The Mother Board

[mooresmsr]

I have an old PC -- 2003 -- that I'm going to replace. In the meantime, I have a question about a wireless network adapter issue.

My ISP (Mediacom cable) initially gave me a wireless router that supported 802.11b (although they charged me for 20 Mbps, thank you very much). When I finally figured out what the slowdown was all about, I had them come out and give me a new router, that works at 802.11n speed. This discovery/replace process took about 3 years, mainly because I didn't question the speed.

Since the new install, I've had all kinds of issues staying connected to the internet. My Win7 network picture shows me connected from my PC to the router, but no connection from the router to the internet. Lots of reboot/power off & on, etc., with no difference. One day I'll be connected fine, the next I'll struggle all day with no connection ever being made.

My Mediacom support suggested an Ethernet-across-the-floor wire connection, which I did and Viola! everything works. Haven't had a connection issue for several days. This makes me think I may have an issue in the wireless connection. There are two components to it -- the router I just installed, and the network adapter in my old PC. Since dealing with a cable company is about 2 cm. above toenail fungus, I wanted to make sure the problem wasn't with the card in my machine. It is a D-Link AirPlus DWL-G520 PCI adapter (rev B). D-Link shows they quit making this shortly after the last ice age, and quit supporting it in 2009. I thought the problem might be driver related, so I looked for a new driver, but the best they have is Vista, and I'm running Win-7. On the other hand, before the router replacement, with the old 802.11b setup (no wires!), I had occasional (every 2-3 month) issues with connectivity, also with Win-7.

Any suggestions on the best path to take? My gut says the router is bad, but there's probably some obvious thing I'm overlooking, too.

SMM

[Mr T]

Probably compatibility between Wifi card and router and more down to the wifi card being olde and the router key using WPA-PSK or WPA-PSK2 security.. Update the wifi card, they are really cheap now - avoid Dlink, Belkin and Netgear - garbage... Use a lesser known company, my preference is Edimax, but others like TP-Link are good.. I have had no issues with Edimax yet, and I even have one running in an old Mac pro.. Make sure you get an 'n' card if you do...
_________________
I have been programming on computers since the ZX81.
I am an apprentice trained Electronics Engineer with qualifications to back it up.
I have been repairing computers since 1996.
Yet to some people I still know nothing...

[mooresmsr]

I did a quick search and found an EDIMAX EW-7811Un Wireless Nano Adapter for $10 that plugs into a USB 2.0 port. I have a couple open on my tower. I don't want to spend $ for a PCI board when the new PC I'm going to build will be a PCI-E, and my current motherboard only has PCI on it.

Does this look like a solution? And yes, the new router is WPA-PSK2, and my network software asks for the WPA key, but I don't know if the D-Link will support anything beyond WEP.

[Mr T]

Yep, that works... Not quite as good as this one, due to the small antennae.. And you can take it with you easily to the next build...
_________________
I have been programming on computers since the ZX81.
I am an apprentice trained Electronics Engineer with qualifications to back it up.
I have been repairing computers since 1996.
Yet to some people I still know nothing...

[c327]

My Sager lappy with an internal 802.11n draft did not like my Linsky 802.11n wireless DSL desk top router at all. Just had all kinds of connection issues with it. Possibly an incompatible issue with your hardware also ???
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“Respect cannot be learned, purchased or acquired - it can only be earned” "Pay It Forward"

[evasive]

[c327]