I think that I would refer to my post as an educated guess rather than a wild guess or a wild goose chase. Here's a link to my last educated guess at the same problem with the same symptoms. Looks like that wild goose was caught pretty fast here.
Lets not confuse logic,experience and intuition with wild guessing because there is a huge difference between them.
D-Link Dir-655 Constant Connection Drops
Well, we have different ways to solve problems :) I do have my own guesses, but according to my experience, educated guess + some important diagnostic data = 95++% chance of nailing the problem. I personally look for diagnostic data first than guessing first, but that's just me :)
zzz2496
I'm pretty sure I wasn't guessing at all, IMO I've personlly fixed this same problem countless times so there wasn't much guess work involved for me. I think the link I posted proves my point.
I won't get into the fact that ping testing won't help with this type of problem. The IPconfig will also look normal and only adds the confusion.
The fact that this same problem has come up over and over again makes the diagnosis much easier. It seems that Windows 7 network is much more sensitive to channel cross over problems for some reason.
can also try flushing the windows ARP cache ... google.com -search for- resetting windows ARP cache ... by default, windows is suppose automatically flush this cache .. if it fills up and windows does not flush it, your internet connection will be disrupted..
Also, you can try to update your router firmware (providing you have a router). If all these fixes that are posted do not work and you have a router, try removing the router and connecting directly to the modem (if your not dial up) and see if the connection remains up.. if so, its a hardware issue.. replace the router.
Here's what I'd do with ipconfig + ping data, ipconfig shows that it's still normal, default gateway and everything, but can't ping google/the AP, then there is a connection problem between the wifi NIC and the AP, is it channel collision? I don't know, I won't get to that until I get the diagnostic data of the wifi radio connection. Several probes later, I might arrive at your conclusion - but I got there with confidence IMHO, supported with many diagnostic data which then concludes that it's a channel collision. But you're right, you're much more experienced and more knowledgeable than me, I'm bow my head...
zzz2496
Of course the Op could always try SSIDer software to find an unused channel, but that might be too easy. :)
inSSIDer Wi-Fi Scanner | MetaGeek
AGREED 100% !!!As I said, I'm all for diagnostic data... I don't (and can't) work by just using instinct + experience, it's just not my nature.
Good job on this one, chev65.
zzz2496
Quote
That would help a lot...