Unstable home/office wireless

[wWarriorWw]

Hello first of all I just want to thank anyone ahead of time who might reply to this message and offer some advice.

Ive had a wireless network setup in my house for sometime now, probably a little more than 4-5 years. I set up the wireless using a Linksys access point router (BEFW11S4 ver 2), and at the time I bought a wireless Ethernet bridge(WET11) because my other computer didn't have a wireless card at the time. The desktop computer which is hard wired to the cable modem is downstairs, and my room where my laptop rests is directly above it. Now here comes the problem, for well more than a year now ive been having a very fickle unstable internet. Ill reset the wireless network as much as 3 times a day using the setup wizard CD that came with my router. One moment my wireless speed on my laptop read 11 mbs excellent, then 5.5 excellent, and then 54 low.... Ive replaced multiple cable modems and that doesn't seem to fix the problem either supplied by Charter. And I have upgraded the firmware but that makes no improvement either. And ive brought my notebook to MULTIPLE friends houses and experience no issues what so ever there.

What do you guys think could be the culprit here? If the models are old and unreliable thats fine, whatever it takes to make it work correctly. Or if I have to hard wire it through the attic i would resort to that as well. But I cannot depend on my notebooks internet and it is incredibly frustrating.

[Pettos]

It sounds to me like your system is starting to die, i mean. If you've used it for 4-5 years non-stop, its probably getting a little rundown, and lacking in performance.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Site survey for other wireless networks in the area. Try changing channels...try channel 1 or channel 11. Also is your SSID unique?

May have neighbors that setup a wireless on the same channel as you, and if on the same SSID (many people just leave them on default)...it creates problems..very common mistake.

Neighbor gets a new cordless handset. Or neighbor gets a newer high performing wireless setup...some of the proprietary "speedboost" technologies you see..such as on the 108 meg wireless setups common 2x years ago just before MIMO products came out...those step on neighboring wireless LANs badly.

[XamirX]

check if there's any Electrics around that affects the Wireless connection between you and your computer.

[picohat]

Also go to router/bridge manufacturer website and look for any latest firmware, and then install it.

Check to see any interference from nearby cordless phone, microwave or other electronic devices at home that utilize same 2.4 GHz radio frequency. It would affect the wireless signal strength.

Hope helps..


picoHat