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Solved: Keep having to reconnect and disconnect internet

1889 Views 13 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  duckmuffin
Hi, I'm using a HP Envy dv6-7398ca with Windows 8.1. I've had some spotty internet issues since June but ever since I switched to Comcast in July my internet has been almost unusable on my laptop. No one else has this problem in the household but me, so it's definitely my laptop.

If I'm connected via Ethernet cable, the internet's alright. But the router/modem is in my house's living room, and I'd like to be able to do stuff inside my room.

Online games like World of Warcraft are just impossible. I can log in and it'll take a god awful amount of time to load, and then the game just lags out. For the internet browser (Mozilla), it works fine for 2-3 minutes, but then starts to take forever... and ever... to load. If I disconnect and reconnect, it'll be normal speed again, but the same problem will occur. I'm so exhausted from this.

I'm not that great with computers, but I'm honestly done with taking my laptop to repair places. Everytime I have, some new problem has come up and caused me more frustration and money out of my wallet. :\ (This time, the CD tray will no longer eject. I have no idea how THAT got messed up, but it was working before I took it to the place. Dunno what to do about that, but right now, the wifi is more of a priority) I tried getting help on another forum before I took it to a couple shops, but they didn't really help much at all unfortunately.

I've reinstalled drivers, I've reset the router/modem, and my comp should be free from viruses. I don't know what to do at this point other than ask for help or buy a new wireless adapter. And I have NO idea how to choose one of those. Thanks for reading, I appreciate it.
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can we see an xirrus screen shot please
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Run Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector
Download and install

If you cannot access the internet with this PC, then you will need to copy the program across to the faulty PC
Save the file to a USB flash drive or other removable media. Plug it into the working computer with internet access and copy the file to the faulty PC and install the program.
You will now need to take a screen shot and copy that back to the working PC and attach the screen shot in a reply on the forum here.

If you do not have another PC - do you have a phone connected to the internet - can you photograph the result and post the image in a reply

http://www.xirrus.com/Products/Wi-Fi-Inspector.aspx
Download this file "DOWNLOAD WI-FI INSPECTOR Vx.xx "
( the site now appears to allow webbased emails like gmail, hotmail, outlook and yahoo now )

There is also a xirrus gadget, But that does not have all the fuctionality "DOWNLOAD GADGET Vx.xx

Alternative links - Use the links below

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Xirrus-Wi-Fi-Monitor-Download-99109.html

Then run and install the program - on a wireless enabled PC/Laptop
if you get an error - You will need to have NET Framework installed for the WiFi Inspector to function.
On windows 8 - (i do not have windows 8) but, it would appear that, When you first try to run, you may get a message that .net framework is needed, and included in that message is a link to download/install.

Run the program

A user guide is available here
http://www.xirrus.com/cdn/pdf/xirruswifiinspectorguide1-2-0

post a screen shot of the program running.
if there are a lot of networks showing can you click on "networks" top lefthand area - so we can see all the network information.

post which SSID name is yours, its located in the list, under network "Adapter Name" (1st column)


Note:
For a reliable (or robust as the Xirrus user guide says) wireless connection you need a signal of about -70 dBm or better. "A desirable signal level for a robust Wi-Fi connection will be green".
note: the signal level is a negative number, so for example -88 is worst and -40 is better

To post a screen shot of the active window.

Windows XP
Hold the Alt key and press the PrtScn key. Open the Windows PAINT application (Start> All Programs> Accessories> Paint) and Paste the screen shot. You can then use PAINT to trim to suit, and save it as a JPG format file.

Vista or Windows 7
you can use the "snipping tool" which is found in Start> All programs> Accessories> Snipping Tool
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-use-the-windows-snipping-tool/

Windows 8
you can use the snipping tool > Open Snipping Tool (From the Windows 8 Start Screen, type "snip" and press enter.
>Press the Esc. key.
>go back to your Windows 8 start screen - Swipe from left or press Window Button
>Press Ctrl+PrntScr button to use Snipping Tool
see here
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/opinion/windows/3415854/how-take-screenshot-in-windows-8/
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/windows/3405830/how-take-screenshot-in-windows-8/

To upload the screen shot to the forum, open the full reply window ("Go Advanced" button) and use the Manage Attachments button to upload it here.
Full details are available here http://library.techguy.org/wiki/TSG_Posting_a_Screenshot
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Download the latest wireless driver from HP's web site and install it. This is good practice even if the Xirrus shows that the real cause of the problem is elsewhere.
the signal is to low for a "robust" connection - also the other wireless is on channel 11

so change the wireless channel in the router to use channel 1 or 6

but you also need to improve the signal

Can you provide more info
can you move the router
does it have an eternal aerial
I changed it to channel 6, which no one seems to be on except for the channel below me (and that changes to whatever channel I pick anyway)
It does not have an external aerial.
The router/modem (they're both together as one thing) could be moved, but I feel like this is putting a band-aid on a large wound. However, if this is what I have to do, then I'll do it.
What other information would you like?

edit: okay nevermind there are suddenly all these networks on channel 6 :S If I move it they just disappear for a while and then come back on the channel I'm on.

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then your router is broadcasting a lot of signals for some reason
But you have a much better signal - at -55 rather than -74

so does it work OK on channel 6
Sadly, no. I'm still having the same problem.
make and model of the modem/router
also did you update the wireless driver as suggested by TerryNet
Yes, I have updated them several times, and did it again for good measure.

The modem/router is Arris, model TG862G/CT
Do you see those multiple signals with another device that has wireless capability?

Do you see strange multiple signals at another location (such as a free Wi-Fi hotspot or friend's house) with your PC?
Yes, I'm still getting multiple signals on other devices in my house. A lot of them.

I got 1-2 others when I tried my laptop's wi-fi elsewhere, but I was in a shopping center both times.

Oddly enough, my wi-fi worked a lot better sitting in the parking lot of those two places than in my own room. It just doesn't make sense for my laptop's wi-fi to not work in my room when other devices (including other laptops) do.
I got 1-2 others when I tried my laptop's wi-fi elsewhere, but I was in a shopping center both times.
Possibly because there really are multiple access points so that you can get service throughout the shopping centers.

Yes, I'm still getting multiple signals on other devices in my house. A lot of them.
That totally mystifies me. I'd power cycle the router (checking that all those signals disappeared with the router off) and if that did not clear it up then reset the router to factory defaults and reconfigure it to see if that will clear the other signals.
Well, I finally found a solution with the help of a friend. It didn't fix the multiple signals, but the internet is working in my room (and the rest of the house) for me at least. I used another router as a bridge and I'm connected to that one (I also don't get the multiple signals from that one for whatever reason, or maybe that should be obvious) and have had no internet troubles since.

Thanks for all the help, guys!
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