View Full Version : VIRGIN BB dropping out.
tired-flyboy
23rd Apr 2008, 10:18
A question about wireless routers and virgin cable bb.
I've connected the inlaws tower to a router and wirelessly connected this to a laptop.
the tower keeps the connection with internet/ home network but the laptop will routinely drop the connection to the internet. however it stays connected to the home network.
anyone have a clue what is causing this??
ta
Check the "power save" settings for the wireless network adaptor.
planecrazy.eu
24th Apr 2008, 15:03
Join the club, keeps happening to my mother, and bugs the hell out of me when i am round their.
I called Virgin, they said a bunch of, well rubbish. Nothing solved as of yet...
However, i can add this to the equation, well for me...
PC = Always connected
LAPTOP With Dell Wifi (Broadcom i think) = Always connected
LAPTOP with intel = Drops frequently
Cant figure it out... I recon its an intel flaw with the router (DLINK)... Taking my Belkin round next week to see if this solves the issue
tired-flyboy
24th Apr 2008, 17:03
interesting, that could be the problem.
can't remember what the router is it wasn't bought by me i just had to install it.
pls let me know how you get on.
ta muchly
Blueskyrich
24th Apr 2008, 18:32
Had the same problem recently, but have solved it. In my case, it was down to the actual modem (which never did explain the whole desktop/laptop thing).
If the modem is the white 'Webstar' model, then try this link...
http://www.onemanblogs.co.uk/index.php/archives/2007/03/15/webstar-cable-modem
Worked a treat for me but appreciate that it was a particular model issue in my case.
Superpilot
25th Apr 2008, 12:08
Having wireless encryption security enabled (WEP, WPA) can turn a reliable wireless router into a pile of junk. Every single router I've purchased over the last 5 years (4 of them) has had stability/performance issues with wireless encryption enabled.
I now don't bother with wireless encryption. Simply hide your SSID and use MAC filtering. This is unhackable to 99.99% of the population.
planecrazy.eu
27th Apr 2008, 11:13
Hey
I used a Belkin router, and all are working fine, no drop outs...
Tried to call DLINK, but they didnt care, and offered very little help...
I disabled Encryption, and all was fine...
I am going to try downloading the new firmware for the DLINK router to see if this solves the issues...
Guessing there is an incompatablity issues with DLINK and some Intel Cards, its an old wireless router, so firmware might be all it needs...
Or just replace it :)
I might try the trick from above, will keep security up. The range of my router is poor, they would have to be on the doorstep to get a signal, and the road is a fair distance up a drive, so i think scrapping encryption might be the best solution...
Are there any performance gains not using WPA/WEP?
kenhughes
28th Apr 2008, 03:22
You don't have some type of "Internet Security Suite" on the laptop, do you?
I had a similar problem with a Dell laptop and McAfee ISS - I could go anywhere on the home network, but nothing past the DSL modem. It took some messing with the setup of both McAfee and the router, but just as I was about to uninstall McAfee, it started working OK.
green granite
28th Apr 2008, 06:57
I run a BT router with a very long WPA key and I have no problems whatsoever, nor did I when running a D-link one either.
I would look at the laptops power saving routines.
tired-flyboy
28th Apr 2008, 13:18
@Ken
There is a suite on but that is not the problem as the IP is in the firewall so the connection is getting through. The internet connection is the problem not the home network.
It seems that it is a Virgin BB/ router prob but as i won't be able to get my hands on the router till the weekend i'll not be able to do anything.
@granite
the laptop run Vista so what would/should the power settings be?
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The annoying thing is, the router that was purchased was the one on the Virgin BB recommend list.
Thanks
green granite
28th Apr 2008, 14:00
the laptop run Vista so what would/should the power settings be?
No Idea, I've never played with vista. My laptop (xp) is set to sleep after 5 mins of inactivity.
Back in the good old days of dial up connections, there used to be (IIRC) a setting that would drop the connection automatically in there was no activity for a set time period, no Idea if it's still active or not.
kenhughes
30th Apr 2008, 12:27
Wasn't it the other way round? The connection would drop automatically after a pre-determined period of inactivity, making it necessary to send a "keep alive" burst of data every few minutes. (Also IIRC).
I think the time-out period was set by the ISP.