Wireless network connection keeps dropping
 

This is a fairly new problem. Nothing new on the configuration on the notebook, nothing new on the configuration on the wireless router.

Every now and then, I get the bubble pop up in the system tray telling me that one or more wireless networks is avaiable. Of course that means that the one I had been connected to (Excellent or Very Good) has been disconnected.

It doesn't automatically reconnect to my preferred network.

I'm using data encryption (WEP) and a network key. My network is the only one listed in the list of Preferrered Networks when I look at properties on the connection.

I'm at a loss...anyone?

More experienced people than myself will be along soon, but I'd advise changing the channel your router transmits on. It may well be that a new router is in use near you on the same channel.

Got a 2.4GHz cordless phone in the house? Some brands are more problematic than others with 802.11b/g. I have a Panasonic, and set my router to channel 11. So far, no significant interference. Had a Siemens before, and more trouble.

As the others stated, watch out for those cordless phones. They can be a real pain in the butt. Something else to consider is microwave ovens. These really shouldn't cause a problem unless your router is sitting on top of the microwave :D

However if you live in an apartment and your router is against the same wall as your neighbors microwave it could cause a problem.

Most of the time problems like this can be solved by moving the laptop or your router to a different location (I've seen 2 feet make a difference).

If you are running Windows XP you should turn off the "Use Windows to configure my wireless network" option and input the information in manually. This should keep your wireless card from roaming to other networks.

Last but not least... as others here have stated, change the channel on the router. :)

What the guys above said. We got a new cordless, and it drops the wireless (and causes the router to lose the network for the wired ones) every time you start or end a call. Could be a neighbor got a new phone.

In the off change both your router and your wireless card support it, try the "a" band, it operates in a different RF bandwidth that the b & g bands. Note that most access points/wireless routers do not support both a and b/g, you would have had to pay a few extra $$ to get one that does.

Also, try different channels, cover the entire range such as try 1, 6 and 11 and see if that makes a difference. As others have said, in an apartment or condo building, neighbors' cordless phones can have an affect.

Thank you everyone. Seems consitent that changing the channel is a good first step. I'll do that in the next couple of days. I'm in a house that is far away from other houses (relatively speaking considering I do have neighbors) and the microwave isn't likely. Thanks!

IMO, Pyg is pretty much on target. XP uses the Windows "Wireless Zero Configuration" tool. It has a tendency to search for the strongest signal rather than what you've designated as a preferred network. There are a couple of things you can do:

1. If you want to keep using WZC, then you should know that everytime your laptop sees a new wireless network it adds it to a list of possible networks to connect to...and sets each one to connect automatically. You may have seen this list as the "preferred" list. You've probably put your network at the top. Well...if one of the other networks ends up with a stronger signal, your laptop will jump to it automatically. There is a way to stop this behaviour. Go into the "Wireless Connection Properties" screen and select the "Wireless Networks" tab. You'll see the list of WLANs...notice the parenthesis next to each one. I'm betting that all of yours read "Automatic". That's what allows the laptop to jump to the one with the strongest signal. Highlight the networks that you don't want to jump onto and click the "Properties" button. A window will pop open with "X Properties" (the properties for that WLAN). The third tab is "Connection". Click that tab...and DEselect the checkbox marked "Connect when this network is in range". Voila...your laptop will no longer try to jump to that network when it reads a stronger signal there. I'd suggest that you do this to the networks that seem to cause you the most trouble...neighbors, etc.

2. Turn off the WZC system and configure your wireless settings manually. The only drag with this is that when you go on the road, it can be something of an effort to find available networks...that's what WZC is really good at.

Personally, I'd go with #1 first. If that doesn't solve your problem, then go with #2.