Question:
It seems when I'm downloading via BT or whatever, after a while my computer (which is on a wireless connection to my Netgear DG834GT router) just loses the connection.
It often does not say it has lost connection, sometimes I can unplug the dongle and replug it and it will work, most of the time though I have to reboot. Any ideas? Cheers
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A USB one?
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Try changing channels, and upgrading the router firmware.
If your neighbours are using similar channels, or you are using video senders, cordless phones, it could be interference. Netstumbler will help identify what channels the neighbours are using.
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Netgear upgraded the firmware for this model to 1.0.2.0.4. This improves the wireless driver. Are you using security (wep,WPA). What make of dongle are you using??
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If your not getting a strong enough singal, sometimes the more bandwidth you use can cause it to disconnect. If possible try moving the aerial in to a diffrent place
Thanks Tom :-)
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sounds silly, but making yourself a 'Blue Peter style' sattelite dish to attach to your wireless card's ariel will actually make a difference
seriously.
I'll take pics later and post em, but basically, make a dish out of card covered in tinfoil, punch a hole in the middle, unscrew the arial bit of your card and fix your dish between the card and the arial and point it in the vague direction of the router
I'm not taking the !!!!, honest it does help the signal.
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Yes I have a USB dongle - WG111T - thanks I guess I'll try upgrading the firmware.
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I'd also look into upgrading your chipset usb drivers if possible.
Do you run anything next to the usb dongle? ie. 1 usb hub = 2 usb ports, some usb devices need the full power available from a usb hub.
I've seen this with some force feedback controllers, worked fine, then switched itself off, unplugging and plugging it back in made it come back to life.
Turned out it needed its own USB port to work fully.
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I have exactly the same setup... There is a problem with the WG111T.
It envolves the Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q815485.
It adds WPA support but is incompatible with the WG111T
You can either uninstall the update and use netgears own Utility or you can just click your little wireless connection icon (not the netgear utility icon) and then select view "wireless networks" and then click on "change advanced settings" on the bottom left and Click the wireless networks tab then tick the box that says "Use windows to configure my wireless network settings" then click select your netgear router and away you go.
Only problem I found with that way was it needed done everytime I started my comp.
Let me know how you get on
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Thanks for that, I am using WPA (would be mad not to hehe), and it is on a mobo USB port so presumably no problems with power. I guess it is the problem you describe sco0ter, I'll look into it.
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on mobo usb port may be the problem, you may need to use a mains powered USB hub (I have to on an older PC to get the wireless to work)
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Hate to state the obvious but .... one of the most common problems for routers is overheating, especially now BT is upping download speeds. (Note, the router can be at fault even when all the lights are showing as working!) So here is a quick fix if everything stalls: simply unplug the dc power cord at the back of the router (little round black connector normally) then plug in again after a few seconds. If it now works, overheating could well be your problem. If so, you can try and locate the router in a cooler position or up on its side using the supplied feet, near an open window,etc. I've even seen holes drilled in cases or cases removed. All these things help believe it or not but one of the best ways to extend the life of the router is to unlug it overnight or when not being used for long periods.
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Hate to state the obvious but .... one of the most common problems for routers is overheating, especially now BT is upping download speeds. (Note, the router can be at fault even when all the lights are showing as working!) So here is a quick fix if everything stalls: simply unplug the dc power cord at the back of the router (little round black connector normally) then plug in again after a few seconds. If it now works, overheating could well be your problem. If so, you can try and locate the router in a cooler position or up on its side using the supplied feet, near an open window,etc. I've even seen holes drilled in cases or cases removed. All these things help believe it or not but one of the best ways to extend the life of the router is to unlug it overnight or when not being used for long periods.
Not seen this myself. The speeds you get from ISP is a fraction of the speed available from routers. Even if your on 10mb this is nothing compaired with LAN speeds.
I suppose there is a easy way of finding out if the router is overheating, put your hand on the case. Is it warm (like any piece of hardware - TV, phone charger etc) then its ok, if its HOT and you cant touch it for long without burning your hand then yes this would be a problem.
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actually early netgear routers (dg834) had serious overheat problems. Some circumstances actually could cause case melts(although a around 30% never showed any symptoms). Firmware sorted it at the expense of some features but this was the reason for the DG835g and DG834GT. If you had one of the DG834 and complained about it overheating you got a free upgrade to the DG834G.
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Overheating could be a problem - and yes it does seem to crash sometimes - BUT - I don't think that is the same problem as with the WG111T adaptor.
If the router overheats both computers lose connection, and replugging solves it. If I am downloading and I lose the connection, I restart and connection is restored on this computer (other computer keeps connection).
So kinda two different problems but the overheating doesn't happen much. I am using the feet supplied and it is situated on its own on the desk so not sure why it is. Perhaps a firmware upgrade is in order.
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A firmware upgrade is always good. Irons out any initial problems after shipping.
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Overheating could be a problem - and yes it does seem to crash sometimes - BUT - I don't think that is the same problem as with the WG111T adaptor.
The WG111T is a pain to get working with the DG834GT. I had problems, and in the end sold the WG111T. I did look around for ages to find what the problem was. Chipset compatibility was commonly mentioned, although I couldn't find anything to suggest that (tried it on an Intel and nVidia chipset).
If the router overheats both computers lose connection, and replugging solves it. If I am downloading and I lose the connection, I restart and connection is restored on this computer (other computer keeps connection).
So kinda two different problems but the overheating doesn't happen much. I am using the feet supplied and it is situated on its own on the desk so not sure why it is. Perhaps a firmware upgrade is in order.
To solve most in not all problems with the DG834GT upgrade to the 1.02.04 (as mentioned above) firmware. I played around with the 1.01.10, 1.01.20, 1.01.25, and 1.01.30b firmwares but always had niggles with all of them.
If heat is a problem, make sure you turn off any service logging (for various ports). Also with the WG111T I found it ran better with the router running at 54Mbps (turn off dynamic turbo). Also stand the router upright.
Finally, are you using the drivers and software that came with the WG111T, or the built in Windows Wireless Zero Configuration tool? Try and use the latter.
Try and get another wireless card (borrow one) and try it with your setup. For me the WG111T would basically seem to kill the router's wireless capability, and the only fix would be a off/on reboot. Having got rid of it my DG834GT with the 1.02.04 firmware runs beautifully.
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Upgrade the router firmware and the wg111t drivers
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When I tried to upgrade the firmware to my WPN311 it killed the connection so I had to rollback to the previous version. I'm reluctant to try that again!
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When I tried to upgrade the firmware to my WPN311 it killed the connection so I had to rollback to the previous version. I'm reluctant to try that again!
Why are you upgrading the firmware?????? Do you have problems with something???? any advice given here was for different equipment. If you need help start a new thread with full details of problem