wireless keeps going out

Recently, our wireless goes out and stays gone for quite a while.
Occasionally it will come back, but only for a few minutes and then
it's gone. If I take my laptop downstairs close to the router, it gets
a much better signal and can connect. But upstairs, the network signal
is lost. It's never done this before and I'm wondering what could be
wrong. Is there a chance that a neighbor or someone might be hijacking
my wireless connection? I'm using a Linksys wireless router. Is there
a way I can set it up so that I have to enter a password to connect to
it? Thanks.

> it's gone. If I take my laptop downstairs close to the router, it gets
> a much better signal and can connect. But upstairs, the network signal
> is lost. It's never done this before and I'm wondering what could be

So it sounds like a weak signal so either try moving the AP or add a
second AP. It could also be interference if a neighbour has an
interfering device upstairs (or you for that matter, like a video
sender).

> wrong. Is there a chance that a neighbor or someone might be hijacking
> my wireless connection? I'm using a Linksys wireless router. Is there

Which Linksys wireless router?

> a way I can set it up so that I have to enter a password to connect to
> it? Thanks.

What security mechanism are you using right now? WPA asks for a
passphrase if you haven't already supplied one. Alternatively,
depending on the router type, you might be able to load tinypeap on the
router and do exactly what you want.

David.

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <1130034311.509678.196170@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups .com> on 22 Oct 2005
19:25:11 -0700, "vtxr1300" <cakewalkr7@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Recently, our wireless goes out and stays gone for quite a while.
>Occasionally it will come back, but only for a few minutes and then
>it's gone. If I take my laptop downstairs close to the router, it gets
>a much better signal and can connect. But upstairs, the network signal
>is lost. It's never done this before and I'm wondering what could be
>wrong.

Possible interference. See:

"Minimizing 802.11 Interference Issues" at
<http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/953511>.

"Stop the interference!"
<http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2004/0816wizards.html>

>Is there a chance that a neighbor or someone might be hijacking
>my wireless connection?

Yes, but that won't stop you from connecting.

>I'm using a Linksys wireless router. Is there
>a way I can set it up so that I have to enter a password to connect to
>it? Thanks.

See WPA in the manual.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

vtxr1300 wrote:

> Recently, our wireless goes out and stays gone for quite a while.
> Occasionally it will come back, but only for a few minutes and then
> it's gone. If I take my laptop downstairs close to the router, it gets
> a much better signal and can connect. But upstairs, the network signal
> is lost. It's never done this before and I'm wondering what could be
> wrong. Is there a chance that a neighbor or someone might be hijacking
> my wireless connection? I'm using a Linksys wireless router. Is there
> a way I can set it up so that I have to enter a password to connect to
> it? Thanks.

There is many ways for a lot of different hardware solutions. Most likely
your access point is too far away so your connection speed is scaled down
and you loose the network. The wireless router itself usually has a menue
and can tell u if there are other people inside your network. Also
depending on the model of our router there is ways to protect your wlan.
tom