my computer is interferring with another computer on my networks connection

i have a dell vostro with an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection and it's really strange, everytime my computer is off the network the other computer in my house works perfectly, but when i am on our network it destroys the connection for the other computer and it becomes really unstable

my connection is also quite unstable on our home connection btw

what is the problem? is this hardware or software related or a mixture of both?

 

It sounds like an IP conflict. Are they both wireless?

 

Have you tried changing the Wireless Channel number on the computer that seems to be causing issues?

Or tried changing the Wireless Channel number on the Router itself...or even the other computer?

 

Are you using static ip addresses or are you letting the router handle it through dhcp?

 

Sounds like software. you could also tumor on the Dell , but not connect to the Internet and see if you get interruptions.

 

Both the computers use a wireless connection to access the internet

I have no idea how to change the wireless channel number on a computer, I just know how to do it on a router

I have a DHCP configuration

tumor on the dell? What does this mean? s
sorry if I sound dumb for asking,

 

I think it was supposed to read "turn on the Dell".

Would you please explain what "destroys the connection...becomes unstable" means? Does the other computer get BSOD screens? Do applications crash?

The channel is changed on the router, not the computer. The computer merely uses whatever channel is being broadcast by the router.

What router do you have? Have you checked the DHCP log on the router when both computers are connected to the network?

 

well, the connection just becomes really unstable

i have a linksys WRT54GC router

i've been looking in the dhcp log but i have no idea what it means, what should i look for?

 

Have you downloaded the router manual from Linksys? That's a great place to start.

 

Are both computers by any chance named the same? Sometimes there is an error when networking if they both have the same network name, like "User" or w/e.

Also...how many computers connect to the internet in your house? Sometimes there just arnt enough ip adresses to go around.

 

my router can give over 200 different ip adresses so it should be enough and the computers aren't named the same

 

On the computer go to Control Panel--> System--> Hardware--> Device Manager; look under the Network Adapters, right click the Wireless Adapter and select Properties; then browse through the Advanced tab and look for a setting that speaks abut the Wireless Channel number. You'll want to set that to the same number as the Router's Channel number. Most likely it should be 11;

So you'll have to log into the Router by entering it's IP Address in your Web Browser. To find the Router's IP; while connected to it go to Start--> Run and type cmd and hit enter. Then type ipconfig and hit enter. The Default Gateway is the Router's IP Address...enter that IP in you Web Browser; log into the Router (might be admin for username and a blank password) and look for anything that mentions Channel # under the Wireless section of the Router's config. pages. As I said before this should be the same as the computer's. If it is the same try a different channel #.

 

is the wireless channel the ad hoc channel?

edit: pretty sure it is, i will see how it goes now, i will report back on it later

thanks for the help!

 

No it's not the Ad-Hoc Channel I was referring to. Nevertheless, you most likely would see better results if you change the Wireless Channel number being Broadcasts by your Router. So log into the Router instead, change the channel number it's Broadcasting on, save the settings and monitor the network connection.

 

dwd - you really should read the manual. It explains what all the settings do.