Wireless problem

I recently needed to replace my Billion 7800n, so got the Billion 7800DXL.
Until recently, I've never had reason to use the Wi-Fi, but have a notebook computer too now.

With the 7800n, my notebook and two visiting family members iPhones were 'seen' and connected as soon as they arrived or the notebook was switched on.

With the iPhones, there's been a problem connecting each time they've visited, and eventually they manage it if re-doing the password process etc.

Today, I used the notebook for the first time since getting the new router, and it kept losing the connection: sometimes very briefly, other times for a longer period.
I was sitting at a table right through the wall of where my router is ..perhaps 4 feet away.
Son found his iPhone losing connection too while he was here.

He re-did the password etc on both devices and they seemed fine, but a couple of hours later, long after he'd left, the notebook was continually losing the connection.

This router only has 2 ariels whereas the 7800n had thee, but not sure that would make any difference.

If I get time tomorrow, I'll try using the notebook in this same room as the router and see if it remains connected.

Just wondered if there was likely to be any simple reason for the poor performance in just the next room.

What OS is main PC?

Try switching uPnP in router OFF.

The OS is W7 pro

Just tried turning uPnP off in the router but it made no difference.
I brought the notebook in here, only two feet from the router and it still keeps losing the connection.

Other son came a short while ago, and I asked him to try making a connection with his iPhone and his will not connect at all.

Eldest son needs to keep trying and re-entering the password before his eventually picks it up, and then it drops out frequently.
With the 7800n, it connected as soon as he arrived here.

I have 2.4 and 5g enabled.

I'd turn 5 GHz off temporarily (or change the SSID so that it's different to the 2.4 GHz SSID) to rule out problems with devices roaming between the two signals.

If things still don't work properly, try different channels (InSSIDer on an iPhone will display the local WiFi usage, but remember that other devices use 2.4 GHz).


It's also worth installing any available firmware updates on the router, as the update may contain a later wireless driver. Remember to save a copy of the router configuration first in case the firmware update resets it.

just check if you have Internet Gateway Network Connection connected on any PC. You shouldn't; it's for ICS but can cause discons if somehow it does run.

Don't think it would be a password/authentication issue but just haphazard discons.

I've tried turning off 5 G - no different.

The router was new just a few weeks ago, and was fully updated.
Hasn't worked properly with Wi-Fi from the start.

May get some further insight tomorrow.

Hasn't worked properly with Wi-Fi from the start.

Some similar wi-fi issue posts on the Billion forum:

e.g. http://www.billion.uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t...

I've looked for Internet Gateway Connection, but not too sure where I'll find it if it is there.

Oh my!
There's a few threads there with Wireless problems too. Wish I'd seen all that before I got this router - could just as easily got another 7800n. It worked perfectly.

I'm thinking perhaps I should get in touch with Amazon and see if I can return it rather than start fiddling about.

In reply to a post by TrishaH:

Oh my!
There's a few threads there with Wireless problems too. Wish I'd seen all that before I got this router - could just as easily got another 7800n. It worked perfectly.

I'm thinking perhaps I should get in touch with Amazon and see if I can return it rather than start fiddling about.

Good idea

Win7 must have something like Manage My Network Connections when R-clicking the Internet thing in the System Tray.

I've found a 'Network Centre' in the control panel, but can't see anything like that.

Microsoft gives this info:
If you enable ICS and then turn on network discovery in Network and Sharing Center, an Internet gateway device icon is added to the Network folder on the Start menu.

It shows the icon, and there's nothing like that in the start menu.

Don't think you searched hard enough. Look in the System Tray as I directed you.

The point I'm making is that this Internet Gateway could appear, not in Start Menu, even when you haven't enabled ICS, as you wouldn't if you were using a router, and that Internet Gateway could confuse a wireless device into trying to somehow think it's connecting to it instead of the router.

This happened to me with the Internet Gateway appearing on a non-ICS XP and confusing a wireless Vista. The symptoms were random discons of Vista, much like yours.

It's just an idea but worth checking.

I saw similar symptoms a little while ago with my smart TV unable to stream successfully or even connect on occasions.

Have you looked at how your router is utilising channels with the freebie inSSIDer?

In my case the shiny new router was detecting similar devices nearby and hopping channels to avoid Overlapping and Co-Channel interference. Other similar devices nearby did the same so my router would hop back with the result that client devices could see the network, then they couldn't, then they could. Throughput dropped alarmingly as the clients chased the router around the channel range.

Solution was to turn Auto-Channel off by selecting an empty part of the spectrum as possible. I did also lock the speed down to 144Mbps and hey presto normality was restored.

Thanks ..I've looked in the system tray, and it's definitely not there.

I haven't tried inSSIDer. I did see it in use some time ago, and to me, it looked quite complex ...but I'm not really clued up with wireless stuff at all.
I could try it tomorrow. I take it I need to have the notebook on and connected (or trying to) ?

Being on the last day to return the order to Amazon, I wasted no time in asking if I can still do so given the problems I'm having, and the fact that the earlier model worked perfectly.

You can only run inSSIDer on a PC with a wireless adapter, like your notebook. It does not need to connect to router; inSSIDer is seeking all wireless access points in vicinity.

Ah right! Thanks, I'll put it on the notebook and see if I can glean anything from it!

I think you will find the routers probably faulty. It could be the model that's generally problematic. Often a basic router for £30 - £50 will do the job very well without needing a reboot for numerous months. I'd personally return the billion router and look around, perhaps even same some money or if you're comfortable with the old billion go back to that.

I can advise you some routers I've used, a netgear I have has an uptime of over 3 months without any issues.

Well, I asked Amazon if they would let me return it even though I was a day over their 30day return policy, and this morning I have a 'yes', and an email telling me that DPD will collect it on 25th!
So, Amazon are being very helpful!

I've immediately ordered the 7800n.
Hopefully, by the time that wears out, they'll have likely resolved any issues with the DXL. It's been rock solid for wired connection though, just like the 7800n.

I had a Netgear which did work pretty well, but having a fairly long line, when it was replaced with the Billion, I got much better speeds and stability too.

I got the new 7800n router on Saturday and everything seems fine so far - notebook and sons iPhones connect to wireless right away and seem to stay connected.

For me, it's far better getting this other model than tinkering around with a new router when it's not working as it should.
Seems some people get this wireless problem, others not.
Hopefully whatever causes it will get resolved by Billion before I need another!

DPD collected the 7800DXL for return to Amazon, and although tracking is not showing it delivered yet, I'm hoping that goes without a hitch.