Wireless connection dropping off

BB1984

Hi there, hope someone can help as this is driving me mad!

I recently purchased a new laptop, and am having real problems with the wireless internet connection (Belkin router, Virgin Media ISP). It tends to be connected when I first switch on the laptop, but then it drops off after a few minutes. Sometimes I can refresh the page a few times and it'll come back (only for the first couple of times it happens), and sometimes it'll come back if I reconnect via the Network Connections box on my toolbar. But generally, I can't get it back no matter what I do, and have to resort to connecting via the ethernet cable.

My desktop computer is connected wirelessly to the same router and has no problems.

I thought it was due to installing Bullguard, but I contacted their support desk and did everything they told me to do, and it doesn't seem to have made any difference.

In desperation the other day I reset the router, and tried to set up a new connection but that seems to have made things worse!

I must admit I'm not very techie minded about these things, so I'm afraid to fiddle about with it too much in case I kill it completely!

Any help much appreciated

BB

macman

First thing to do is change the wireless channel on the router, odds are it's conflicting with another nearby router on the same channel. Just log into the router interface and try another setting (i.e. not the default channel).
You can use a free program like Netstumbler to see what channel neighbouring devices are set to, and then use something different.
Also it may be best to let Windows control the wireless card on your laptop, this is generally better than using the manufacturer's own software.