This is starting to drive me crazy. I have a Linksys Wireless Router, WRT54G ver 2 and I have updated to the most recent firmware (which is only sometime in 2006). Every now and then, my laptop seems to "lose" the connection. I then select "view available networks" and I get a list of 3 or 4 different wireless networks (all of my neighbours) but often, my home network is not included in the list!
Sometimes, pulling the plug on the router and then plugging it back in helps and then other times I just need to restart my laptop, and that cures the problem. But I don't understand why it happens and it is beginning to drive me crazy.
Any suggestions?

You didn't provide any details on your current configuration or security settings, but ....

Probably one of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to use both Windows and their wireless card/chipset manufacturer's utility at the same time. That doesn't work well, as they'll kill each other off. Make sure if you are using the utility provided from your radio mfg'r that Windows is set to NOT manage your wireless connection.

Also:

- Make sure you are using a unique SSID on the AP and notebook. Don't use the Linksys default.
-Try changing your AP's channel. The 'unique' channels with very little overlap are 1, 6 and 11.
- If you are using mixed mode (on both the notebook and AP), try switching to 'G' only, assuming your devices are all 'G'.

If you can correct it by rebooting your notebook, it appears your AP is still up and available. Take a close look at the radio settings on your notebook (hardware manager). Different wireless hardware has different options, but make sure you tighten up anything you can - e.g. use 'G' only, as above, if you don't need it more open.

Any suggestions?How far is the router? Walls, floors? B or G? What laptop? What security? Any old Panasonic wireless phones in the house? Old microwave?
Have you tried 3rd party firmware?
trying to use both Windows and their wireless card/chipset manufacturer's utility at the same time. That doesn't work well,This doesn't work at all.
Both utilities - when inactive - will tell you the other is used for configuration and explicitely ask for permission to take over.

Diogen.

Both utilities - when inactive - will tell you the other is used for configuration and explicitely ask for permission to take over.
Depends on which operating system, and also on the wireless utility (and version). For the O/S, this is not the case on Windows 2000, where Windows will happily allow the other utility to run - and the two will do exactly what the OP described. As I said, the post was lacking in some important information.

Sorry for the scarcity of details. I have changed the SSID and I do have the setting for "mixed" even though the only devices I have accessing it are 'G' (laptop and PSP).
I am using one of the "unique" channels.
Proximity is the same floor and when I "see" the network, strength is very good.
I have it set for windows to manage the wireless device.

Try changing the channel for starters (on the WRT54G) - you could be using a popular channel in your area.

If that doesn't help, try limiting it to 'G' only connections - just try one change at a time.

What operating system? Is the wireless chipset built in to your notebook, or are you using an add-in PCMCIA card? What mfg. and model? Have you checked the mfg. for upgrades to your Windows driver?

...this is not the case on Windows 2000...Hmmm...
Didn't know that.
Good info. Thanks.

Diogen.

I have the linksys 54g wireless access point (can't remember the model... WAP54G?) and I have the same problem with that. In my case I find that the laptop will reconnect with the WAP if I just wait for 15-20 seconds.

It's annoying though, as this frequently kills my VPN session and whatever I happen to be doing at the time.

Agreed. Sometimes it will just reconnect on its own but I don't know why it loses it in the first place.

I am not sure if you are using other machines on the linksys as well, but I have found removing the "Internet Gateway Device Discovery and Control Client" has resolved many odd connectivity issues on home networks. Add/Remove Programs -> Add/Remove Windows Components -> Networking

Remove this from all machines in the house.

I've installed over a dozen WRT54G v.2 and 3 (all but 2 using Alchemy firmware).
Unless it is a faulty unit (I had one) or frequency interference, it is as reliable and almost as configurable as a $500 Cisco router.

Diogen.

I've found the router name alocation came make a difference at times.
By defauly its Linksys......change it to something unique to your network and re-establish the connection.

Mine was rock solid (I use a Linksys) untill i mucked with it a few days ago to get onto another network. Then after that it would disconnect randomly and even confuse windows into saying it wasnt connected even though it was and I could get net access.

Changing the name, and channel and resetting the network connection with a newly generated encrypted password.....set everything right again.

Also.....its great advice to limit transmission to G only as others have suggested.

EC

I was having the same problem as you for a while and it was really annoying. I was originally using WPA as my encryption method. Tried turning it off and using WEP. Problem solved. It has been working fine for a few weeks now.

I too have problems... but it only seems to happen with my PC with a wireless Linksys card. My Laptop and 360 have yet to drop and no reconnection.

99% of the time it seems to happen with a bittorrent client.

Is this just something that will inevitably happen with wireless devices?

I am loathe to experiment with the wireless settings as has been suggested. The only other wireless device I have, a print server, took me an entire afternoon to get working when I set it up (it's worked flawlessly since). Unless I know a change in settings will fix the problem I don't want to change anything....

PrimeBane,

Bittorrent will confuse some linksys routers as bittorrent attempts to open many ports and the router in a way....crashes.

If you should have this problem, limit the router to no more than 200 open connections and it should limit the crashing.

Upgrading the firmware may help but its up to linksys to fix this known problem.

EC

I'm using the same router with DD-WRT firmware, it's rock solid.
Google it, there's a detailed wiki on how to install it.

Thanks ecarlino016 :) I'll give that a shot.

Is the DD-WRT firmware compatible with Windows XP? I thought it was only for Linux???

ANyone ever try HyperWRT???

http://www.hyperwrt.org/

Not sure if I can post this link with the new forum rules - my apologies if I shouldn't have.....