Jeff wrote:
> Lem wrote:
>> Jeff wrote:
>>> I have a Windows XP home wireless network based on a router with WPA
>>> encryption. Works great except for losing the internet about once a
>>> week or so requiring either rebooting of that PC or "repair" of the
>>> network connection on that PC.
>>>
>>> Without being a expert I am guessing it must be because the PC
>>> cannot renew the lease. I've looked at everything I can think of
>>> but cannot find where the problem lies. I believe I have all the IP
>>> addresses listed as trusted in my Zone Alarm firewall.
>>>
>>> It's getting annoying, especially for my wife's PC because she is
>>> anyway computer phobic. What should look for? Is there a problem
>>> with lengthening the lease period (assuming that is the problem) to
>>> at least reduce the frequency of the interruptions?
>
> Thank you for taking the time to help.
> My coments are intersperced to avoid repetition.
>
>> Does it happen with any predictability, that is, around the same time
>> or following a particular event?
>
> Not really but mainly because I have not kept exact track. Happens every
> week or two. Maybe not really at regular interval but I cannot be sure.
>
>> Are you sure that you are losing connectivity with your router rather
>> than connectivity with your ISP (see Jack's suggestion to temporarily
>> go wired to rule out problems with wireless interference, etc.).
>
> Not sure at all what is causing it. Unfotunately because of the distances
> involved, a wired connection is not really possible. I do not think it is my
> ISP (Cox cable) because sometimes it is one PC that drops its internet
> access while access is fine on the others and other times it is another and
> vice versa.
>
>> It's not at all uncommon for an ISP to drop your connection randomly.
>> Does
>> your router have a "keep alive" or "re-connect if connection lost"
>> feature, and if so, is it activated?
>
> I have not seen that, but as I mentioned the router remains connected and
> only one of 2 wireless PCs loses its connection at a time. This started
> when I replaced my router (now it's a Trendnet TEW 432 BRP) and my settings
> might have a configuration error though all works fine except for the
> intermittent problem mentioned above.
>
>> I doubt that your problem is DHCP lease renewal, but if you want to be
>> sure, assign static IPs to your PCs (statically assign the same IPs
>> that are now being assigned automatically by DHCP so that you don't have
>> to
>> mess with your firewall settings).
>
> I think you are right. It was just an uneducated guess because of the
> intermittent nature.
>
> Jeff
>
>
Well, based on MVP Malke's "First Question Of Troubleshooting: what
changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't," and
your observation that "This started when I replaced my router (now it's
a Trendnet TEW 432 BRP)," I would suspect that there's something wrong
with your router hardware. You *might* want to see if there's any
updated firmware for this model, although before you update the firmware
you probably ought to check out any Trendnet support forums you can
find. Based on the fact that the system works OK most of the time, I
wouldn't think that it's a configuration issue.
Alternatively, your comment that you can't temporarily try wired
connections suggests that between sheer distance and whatever structure
is between your computers and the router, you may be at the edge of the
performance envelope for this inexpensive router.
Sorry I don't have any more specific advice for you.
--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking
To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
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