Network Connection Issues

[MrSkeptical]

For some reason my laptop will not remain connected to my wifi. The other computers on the network are running just fine. The laptop in question is one I recently received from a friend who had no problems like this. I have been browsing various forums for quite some time, and have been unable to fix the problem. Running Windows 7 on an ASUS machine, the router is a Linksys RangePlus. Any help would be greatly appreciated, the issue is causing much frustration.

 

[2xg]

Welcome to Seven Forums,

Please logon to your router's setting, locate the Wireless page see if it's on a Mixed mode or B/G/N? You may change the mode to B/G or G, save the new setting then test your connection.

Do you have the latest driver installed in your Wi-Fi adapter?

 

[MrSkeptical]

Updated my adapter driver, can't find where to determine the mode of the wireless. I'll let you know if the driver fixed it.

 

[2xg]

Another thing that might help if you have not done this yet....
Try disabling the power saving mode of your network adapter from Device Manager.
Type Device Manager from Start Orb rb:, see on the top Device Manager, locate Network Adapters double click on it right click on the problematic Network Adapter and choose Properties, find Power Management Tab uncheck the boxes if they are checked, click Ok. Now, see if the issue persist and give us an update.

 

[MrSkeptical]

Okay, did that. The connection seems to be holding. I'll update tomorrow again sometime. (I spend most of the day connected to a voice chat which is quite effective at telling me whether my connection is there or not.)

 

[MrSkeptical]

Hmmm... It doesn't seem to have worked.

 

[2xg]

Can you try connecting to another Wi-Fi networks or a Hotspot? See if you're able to replicate the issue.

 

[MrSkeptical]

Update from a couple days later: Figured out how to change my wireless channel, that seems to have fixed it. Thanks for the help!

 

[2xg]

Great news indeed. Thanks for the update.

 

[chev65]

Yes for some reason Windows 7 network will drop the connection if the wireless channels are overloaded, this wasn't true with XP or Vista.

It's probably a good thing because it forces you to move to channels that aren't overloaded which would increase the potential band width on the better channels.

You would think that Windows 7 would inform the user about this problem when it occurs but no such luck.

I use the Xirrus wifi channel scanner to find the best channel for my wireless connection.
http://www.xirrus.com/Products/Wi-Fi-Inspector

How to find the best channel for your area.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc783011(v=WS.10).aspx