Wireless Internet Help

[Dabomb18359]

I recently got a wireless router and a wireless card for my new laptop. I'm not really mad or anything, but when I'll be signed on to AIM (instant messenger) every 15 minutes or so it will pop up and say "Connection lost" basically. I click okay, type my password again at the prompt and it connects right back up. I know part of it is because it's wireless and I'm not directly connected to the router through a wire or something, but does anyone know why this happens?

Thank you!

 

[ainwood]

Moderator Action: Moved to Computer talk.

Do you have auto-disconnect enabled?

 

[Dabomb18359]

I don't know what auto-disconnect is. I looked it up in the help section but got no valid results.

 

[ainwood]

In Internet Explorer, in the "Tools", menu, click on "internet Options". Click on the "connections" tab, then "settings". At the bottom, there is a section called "dial-up settings" - click the "advanced" button there.

On the form that comes-up, make sure that the two options to disconnect if idle or after x minutes are turned-off.

 

[Zelig]

Is your internet disconnecting, or just AIM? If you don't know, test it by leaving something downloading, and checking to see if it stops when AIM disconnects.

 

[Dabomb18359]

Well I think just AIM, but at first I thought it was my wireless card but my brother said that on the PC with a wired setup it will do it too. It doesn't really disconnect, only for like a split second, because right after AIM signs off (which happens on all our computers) I can sign right back on. We got a new Airlink wireless 802.11g router, so I don't know. So far nothing except AIM, but it's because it's like a split second thing.

 

[IbnSina]

Do what Ainwood says, but also ask yourself, "do I have a wireless phone?" We're not talking about a cell phone here, just a wireless in-house phone. Those typically use a frequency around 2.4 GHz, which is in the same range as that used by your 802.11g setup. For a while I lost my wireless connection anytime anyone answered the phone in my house. At this point I have jimmied the frequencies around enough that it does not seem to cause a problem anymore, but we have a wired emergency back-up phone we use as well most of the time.

 

[Dabomb18359]

1. I don't have dial-up.
2. I won't be idle, I'll be surfing the net or something but still using the internet.
3. My whole internet connection isn't lost, the only otification I ever get is only from AIM.
4. We have a wireless phone but it is older and I'm quite confident it's not 2.4Ghz

EDIT: I think I figured out. When I maintain chat it stays on, but after 15 minutes or something it will disconnect from AIM. How can I change that?

 

[gonzo_for_civ]

To help I need a few answers first.

Did this notebook have internet access before? If so, were there any problems with AIM? Are we dealing with a clean install? Have you scanned for spyware(spyware that causes conflicts with AIM is extremely common)? Have you tried re-installing AIM? Does the AIM problem occur on the computer physically connected to the network? Do you lose network LED activity while this occurs?

 

[Dabomb18359]

1. yes it had internet before through a cable running to my room through our old router.
2. No there were none then.
3. I don't know what a clean install is.
4. I have scanned for spyware and none came up. I have Norton Antivirus and SpySweeper.
5. I have't tried reinstalling AIM but my brother has and I don't know if it worked.
6. Yes it occurs on the computers connected physically.
7. Umm what's network LED activity. Nothing has been different than AIM though.

 

[ainwood]

Has it EVER had dial-up access before? The Auto-disconnect on my PC still closed the connection, even though I switched to ADSL.

 

[Dabomb18359]

No it has never had dial-up.

 

[Cedric Greene]

Have you checked to make sure that the ports AIM uses are open in the NAT firewall likely included on your router?

 

[Dabomb18359]

I didn't understand any of that...

 

[gonzo_for_civ]

Hmm I've got another direction to go with this.

1. Have you installed anything to increase the functionality of AIM(eg programs to add smileys or games that are not from AOL)?

2. If you go to control panel>add/remove programs do you see a program listed called DeadAIM?

 

[Dabomb18359]

1. Not that I know of, so basically no.
2. No.

 

[gonzo_for_civ]

Have you tried any other messenger services? Y!, ICQ, trillian, etc...

 

[Dabomb18359]

No not really but I don't think any of my friends have the other things either, AIM seems to be the most popular.

 

[gonzo_for_civ]

I'm just wondering if you experience the same problems with other services. If you are getting intermittent connection failure that would throw off your AIM but not necessarily cause any noticable lapse in web browsing.