Is my modem/router dying?

Gazing_On_Sunsets

I connect to the internet with a Huawei Broadband Wireless ADSL ROuter that was supplied by TalkTalk. It's plugged into the phone socket downstairs: I use my laptop, wirelessly, upstairs and have had no problems for a year.

Yesterday I could not connect to the internet but I could connect to the router - by which I mean, the WLAN light was on. The ADSL light flickered a lot, and the Internet light did not come on. I restarted, rebooted, and eventually assumed there was a local broadband issue.

Tonight I had the same problem so I eventually plugged straight into the router, and got online - intermittently. I changed channels and few times. I ended up restoring factory settings on the router. Now, I am working wirelessly - at last, though it's patchy.

So... I don't know enough about networking. I know hardware doesn't last for ever, and the fact I could get on the internet when plugged in suggests that there is not a local broadband issue (I checked the TalkTalk website and there were no reported outages here). Is it possible (forgive what might be a stupid question!!!) that the *wireless* part of the router is failing? Or my (elderly) laptop's wireless card - could that be failing?

Should I start looking for a new router? Can I just buy one, off the shelf, to replace what TalkTalk sent me, if it says the same spec on the label - will it match up?

I hope I made sense, it's really hard to ask the right questions when you don't understand properly!

GunJack

1. yes, could be either router or lappy wifi card becoming intermittent.

2. Yes, you can just buy one, plog in your ISP account details, and off you go

3. don't worry too much about the "spec" as you put it, unless you want N-wifi, which if your wifi devices aren't, would be a waste.

4. Decent routers (D-Link dsl-2640B or 2740B, netgear DG834GT, 834G, etc can be had for very little off ebay.

5. RULE OUT wifi congestion in your vicinity BEFORE you go splashing out on a new router. Run inssider on the lappy where you usually use it, i.e. upstairs, download from here:-

http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/

and change your router's wifi channel to one that is not or least congested

6. update your lappy's wifi card drivers, and/or try a usb wifi dongle if you have one handy/easily borrowed

Gazing_On_Sunsets

Wonderful - thank you, a helpful reply.
Yes I wondered about interference so I downloaded netstumbler, which showed up a Sky network locally on a low signal but I could see that from the Wireless Networks dialogue in WinXP anyway - no other networks show up on that, nor on netstumbler - however I shall have a look at inssider tomorrow.
Since posting the initial message everything's been fine...so far...

GunJack

netstumbler is similar to inssider, I've just always used inssider for this stuff. Make sure you run it where you normally use the lappy though.... for example, when I run it on desktop downstairs, I pick up mine and next door's router. When I run it on a lappy on the 2nd floor (3-storey house) I can pick up anything up to 14 different routers when they're all switched on, so choose your channel carefully Oh, and btw, you'll probably pick up more at eves and w/ends, when everyone's at home and surfing/gaming/whatever

p.s. when you run inssider, you'll have to choose your lappy's wifi card from the dropdown list before you start scanning, or the poor thing won't know what hardware to use

Gazing_On_Sunsets

Netstumbler was difficult to understand so I uninstalled it and tried inSSIDer - much better, thank you - I can see what channels my neighbours are on, and avoid that.
I also updated the driver for my wireless card.
Connection fine now, upstairs - but after a lot of research, think it's time to get a new router!