Eratic internet connection

Tallytom

Hi all


My internet connection is working on a laptop, Kindle and all the mobile phones in the house but is not working on my desktop computer. What could have happened? How can somebody who isn't very techie like me resolve it? We have a wireless connection. Thanking you in advance.

wongataa

Did it work in the past? Do you have a wireless network card/dongle in the computer in question? Do other wireless devices work when next to the computer in question - is the signal good enough at the computer location?

Tallytom

Yes it worked until last night. I have a dongle in the computer. How would I test if the signal is good enough on that computer?

wongataa

You can test to see if the signal is strong enough by taking a mobile phone connected to the wi-fi and seeing if it still connects by the computer. You could try taking the dongle out and putting it back to see if that gets it going as well.

esuhl

Tallytom wrote: »

Yes it worked until last night. I have a dongle in the computer. How would I test if the signal is good enough on that computer?

Maybe one of your neighbours has set up a wireless access point that's interfering with yours? It might be worth changing the channel on the router (via the web interface).

I don't know if anyone else knows of any Windows programs that can display local wireless networks with their channels and signal strengths...? Something like that would probably be useful.

GunJack

esuhl wrote: »

I don't know if anyone else knows of any Windows programs that can display local wireless networks with their channels and signal strengths...? Something like that would probably be useful.

Of course... inSSIDer, has been around for a long time

esuhl

GunJack wrote: »

Of course... inSSIDer, has been around for a long time

I used InSSIDer before, but I think they charge for it now...? I also used NetStumbler, but the website I found looked a bit basic... I wasn't sure it was the legit site...?

GunJack

esuhl wrote: »

I used InSSIDer before, but I think they charge for it now...? I also used NetStumbler, but the website I found looked a bit basic... I wasn't sure it was the legit site...?

it is possible to find the earlier (free) versions of inSSIDer...

http://www.wi-spy.co.uk/index.php/component/content/article/49-inssider-2

p.s I've just tried the download link on that page and it is safe

Cisco001

Have you check if your dongle working?

Since you have a laptop, you can disable the wifi on the laptop, then install dongle on it to check if it is faulty.

Also, since you laptop is working. Take it right next to your desktop to see if there is signal drop.

googler

If the desktop sits close to the router, why not connect both with an ethernet cable, and get round any potential dongle issues?

anna42hmr

googler wrote: »

If the desktop sits close to the router, why not connect both with an ethernet cable, and get round any potential dongle issues?

as above suggestion, of if it is a distance from the router you may want to consider home plugs/powerlines adapters as an alternative to wi-fi.