USB wireless network adapter

bartman

I hope somebody can help with this! I've just bought a Dynamode wireless router, which came bundled with a USB adapter, for use with my cable broadband modem. I am using the router to connect 2 desktops by wired connections, but wanted the wireless connection for the OH's laptop.
I have installed, uninstalled, and reinstalled the software on the laptop more times than I can remember over the last couple of days, but always with the same result - the internet connection is fine to begin with, then after 5-10 minuted is is dropped and cannot be re-established without restarting. The signal strength stays on 85 to 100% throughout!
It's not an encryption problem, I haven't done that yet as I thought I would get the system working first! Nor have I switched on the router's firewall.
I wondered whether there is an issue with the power supply to the USB port - sometimes if I hot-plug the adapter, it reports a power surge and refuses to let me continue using that port until I have reset it. As an experiment, I installed the USB adapter on one of the desktops, and it worked fine - this is a USB-1 connection, the same as the laptop.
Any ideas before my brain is totally scrambled? (Actually, it's probably too late for that!)

albertross_2

Is it the internet connection dropping, or the connection between the router and laptop/usb? Can you ping the router when it drops?

I'd encyrpt it and use the firewall btw..


It could be interference from the neighbours, have you tried changing channels. If the same usb stick works on a PC but not laptop, check that there is no power saving enabled on the adapter.

bartman

It must be the connection between the router and the laptop/usb. I have pinged it ok when the network is shown as working, but after the internet freezes the software connection panel eventually shows that the connection to the network (still on "default") has gone. I haven't tried pinging it after that.
I certainly intend making it secure if I ever get it working ok!

I went into "device manager" and I'm pretty sure I have made sure that power saving isn't applied. I've also been using the laptop with the mains plugged in, not relying on battery power.

It started on channel 6 by default - I've tried changing it to 1 with no difference. I would have thought that if there was interferance from a neighbour's system that would have been a problem when it was installed on the desktop too.

albertross_2

A couple of things that will tell you what's out there, and what channels they are using..

http://www.passmark.com/products/wirelessmonitor.htm
http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

If it is def using wireless on the desktop, using the same key, all I can think of is powersaving issues.

Are you using Windows to configure the dongle, or software that came with it?

bartman

I'm using the software that came bundled with it - I've tried searching for any possible update, but no luck.
I think I might try buying a powered usb hub - even if it doesn't solve this problem it's something that will be of use at some time! It won't make the laptop very portable, though!
Thanks for the links, I'll look into those.