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Post by buzzy on May 16, 2009 12:16:00 GMT
1. I am becoming very frustrated with my router. almost all day yesterday my laptop, which is connected to the router wirelessly, was indicating either "very weak signal" or "no signal" at all. Today everything is working fine and I have done nothing?
2. Also I can see several people in the area who are using routers and their names are showing and accompanied by a 'padlock' suggestion they are secure. However my entry does not show a padlock despite the fact it is under a lengthy password.
Talking to the dealer that set this up, I am told I will NOT see the padlock because I am online (I find this difficult to swallow frankly)
I would be most grateful if someone can clarify these points for me.
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Post by computing50yrs on May 16, 2009 12:37:22 GMT
The fact that you can see others routers on-line suggests that its possible you have a frequency conflict with one of the other routers using the same channel number. This can cause confusion on the PC when more than one signal is detected (like 2 radio stations on the same frequency they are both distorted) Try changing your router channel to another 1.
I had this particular problem with the PC losing connection or weak signal and changing channel fixed it.
The settings are in the router, most appear to be either channel 9 or 1 as the default depending on your router make.
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Post by buzzy on May 16, 2009 13:08:26 GMT
Graham - thanks. Yes I wondered about that, how do I change the channel please?
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Post by ken on May 17, 2009 3:29:52 GMT
Your router has 2 passwords Buzz, one just stops people getting into the controls and the WPA encryption has its own password. Or in the case of older routers using WEP, an encryption key. I thought I had better point this out, as some people tend to think they are secure as they have put a password on the router. Your entry should tell you if it secured or not and the fact that it doesn't say it is, suggests its not. You definitely need to check, as you might be getting a weak signal through someone else using it. You also need to be wired to the router to make changes to the encryption, you cant do it wirelessly. Thats to stop your next-door neighbour locking you out.
If you go into wireless connection properties, you will see you channel number. You can click on the black triangle, pick another number from the drop-down menu and reboot. Look at what channels everybody else in the street are using and pick a different one. As most people just use the default, after a while you can get a lot using the the same channel.
KC
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Post by buzzy on May 17, 2009 8:23:59 GMT
Ken, thanks for your interesting and informative reply, I think you have hit the problem square on the jaw, and I am pretty sure I am not secure. I think I will whip it into the dealer who supplied and configured it and let him sort it out.
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Post by ken on May 17, 2009 16:23:19 GMT
As long as you know your router address Buzz, you shouldn't even have to get into it to find out the state of play. Your address will be 192.168.x.x, the last 2 numbers depend on the make of router. Then you should get something like this:  Then at least you will see what is enabled and whats not. KC |
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Post by buzzy on May 18, 2009 7:04:22 GMT
Thanks again - Ken  |
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Post by ken on May 18, 2009 13:13:52 GMT
Your welcome Buzzy.
KC
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