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wifi connection question

by joe golfer
11 replies
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My friend is on the Edge of a Wi-Fi hotspot. She gets two or three bars out of four using a Cisco Linksys AE 1000 network adapter connected to a Windows 7 computer. It is a time warner cable hotspot and she uses a monthly guest access pass to get to the hotspot.

It worked for two years until this week. Now she cannot access the login page. At the same time, she has a Kindle fire HDX seven which has no problem finding the login page and gets great reception. I checked the specs of Linksys and the Kindle Wifi and they seem almost identical. What would prevent the Cisco Linksys from accessing the login page the Kindle has no problem whatsoever?

I understand that she will always have difficulty as she is on the very edge of the hotspot according to their hotspot map, however the Kindle has no problem, and the Linksys adapter worked for two years until this week. Any feedback is appreciated.

She spoke with tech support at Time Warner at length and the end result is that the hotspot does not have a technical problems itself, and they feel that she is just too far away from the center of the hotspot.





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  • Profile picture of the author joe golfer
    now this is interesting. I used a wifi scanner on her linksys and kindle. both come in at around -75dbs. that is not optimal but it tells me at least the reception is about the same.


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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    It could even be something like background noise. antenna type, etc..... The closer you get to the end of part of the spec, the more obvious the problem can get. I had a similar problem one time, and actually got a little wifi adapter for my computer. My computers wifi adapter worked FINE elsewhere, but the other adapter worked better in this one spot. The adapter was usb based, so I could put it almost anywhere in the room and was all but GUARANTEED better reception anyway.

    third party, or free, "techsupport"is nearly always worthless. Unless they have a number of people call, and they find it IS their problem, they will simply say it is you. If they find it is their problem, they often will have YOU change to compensate. I have given up on them.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author joe golfer
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      It could even be something like background noise. antenna type, etc..... The closer you get to the end of part of the spec, the more obvious the problem can get. I had a similar problem one time, and actually got a little wifi adapter for my computer. My computers wifi adapter worked FINE elsewhere, but the other adapter worked better in this one spot. The adapter was usb based, so I could put it almost anywhere in the room and was all but GUARANTEED better reception anyway.

      third party, or free, "techsupport"is nearly always worthless. Unless they have a number of people call, and they find it IS their problem, they will simply say it is you. If they find it is their problem, they often will have YOU change to compensate. I have given up on them.

      Steve

      Thanks for the info. It's a real stumper. Like you say, there are a lot of variations in equipment, even with same specs. The weird thing is it worked for many months. I think they may have blocked her somehow.

      I even tried manually adding IP, subnet mask, default gateway, and dns info (from previous times when it was connected successfully and I had pulled that info off an ipconfig/all). But it didn't connect.

      I think you are right about tech support. One of the their favorite moves to get rid of people is to say, "go ahead and reboot but leave the chat window open. It will open again automatically." Huh? I feel bad about old or disabled people staring at the computer wondering when the chat window will reopen.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by joe golfer View Post

        I think you are right about tech support. One of the their favorite moves to get rid of people is to say, "go ahead and reboot but leave the chat window open. It will open again automatically." Huh? I feel bad about old or disabled people staring at the computer wondering when the chat window will reopen.
        To be fair, at least SOME browsers now check, when run, if they were abruptly shut down. If they were, they print a message saying it was abruptly shut down, and ask if it should reopen the windows. They often then do a remarkably good job. But that code was entered maybe 4 versions ago, IIRC, so older systems may never do that. To shut it down abruptly, the most reliable way is probably to just turn the system off, and back on again.

        STILL, some browser problems happen because you went to a certain site, and repening the windows may recreate the problem!

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
          Something has changed!

          An automatic Windows Update.
          The USB adapter has croaked.
          USB network driver issues.
          Some other furniture has been moved.
          The little antennae on the router has been repositioned.

          First, move the computer and hotspot closer together to see if they work. If you get a stronger signal and nothing works, buy or borrow a USB network adapter. See if that works.

          One thing that seems to work is the WiFi/router as the Kindle picks up the signal.

          Joe Mobley
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          • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
            In my experience these wireless network adapters can just simply go sour on you over a couple of years. I had so many problems with Linksys stuff running too hot. I now use Netgear and am very pleased with it. May be just time for a changeout. See if you can borrow one to prove the point. The quirkyness of the problem is strange though.

            My friend has a Linksys wireless router and has used it for many years, however it is of an older build quality which seems better than what they make now. It uses 2 screw in antennas. Now they are covered over in the inside of their routers, uses 4 small ones

            She has 2 houses side by side. The unit was in the far side of one house and she wanted wireless for her daughters new computer in the other house so I bought an adapter for it being her acting tec guy.

            It initially picked up the signal from the other houses router but it kept dropping out, so, I got 2 larger replacement antennas from Radio Shack. Screwed them in. No more connection problems.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Maybe try a wireless antenna/booster, i.e. signal booster?

    Not sure if that's what Steve was talking about.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by waterotter View Post

      Maybe try a wireless antenna/booster, i.e. signal booster?

      Not sure if that's what Steve was talking about.
      Similar idea, but I was talking about something different

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
    Some newbie suggestions, but I would start with the simple stuff first:

    Clear cookies, do a virus check, try switching browsers, see if it can access other wifi hotspots (like at a McD's, or a Starbucks).

    It may be an issue with the device itself where for whatever reason, it's having difficulty picking up wifi hotspots.
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  • Profile picture of the author Khemosabi
    Joe,

    Here's a "just a thought" kind of thing. Make sure the radio feature in tools is checked. I can't seem to find it in my Windows 7, but I am still looking. I know it should be in the help or tools section.

    I just got this 7 so am still exploring it. I am used to Vista and XP. My neighbor had the same problem once and somehow her radio button got unchecked.

    If it turns out that it's the Lynkys thingy. (I know I didn't spell that right.. don't care), then if she decides to order a new one, I use Engenius. and have for years. I just got a new dongle for another computer and it's a Ralink Wireless Utility. It was 12.95 and so far, really good.

    Do you have a laptop that can try and pick up a signal at her house? I missed it if you said you had tried on yours.

    Anyhow, as I said, just some ideas.

    ~ Theresa
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Khemosabi View Post

      Joe,

      Here's a "just a thought" kind of thing. Make sure the radio feature in tools is checked. I can't seem to find it in my Windows 7, but I am still looking. I know it should be in the help or tools section.

      I just got this 7 so am still exploring it. I am used to Vista and XP. My neighbor had the same problem once and somehow her radio button got unchecked.

      If it turns out that it's the Lynkys thingy. (I know I didn't spell that right.. don't care), then if she decides to order a new one, I use Engenius. and have for years. I just got a new dongle for another computer and it's a Ralink Wireless Utility. It was 12.95 and so far, really good.

      Do you have a laptop that can try and pick up a signal at her house? I missed it if you said you had tried on yours.

      Anyhow, as I said, just some ideas.

      ~ Theresa
      I think I said enough earlier, but the dongle is what I was referring to, something to use wifi that plugs into USB. It gives you a different receiver, likely works, AND you can place it in different spots for better reception.

      I may have read too much into the OP. I thought there WAS reception, just erratic, etc... Try having her try it near the router. If it works, go with the dongle. If it doesn't, check to see wifi is enabled, etc... BTW there is an EASY why to find out if my initial belief was correct:

      1. go to the wifi selection area. Simply find the wifi receiver icon, and click it.
      2. Does anything show up? Is the router there? EVEN unusable routers can possibly show up.
      3.There MIGHT be a refresh option. If so, click it and check #2 again.

      v8.1 even shows switches.

      As for switches, I can add one thing to what theresa said. There are a LOT of reasons why a computer wifi switch is a dumb idea. Because of this, some manufacturers even include a PHYSICAL wifi switch. It is OFTEN on the front lower lip of the laptop on a laptop, but could be anywhere. It is EASY to accidentally turn them off. The physical switch is often a REAL physical switch and, as such, trumps everything else. ON doesn't necessarily mean on, but off means off!

      That said, I HAVE seen viruses affect networks. It is usually sporadic, like it will affect only one browser, or browsers but not apps. SOME actually change the proxy settings in the browsers.

      Steve
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