unusual networking behaviour CF-29 win xp

I've noticed something strange going on with my network here. I can be working away happily then all of a sudden web page lookups stop working and DNS resolution ceases.

The wi-fi connection to my DSL router (Dlink DSL-604T) is fine as I can load the admin page and look at what it's doing.

The DSL connection is fine as well and I have another PC hard-wire connected to the DSL router which works ok all the time with external lookups.

I don't think it's the DSL router itself though I haven't ruled that out. It does run very warm as it's got the DSL connection, the local wi-fi, and a couple of hard-wire connected hosts (including a laser printer) connected to it.

I'm thinking more that it's either Firefox or perhaps something in Win Xp itself on this system that isn't playing ball.

What's really strange is that the problem rectifies itself after a while, and a while later comes back again.

With a *nix system I would use things like traceroute, ping, etc. to figure out how and where network packets are going or not going. Not sure if that's going to help with what I've been seeing.

Anyone else been experiencing something similar?

Craig.

 

I've seen similar symptoms on my friend's Wifi (he has a D-Link wireless N router, not sure of model, which is connected to a typical cable modem). That's while on my Inspiron seen in my signature.

Really sounds like a router fault to me. Aforementioned friend blames his modem but these symptoms began for me when he bought the new router.

The troubleshooting commands you want to use in *nix also exist in the Windows command prompt (ping, tracert).

 

Well here's a new twist. This morning I decided to try another approach seeing as this system came to me with a Sierra EV-DO card installed (no good to me, I don't even know if any Australian networks support consumer EV-DO) in the removable sled above the battery.

So I powered down, removed the sled, and powered up again. So far, the wi-fi has kept working almost all the time and I haven't struck any of the unexplained network problems.

I've never tried to use the Sierra device for anything up to now.

I haven't fully concluded that to have been the cause, but the co-incidental effect appears to be holding true since I removed the sled earlier today.

On the subject of that sled, the Sierra EV-DO module has two antenna connectors like most internal wireless network cards. One has a pigtail that goes to a connecter at the back of the sled (going somewhere in the system to another antenna - maybe the one at the top-left of the LCD housing), and another one to a PCB antenna on the 'host' PCB that forms the basis of the sled itself.

Craig.

 

I hope you figure it out. My wireless goes down or at least unable to talk to Firefox and T'bird. If I'm not too lazy at the moment I go in and unplug / replug the power to the wireless modem. This usually clears it up. Though we have been having some weather created outages to confuse the issue. All the while the computer can see the wireless network????????????? And if I wait long enough it clears itself.
It would be interesting for you I think to run ipconfig/all from a command prompt while yours is Tango Uniform (mammary glands skyward).
Since I am on the dreaded *ix I haven't figured out the system to check mine. I know it's there just haven't taken the time to work on 'that' problem.
Good luck.
Jeff
Edit: Linksys/Cisco WRT54G2 behind D-link Broadband Router. System goes Dish- D-link- Linksys. Dish points at a mountain-top south of here.
When it's down it's down for two or more computers. J

 

Be careful, sometimes a slow connection especially one involving DNS issues can be a browser hijacker. Some will change your DNS settings to go through a third party FIRST before going to the correct page. This makes for a slow connection that will not consistantly load pages. The possibility is higer if other machines on the same network work fine.

 

Yep, thats a good point.
Also u can try to clear the dns-cache;
deactivate and reactivate the autoconfiguration of ur network adapter (netsh command);
trial out if u have the problems with an other adapter (wired,wireless) andcheck the cable/the distance to the access point

 

I would also lean towards your network adapter as you have had fewer problems with the Sierra card. Also, while there should be no compatibility issues, I have had problems in the past when I mix wifi components from different brands. Either way, I think your problem would go away with a different card (other than the Sierra).