Home WIFI network keeps dropping from macbookpro (suspected)

Hello, I'm really hoping someone can help me because this problem has become really irritating.

In our house we have a Wireless-G Broadband Router (Linksys WRT54G with firmware version v8.00.0) and the signal is typically strong. When my roommate (who just got a new macbook pro) uses the internet, the wireless will sometimes disconnect - probably around once every few hours. It will disconnect from all computers, even though we can see our network on the list with full signal strength, we are unable to join it. We have to then go and unplug the router for a few seconds and plug it back in to make it work properly.

Furthermore, when the wifi goes out, connecting via LAN still works through the router.

What could be the problem - when the macbookpro in question has been gone for a week, the internet works beautifully, so I'm confident that this computer is the problem.

Please help, and tell me what other info/diagnostics I need to provide!
Thanks so much.

Hi awicklund,

In your case, I'd like to give you couple of suggestions. First of all, login to the router's page (opening the command prompt, checking the router's IP address by typing ipconfig, default gateway is the router's IP). Then check the wireless settings properly. Check on the SSID and the encryption algorithm (WEP/WPA/WPA2) whatever you have selected and make sure, they are proper.

If the problem still continues, change the SSID and change the passkey as well and then try. Make sure that your devices are in the covering range (promised by the router manufacturer). Also make sure that you do not change the channels manually, let it be automatic, should be either 6 or 11.

I hope, these should fix the issue. Let me know, if you need any further assistance. Please feel free!!!

Hi Routersforhumans,

Thanks so much for your help - unfortunately it didn't seem to help the problem at all. The channel is set on 11, and all the other values are good (the router worked perfectly before the new macbookpro was bought!)

Would a new router fix this problem, or will I be sorely dissapointed when the new one would be messed up by the macbookpro too.

Thanks for any more help!