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Heddi
join:2011-05-15
Seattle, WA | Qwest DSL keeps dropping wireless signal.. Hello!
Totally new to this forum, but it seems to have some helpful info.
I have Qwest DSL, Actiontec router PK5000. Previously had comcast Cable internet and have only had Qwest since about March, and no problems at all...until recently.
It seems that my wireless signal just drops for no reason at all. I am, at most, 15 feet from the router.
I am able to regain a wireless signal if I reset the router. I am always able to get online if I connect directly with an ethernet cable.
I called customer support 4'xs in the past 4 days, and everyone has given me the runaround (in addition to being the rudest people I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with). The last woman I spoke with told me that it is common with wireless internet to have to connect your computer to the modem via ethernet, then disconnect it to get wireless service  no. Then she argued with me for 15 minutes that there really isn't any "true" wireless service, that everyone needs to start out connected with an ethernet...yeah.
In the course of the 4 calls, tech support has had me change several modem settings, including channels (from default, to 9, to 11), change my router name & password, reset again and again, and still it happens.
It seems that if I am off the computer, and the wireless is I guess "idle" (the best way I can put it), then the wireless connection goes down. Again, my internet is still usable because I can get netflix through my DVD player (via ethernet to the modem), and if I hook the computer up to the modem via ethernet, I can get internet. However, I have to manually reset the modem for a wireless signal to come through.
This issue isn't just with the 1 laptop, but both laptops and both iPhones.
Any suggestions for why this is happening, how to make it stop happening? I feel it's the modem, but I don't know.
Thanks so much for all your help!
Hed
(oh, and I don't know if this makes a difference, I'm in Seattle, capitol hill area....) | |
 lordpufferComfortably NumbPremium
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1 edit | Is there an upgrade to the Firmware for your Modem/Router? If, not, is it possible that the Modem/Router has gone bad, and you need a replacement from Qwest?
The only other thing that i can think of, but it costs, is to purchase another stand-alone Wireless Router and "bridge" the PK5000 to the new Router so that the PK5000 is only acting as a Modem.
EDIT: Also, other wireless devices such as cordless phones can interfere with the Wireless Router. Try to make sure that these other devices are away from the Router, and if possible, on different frequencies.
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If you need a re-format, just ask and I'll do it. If you don't need one, just give me 5 minutes with your computer, and you will. | |
| reply to Heddi
Here is a link to a wireless utility that may help you identify what is happening. It will give you the signal level, SSID, radio channel, and other info found with in range of your PC. Try the program with your DSL unit powered on and with it off to see if another signal is being masked by yours on the same or adjacent channels.
»www.metageek.net/products/inssider/
It's possible that someone else is on the same channel with a strong signal causing interference.
I use this program prior to installations and on service calls in order to check on possible conflicts with other wireless PC networks.
What this program won't show you are possible interfering signals that are not PC related, like wireless keyboards, headsets, mice, cell phones, other non-cell wireless phones, etc. As a test try powering off all wireless devices in your house other than the PC and DSL modem and see if things improve.
It is also possible for the antenna to become loose or fall off on laptops. You might want to open the cover over your wireless card and verify that things are still hooked up properly.
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