"Martin Underwood" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:45ead603$0$8736$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
> "ChrisR" <chris@delete.cirobinson.everyotherword.plus.fromm y.com.address>
> wrote in message
> news:45ead281$0$8733$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>>
> Given that more than one PC is affected and that you are getting some very
> bizarre symptoms, I'd suspect two things: 1) interference from another
> router on the same channel; 2) the router has died.
>
> Download NetStumbler (www.netstumbler.com) and install it on one of the
> wireless PCs. With your router turned off, run Netstumbler and see what
> other networks are visible and what channels they are using. Now turn your
> router on and re-run Netstumbler. You should see your own network as well
> now.
>
> If there is any other network on the same channel as yours, try
> configuring your router (by an Ethernet connection from the PC) to use a
> different, unused channel, preferably differing from any neighbouring
> network by at least two channel numbers. I think channels 1, 6 and 11 are
> non-overlapping; any others overlap to some extent with these. With the
> WAG54G, I think you have to explicitly save any config changes and then
> reboot: alway check after rebooting that the change has "taken" and that
> you haven't reverted to the previous state.
>
>
> If that doesn't solve the problem, I'd suspect the wireless access point
> in the router. I've seen quite a few Linksys routers fail one way or
> another - far more than Netgears, and Netgears are far more common with my
> customers.
Thanks Martin, but I have used Netstumbler, and I've also tried changing the
wireless channel. The problem occurs even with the PC's right next to the
router. I will try changing channels again and see what happens.

The reports of the phenomenon I found through Google were not
brand-dependent.

Chris R