Internet access

Nov 26, 2008

- Hello Steve
Many thanks for your generous feedback! Glad you have been able to connect, if only briefly. :(
If you could only connect for a few seconds, I'd wonder about firewall settings. However, if the laptop connection is fine while in the same room as the router, yet drops out as you move away, I'd agree that signal strength/interference might be a problem.
As changing the router channel hasn't helped, boosting the wireless signal looks like the next step. If you have an aerial on your network adaptor already, here are a few more ideas:
1) Sometimes just situating the router in a more central and open location helps, and moving the antenna around until the signal improves ( a helpful friend comes in handy here)
2) Replacing one of the router antennae with a 'booster' antenna might also help. This is fairly inexpensive to try.
3) A range extender or repeater could also be used to boost your signal

5) There are also alternative products like Netgear's ethernet extender, : this uses your powerlines to extend your home network.

The latter two require more outlay, so personally I would only try them if all other options are exhausted, and you're certain that signal strength is the problem. :)

I hope you are able to connect up soon. Good luck, and if you still have difficulties, please come right back to Fixya....:)

Nov 27, 2008

- One more thought....if possible, borrow a friend's laptop and see if their signal drops in the same way, just to check there is no problem with your network adapter

Nov 27, 2008

- :) Oh, excellent! Congratulations on getting online, and many thanks for your kind feedback!