Networks Wireless disconnections

[raxonb]

Hello all,

First of all my setup:

D-Link 615 router coonected to a virgin modem (50Mb connection).
2 PCs are connected via ethernet to the router, and mine is connected wirelessy using a Netgear WN111 USB with WPA2 security. All the settings seem to be correct and everything is fine until I start downloading, in particular bittorrent. After a short time, I'll get "kicked off" in which case I must unplug/replug the USB adapter. If I am just browsing the net, I will remain connected all the time, but heavy traffic will always disconnect me. I max out at around 2MB/s though on average my speed is less than half that. I know this adapter is capable of transferring wirelessy at 50Mb/s (I used to get around 5.9MB/s) but that was when I would be directly under my bros room (which has the router in). Now I'm around 15m away and technically the only thing inbetween the router and adapter are our bedroom windows so I would think the signal strength should still be very good.

Its the disconnections that bug me though as I can't seem to understand why I get kicked off.
As far as I am aware all my settings are correct and as only I know the username and password I know noone can tamper with them.

All suggestions most welcome. Thanks in advance!

[Hawkest]

if its works after reattaching the dongle then al i can think would be to update the USB dongles drivers if you haven't already done so.

[DarrenH]

I too have Virgin 50Mbps and the same Netgear dongle but why do you not have the Netgear 300Mbps router that virgin supply? It matches the dongle.

I get wifi speeds of up to 21-22Mbps for some sites and at least 11-12Mbps for normal downloads. When I connect the PC directly to the Netgear router I get the full 50Mbps on specific sites so I know I'm getting what I pay for. Where did you get your router from?

[RichCreedy]

it sounds like the dongle is on its last legs, to me, they don't like constant heavy usage, they get warm, and start to fail, when its stopped working, check how hot it is.

unplugging it and plugging it back in resets the dongle, so it starts working again. but it will die soon enough, buy a new one.

[raxonb]

I'll have a word with Virgin as they supplied the dongle. They sent me a new modem not too long ago so I don't see why they shouldn't send a new dongle. Also I don't know why they gave a D-Link router with a Netear dongle, not that it really matters I suppose but I do know that some 50Mb customers have got Netgear routers.

My dongle sits on the window sill and over the summer it was exposed to direct sunlight at times though I did try to avoid this as much as I could, so that could be the culprit.

Thanks guys for your help I'll get on to Virgin asap!

[Yslen]

I used to use the exact same dongle. It was absolutely terrible, with exactly the problem you describe occurring a few times every hour, which basically meant I couldn't download anything big.

I replaced it with this; http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Abit-...-A-World-First

It's £5.84 and gives me a much better signal than the USB adapter did. It never disconnects and I get noticably lower ping when playing games online than I did before, which implies the USB interface/rubbish netgear dongle was introducing latency. It also frees up a USB port.

If you get one you have to tell Windows 7 that it's an Atheros 5006X, which is infact true because its just been rebranded as something else that's all. There's no Abit driver for Windows 7 so this is required for it to work.