, or until I unplugged it for a couple of minutes and/or moved ethernet cables from one port to another. The explanation I got back then was that the Netgear was prone to overheating. I don't know if that is a known problem with a Linksys.

 

disabling -a and only leaving b/g enabled via device manager solved my problem. i also changed the channel of my card too.

 

Check you lease time on the router (lan ports). Also check to see if your Power Management is not lowering or dropping the power to it, to same energy. Check both AC and Battery settings.