Edimax EW-7612PIn Wireless PCI-Express Adapter disconnects randomly.

[BlindPixel]

I have had this problem since earlier this week. For some reason my Wireless Adapter will disconnect and hardly wants to reconnect. I have tried the following solutions:

1. Turn Router off and on.
2. Diagnose Problem.
3. Disable adapter then enable it again.
4. Uninstall adapter and install it again.
5. Disable 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.'

There was even a solution where someone said Wireless Zero Configuration service was the problem. I can't try this as I don't have this service. I would like a way to fix this but don't know how.

If there is any other information that is needed, let me know and I will post it. I have my information specs on my profile if anyone needs that.

 

[paul1149]

The router firmware might need a reflash. Try a different computer or adapter to isolate the problem.

 

[BlindPixel]

I can't try another adapter as I don't have another one. I can connect directly to the router with a network cable though.

As for other computers, there are two others in the house and they work better at keeping connection then mine. Although one computer has buffering issues with videos on YouTube. The other one sometimes disconnects but will connect right away with router being turned off and back on. This doesn't always work with my computer.

Since I posted the topic, the internet has been doing fine (not sure why though). Still want a solution though when it starts acting up again.

 

[paul1149]

I would consider a router reflash, which are periodically necessary. You can also use inSSIDer to see if there is any wifi channel conflict.

 

[BlindPixel]

I am not sure what a Router Reflash is supposed to be. I did do a factory reset on the router itself. It has worked all day but then the adapter started to disconnect from the router a few minutes ago. The other two computers seem to not have this problem.

The adapter itself doesn't seem to have an update for it, so can't see if that is the cause. When I first used inSSIDer, my router was on channel one. At one point it switched to Channel 11 (not sure why it did so). There are a few other routers around, but they aren't on all the time and don't use either channels 1 or 11. One did overlap when on channel 1 (the square went from 2 to 8 I believe).

The computer itself is almost 5 years old, so that might be the cause of the disconnections. Also when the adapter becomes disconnected, the router becomes invisible to the adapter. Even though it is in the next room over (open doorway and such) it just can't find it.

 

[paul1149]

Download the latest router firmware. Then go into the router with your browser and there will be a utility for flashing the firmware. Know the default log in credentials beforehand, as they may revert.

 

[BlindPixel]

I downloaded the latest version, but I can't seem to find the Utility to flash the firmware on the webpage. The router I am using is Netgear WNR2000v4 with firmware version V1.0.0.60.

 

[paul1149]

The utility is part of the router firmware itself. It's already there.

 

[BlindPixel]

The utility is part of the router firmware itself. It's already there.

Where would I find the utility itself? I looked through all the categories the router webpage shows, yet there is nothing that stats 'Flash Utility'.

In Administration there is Firmware Upgrade. I have tried looking on Google, but I can't seem to find anything that tells how to flash your firmware.

 

[paul1149]

Firmware upgrade is exactly it.

 

[BlindPixel]

Ah, then I guess I already flashed the firmware since I did the upgrade already. I will post on here if it didn't work.

 

[BlindPixel]

After flashing, I stayed connected for several days. Now it is random for the Adapter to disconnect but after a minute or so, it will reconnect. Other times the connection will disconnect and the router will not be available. Is the cause of these disconnections be from a Netgear Router and Edimax Wireless Adapter?

On a side note, not sure if it is related but the Router and Modem were acquired from Cox Communications. The adapter was purchased through Wal-Mart. So far today the connection has disconnected four times with one time where the router is not available.

 

[paul1149]

The brands shouldn't matter. Hard problem to pin down. I would probably mix the hardware up - switch adapters between computers and see if there's a common strain to the problem. Boot to a Linux boot disk on your machine and see how it behaves. Or try another router.

Interesting though that the router auto-switched channels. That could be the problem. See if there's a switch to lock the channel on 11.

 

[BlindPixel]

I can't really test out if it is the adapter itself on other computers. My computer is a Desktop while the other two are a laptop and All-in-One Computer. I am honestly not sure how Linux Boot Disk will work as my computer is Windows 7.

Also for the channel it seems the router was set to Auto, so I looked up the networks on inSSIDer and showed my router was set to Channel 1 now. So I decided to just set the router on channel 1. There is another Router that was setup on Channel 11, so that was another reason to keep in on Channel 1.

 

[paul1149]

Linux is easy, but I would go with this channel business for now. If that proves to be the solution you're set. If not, a replacement adapter or router is probably in order.

 

[BlindPixel]

Well, I haven't done the Linux test yet. I did lock the Channel to 1 and it didn't cut out for a while. However, it started randomly disconnecting again.

There are two theories I have been told by other people. The first is my computer is 5 years old, so it might be going out. The second theory is the fact my router is from Cox Communications and it is faulty. I do have a second router, but I am not allowed to test if it is the router as my wife believes it is the computer itself being too old.

One theory I have is there are too many people connected to the router and I am getting kicked off for some reason.

 

[GokAy]

A 5-year old computer is not too old.

Try the Linux path (live CD, no installation), that would eliminate the doubt about Windows installation. You can install the 2nd router with your current one, connect 2nd router WAN port to any LAN port on current router. Make sure the network IDs are different (say, make it 192.168.2.0).

 

[BlindPixel]

Okay, I setup the second router and so far it is working. Now for the Linux Live CD, is there a particular one I should use? I am new to using Linux Live CD and don't want to pick one that won't help me.

 

[paul1149]

The most all-round helpful diagnostic Linux CD is an older, free Parted Magic. But if you want to get a full taste of Linux, while at the same time testing the networking, I would go with either ubuntu or Linux Mint: Mate. The way this has been going, though, you are going to have to leave it on for extended periods to see if there's a difference.

 

[GokAy]

Folks here like Linux Mint MATE, just make sure you TRY it not install