Keep having to reset the wireless adaptor - problem?

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

My tinternet keeps coming to a standstill and when I run the windows diagnostics it generally resets my wireless adapter then it is ok. It is happening very often at the moment, it's a desktop with a Belkin USB wireless doodah.

Does it means the gadget is in need of replacement or is there anything I can do to avoid it? It's not a huge problem, just a PITA. Thanks

The first thing to try, with all wireless problems, is to change the channel on the router, in case it's interference from other routers in the area. Preferably move it at least 4 channels, e.g. if it's on channel 3 go to channel 7 or higher.

Could you give me a tiny clue how to do that? I really wish I understood what you just said

It depends very much on what wireless router you are using. Typically there will be a web control panel you can log in to, often at 192.168.1.1/. In the wireless settings area there will be a channel number that will probably be somewhere between 1 and 11.

I can't give you detailed instructions because i depends on the model of wireless router. I'm sure Google can find detailed instructions for you, as long as you know the model of router.

What software are you running... Which version of Windows - Vista?

When you say Windows resets the wifi adapter, can you be any more specific? For example, is it requesting a new IP address?

Has this been happening for a while? Can you think of any changes to your system that may have been made just before it started happening?

it's the newest windows I think, the pc is only about a year old. Not vista, the one after that. It just makes a beep and tells me that it reset the wireless adapter, then it seems to work ok. Only change I can think of is that we changed internet providers - to Plusnet, from Sky. When it's working, it's nice and quick though.

When I run diagnostics, it's because the pages are not loading but the connection looks connected with good signal strength and speed looks normal - it says it is connected at 65Mbps at the moment. The router is in the next room, attached to the main telephone socket.

The problem with these things is that they're really hard to diagnose - it could be a problem your end (with the router, or with how it's communicating with your computer) or a problem at your ISP's end. Try the channel changing thing, it can help. If it doesn't, try connecting your PC with a cable and see if it still drops out (to diagnose if it's a wireless problem or a problem that affects the whole thing - if it doesn't drop out when you're on a cable, the problem is almost certainly not at your ISP's end, if it does still drop, you're back to where you started because your router could be dodgy or it could be the ISP).

Once you've excluded as much as you can, you'll probably have to phone your ISP. They can run some diagnostics and figure out what's going on with your line; if there is a problem with your router authenticating or synchronising, they should be able to see that.

Thanks everyone, I will look into trying changing the channel. Hooking the PC up with a cable isn't an option unfortunately, had to do wireless otherwise there would need to be a big hole in the wall

If changing the channel doesn't solve it you might be better off with a homeplug starter kit, which should give you wired reliability without drilling holes in the wall.

Those homeplug kits are great, but I'd give the ISP a call first - if it's an issue their end, no amount of new equipment will change a thing...

Mine does this: the wifi is fine on laptop, iPod, iPad etc. but for the desktop PC if you leave it for a while, when you come back you have to run network diagnostics to re-set the router.

Dh set up a complicated system with repeaters and shizzle which is always fine for his toys but gets a bit sluggish for my laptop and phone . So I've just got into the habit of unplugging the doodads for a few seconds every Sunday and it seems to clear it. Sometimes I warn him first [evil]

MMWA - remember PN has an 0800 number for support, if you do decide to give them a call. They can at least tell whether your connection to the exchange has been disconnecting or not (hopefully not).

When I had a Windows 7 laptop a couple of years ago (gave it to my BiL as his need was greater) I did find it was a bit fussy about connecting to the router (router was set to use WPA/WPA2 security - and that was messing up the wireless connection for me).

When you say that needing to reset the adaptor is happening 'very often', can you be more specific as to how many hours between resets there are?

PS I much prefer cable connections to Wi-Fi, and don't claim to be an expert on wi-fi, but have around a dozen units connected [eg phones, with no ethernet sockets!] to a couple of wireless routers running in the house.