Router/ laptops problem

We use three or four laptops, on the internet, all by wifi. Recently we have been having a problem. The problem does not always happen but usually happens about twice a day. When we turn on the laptops one of the laptops will not connect to the internet. Usually the answer is to turn off the router, wait 20 seconds then turn back on again, then usually all is well until we turn off the laptops for an hour or so then it all starts again. As I have said, sometimes all the laptops work fine. Any ideas?

What O/Ss?

Try switch uPnP off on router.

Two windows 7. One vista. It also happens with an ipad we have. It can be anyone of the laptops that it happens to.

Do any of the machines use torrents/P2P? They can open so many ports that they end up making the router unusable (and I think that may be why xray is suggesting turning off UPNP).

DHCP problems?

Assuming that the router is acting as a DHCP server are there any fixed IP addresses set by any of the laptops or the router?

Maybe it is working until a DHCP lease expires?

Poster: ian72
Subject: Re: Router/ laptops problem
Do any of the machines use torrents/P2P? They can open so many ports that they end up making the router unusable (and I think that may be why xray is suggesting turning off UPNP).

No torrent sites etc.

In reply to a post by greenglide:

DHCP problems?

Assuming that the router is acting as a DHCP server are there any fixed IP addresses set by any of the laptops or the router?

Maybe it is working until a DHCP lease expires?

We have not given any of the laptops a fixed IP address.. The router is from o2 & set by them. We have been with o2 for about 4 years with no problems until recently. They changed the router, but still the problem.

Not sure what you mean by the last statement.

To check the IP addressing go to a command prompt on a Windows PC and run "ipconfig /all" (without the quotes) and note down the details (a screen grab would probably be easiest as there will be a lot there).

Do this when the device is working and again when it stops working and compare the 2. That should give an idea of whether it is the devices IP address that is causing the issue.

Also, when it is failing try pinging the router (the IP Address of the router will be listed as the "Gateway Address" within the ipconfig results). In case you don't know to run a ping go to a command prompt again and type :

ping [ip address]

ie ping 192.168.0.1

See if you get responses of if the ping fails. If the ping fails you are losing communication with the router.

Thanks for the help. I have made a screen grab & now await the connection to fail again.

I have one person who plays a game/games on his computer. Is it possible this could be the problem?
If it is what can I do to stop the problem.
I read up a little on 'uPnP'. We use Messenger & a few other similar services & it seems turning off the 'uPnP' could cause problems with this?

uPnP nowt to do with Messenger and its ilk.

Why not try it and see? Nowt ventured, nowt gained.

Just been onto o2 again. They just say change the channel as it may be interference. I have changed it 6 times & still the problem happens. o2 say until they change the channel themselves 6 times they won't do anything else. They also said they doubt it would be a gaming problem.

Is the router getting very hot?

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Is the router getting very hot?

Its just warm.

o2 say they want to change a channel each day (13 channels) & only if the fault persists will they take it further. They used to be so helpful but nowadays their help is very bad.

Presumable you are with O2 like I'm currently. May I ask what version of the O2 supplied Modem/Router you're using?? I used to have the OLD Thompson V2 from O2 and had experienced similar WiFi dropout problems as yours in that very occasionally my Tablet(not Ipad) and a particular one of my laptops would dropout their wireless connections(using WAP2), and could only reconnect if I rebooted them very occasionally(getting to the point of annoying). I was initially thinking that was due to my CHEAP tablet had a dodgy wireless design. However when O2 replaced my V2 with their latest V5 modem/router a few months back, all my wireless dropouts had suddenly been resolved on its own with same wireless protocol and channel!!
As such if you're with O2 and are using their older version of modem/router and wireless, it is wise to try O2's latest V5 hardware, as least you can rule out whether you may have a dodgy modem/router !! O2 should still be replacing with V5 modem/router FREE unless they have changed their condition now!
Just a thought

Edited by deleted (Fri 11-May-12 11:25:21)

And changing wireless channels from 1 to 2 to three etc makes no sense either!

1, 6 and 13 are the "recommended" channels to use - the others just overlap each other.

Get a decent router?

EDIT: Typo - was 1, 1 and 13!

Edited by greenglide (Fri 11-May-12 12:54:07)

1, 6 and 11 are non-overlapping chanels most commonly recomended, 1, 7 & 13 obviously also don't overlap but quite a few wireless devices do not use chanels 12 or 13 (which are not approved in USA) so these two may cause problems anyway.

Edited by deleted (Fri 11-May-12 12:49:39)

The OP has stated that "cant access internet" when this occurs.

Are all the laptops still connect to the wireless network? If the wireless is still connected but the internet isnt accesible this looks like some kind of problem with the router.

This sounds identical to what happens if you use torrents and exceed the number of concurrent connections the router will support.

Are the games played on-line? Are you "certain" that no one is using torrents?

Is the firewall in the router switched on? You could switch it off and see if that makes a difference - it usually helps if it is a torrent like problem.

Uh?

The reason for changing channels is to avoid, or at least minimise, overlap with other wireless users within reach. So the initial idea of changing channel 1 at a time is perfectly sensible. It falls down however as it ignores the fact that at any time other routers may start or stop using proximate channels.

Using the "recommended" 1, 6, 13, (many don't go above 11), merely shows the ignorance of whoever that recommendation comes from. (Not meaning you, I'm meaning any earlier source. It's another internet myth). If everyone used those channels then the interference from and to neighbouring routers would be maximised.

On Windows machines InSSIDer is an excellent tool for seeing what else is around, and how strong a signal, in real-time. Checking there lets you pick the cleanest available at the time, though after a while you get to know which come and go a lot.

Spread is about 2 channels either side of the chosen one. An increasing number of people are now using bonded channels, with the increasing use of "n" wireless. The secondary channel is 4 away from the selected one, giving an overall spread of 7 channels. I can see three right now, 1+5, 6+2, 13+9.

Edit - I reckon O2 are wasting time on this track.

Edited by RobertoS (Fri 11-May-12 14:45:10)

Log into the router with "superuser" priveleges and configure each connected device to always use the same IP.

to see if channels are in use, get a copy of 'InSSIDer'
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InSSIDer

I had the original wireless box 1 until a few days ago, which was fine on wireless (I only use a phone wirelessly - pc is wired). Because of a speed issue and others, o2 changed my box to a V. Speed is now near where it ought to be for my line. I turned on wireless, paired my phone to the router with the SSID and key and all seemed fine.

But wifi kept stopping despite giving the appearance of still being connected ok. I called o2 and they changed the channel from 1 to 13. This seemed better initially but soon proved the same. I called again and they were not able to log onto my router to make any changes but recommended I tried 6,7 or 8. I tried 6 and seemed better but still disconnected as did 7 and 8. They told me that box 5 was proving problematic and they may have to send me out another, either a 2 or 4. I have since downloaded an app to my phone that picks up the local wifi networks so have set channel to automatic selection to see what happens. Here is a shot. It's sent from the mobile so will be a bit dinky. Mine is the blue curve in the middle.

I don't know much about wifi, but all I know is the old router was fine in that respect. It has an antenna whereas this new one has none. AFAIK the other o2 boxes have antennas. Not sure what effect that has.