Check Wireless Frequency Settings
Once your using more than one wireless router or access points (particularly a dual band router or wireless access points ), you’ll want to go into the wireless settings (usually under “setup”), and specify a channel. Try using a different channel than the default, and make this settings for both of your bands (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz) if you’re using a dual bound router. Definitely do not use the “auto” setting. From our troubleshooting it appears that this is the main culprit. Try setting a higher channel, and if that doesn’t work, try different channels. It’s very possible that there are enough networks in your immediate area on the same channel that they’re conflicting with each other.
Check the wireless power settings
If switching the router channel didn’t work, you can try these other tips to help prevent your wireless connection from dropping. First, see if your computer is managing your wireless card’s power. It may be instructed to shut off your wireless connectivity after a certain amount of idle time goes by. If you have system specific utilities, such as Dell’s Quickset, make sure that the wireless power management isn’t set to shut off the card if your computer is idle for a certain period of time. Second you’ll want to check the settings on your wireless card via your device manager:
· Right-click on “My Computer” and select “Properties”
· Select “Hardware” and click on “Device Manager”
· Find your wireless card under “Network adapters” and double-click it.
· Verify that there aren’t any auto power management settings enabled that might be shutting your card down prematurely
Another thing to try is to simply shut down all your hardware – ie. your PC, your modem, your router, your laptop, etc. – anything on the network. Then power them back on in the following order: modem -> router -> PC (wired) -> laptop (wireless) and see if that fixes the issue. If not, proceed to more potential solutions below.
Update The router firmware and wireless card drivers
If all of the above hasn’t prevented your wireless connection from dropping, you’ll want to update the firmware of your wireless router, and you’ll want to update your wireless card drivers. This should solve the problem most of the time. With any firmware or driver update, please make sure you are retrieving the update directly from the manufacturer’s website.
Adjust the wireless router settings
· Lower the MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) from 1500 to 1492 or less (usually found on your router’s main/ basic setup page)
· Adjust the following advanced wireless settings:
· Lower the beacon interval from 100 to 50
· Lower the fragmentation threshold from 2346 to 2306
· Lower the RTS threshold from 2347 to 2304
That should solve your wireless connectivity problems and should prevent your wireless connection from dropping.
Wireless connection dropping every couple of seconds
Does your wireless connection connect, then disconnect, then connect again, only to disconnect two seconds later, and so on and so forth? It could be that your PC is trying to find an IP address and the DHCP server (which hands out IP addresses) isn’t cooperating or isn’t finding one. If you’re using Windows, open a command prompt by browsing to Start -> Run -> and type in “cmd.exe”
In the command prompt window, type the following: “ipconfig.exe /release” followed by “ipconfig.exe /renew” You’ll get a status message that may help you pinpoint the issue.
Wireless connection dropping every couple of seconds
If the wireless connection connect, then disconnect, then connect again, only to disconnect two seconds later, and so on and so forth? It could be that your PC is trying to find an IP address and the DHCP server (which hands out IP addresses) isn’t cooperating or isn’t finding one. If you’re using Windows, open a command prompt by browsing to Start -> Run -> and type in “cmd.exe”
In the command prompt window, type the following: “ipconfig.exe /release” followed by “ipconfig.exe /renew” You’ll get a status message that may help you pinpoint the issue.
Wireless connection drops in WPA mode
If you can get your wireless adapter to connect without security encryption set (ie. WEP or WPA), but it drops every couple of seconds when you use WPA mode, try updating the network card driver’s firmware.