Internet Issues

[Kommander]

So my internet it borked, at least on my PC. My PC and wireless router that I was given some time ago never really worked well together. They would start off ok but after about a week the PC would start acting wonky so in the end I just stopped using the router. However last weekend I decided to give the thing another go due to my girlfriend wanting WiFi and my new phone going over my data plan limit.

I got everything working after a bit of tweaking and it worked ok until last Friday when the whole thing started acting wonky and then died. Since then I've been able to get the wireless back up but the PC, which is on a eathernet cable connection, will not work with either the router or straight to the cable modem. The weird thing is that sometimes it works but really slowly, other times it quickly cycles between working and not working, and at other times it acts like there is no connection at all.

The cables all appear to be ok so what I am considering now is to get a USB WiFi dongle into my PC but I am not sure if my PC and router would be able to deliver speeds similar to what I get with Cat-5. My motherboard dates back to 2007 and my router is likely of similar age. I think that the motherboard has USB 2.0 but even with that, the a good WiFi dongle, and my router can one really game wirelessly at this point?

[Denis]

Two words for you: Linksys and Netgear. If your router isn't made by one of those companies, get one that is.

A four- or five-port router with wireless function is not expensive these days - here's one for under $25, but it is worth paying a few dollars more to get one from those brands.

I would prefer a wired connection over a wireless one anytime, provided you have the wiring.

[Erik]

Two words for you: Linksys and Netgear. If your router isn't made by one of those companies, get one that is.

I'd add D-Link to that list, but other than that, yes. Get one of those brands and you'll avoid most problems. And yes, if possible I would also prefer wire before WiFi, if it's possible and practical. There's lots of reasons a WiFi can cause problems, but most of them tend to go away if you do what Denis suggested.

[mekender]

Two words for you: Linksys and Netgear. If your router isn't made by one of those companies, get one that is.

I'd add D-Link to that list, but other than that, yes. Get one of those brands and you'll avoid most problems. And yes, if possible I would also prefer wire before WiFi, if it's possible and practical. There's lots of reasons a WiFi can cause problems, but most of them tend to go away if you do what Denis suggested.

Some of the finest routers made today are made under the ASUS name.

[Kommander]

The router in question is a Linksys wrtp54g. Also the issue exists whether I use the router or go straight to the modem.

[Jered]

New Wifi card for the PC?

[mekender]

Ok so wireless is not the problem... Bad cable modem would be my first bet.

If it is not your modem, you can usually take it down to the local cable company office and swap it out for a new one.

[Kommander]

New Wifi card for the PC?

That's the easy solution, I just want to make sure my other equipment is up to it so I wont be disappointed.

Ok so wireless is not the problem... Bad cable modem would be my first bet.

If it is not your modem, you can usually take it down to the local cable company office and swap it out for a new one.

I should have mentioned that the modem works fine with my girlfriends laptop both through WiFi and on a cable straight to the modem.

[Netpackrat]

If it is not your modem, you can usually take it down to the local cable company office and swap it out for a new one.

I'm going to hijack this thread just long enough to express shock that Kommander has evidently managed to attract a woman.

[Kommander]

OS is Win 7. Girlfriend has fuzzy ferrets. What is a network stack?