[srhoades]

Dell Vostro laptop that connects wirelessly to a netgear WRT54G v4, latest firmware. Dekstop that connects wirelessly as well. As soon as the sun goes down the laptop either cannot access the internet or it is worse than dialup slow. The local network still works as the laptop can print to shared printers off the desktop.

My first thought is some sort of interference but I can't think of why there would be interference only at night and why it only affefcts the laptop and not the desktop.

[tous]

Originally Posted by srhoades

Dell Vostro laptop that connects wirelessly to a netgear WRT54G v4, latest firmware. Dekstop that connects wirelessly as well. As soon as the sun goes down the laptop either cannot access the internet or it is worse than dialup slow. The local network still works as the laptop can print to shared printers off the desktop.

My first thought is some sort of interference but I can't think of why there would be interference only at night and why it only affefcts the laptop and not the desktop.

Unless you have equipment to detect RF, what I usually do is use the notebook as a detector. Walk around the room with it and map the weak and strong areas. Might be a clue as to what's up.

[srhoades]

Originally Posted by tous

Unless you have equipment to detect RF, what I usually do is use the notebook as a detector. Walk around the room with it and map the weak and strong areas. Might be a clue as to what's up.

The actual signal strength never changes. You know, they just got their kitchen remodeled with a TON of canned lights, and they always use the laptop downstairs at night. I wonder if that could be it.

**Ok, that is not it. It affects both computers through the entire house. And since it doesn't affect the speed of the local netork something is interfering with the DSL service. Why at around 6 every night is beyond me.

[corpseal]

Pretty obvious. A neighbor gets home about 5 pm. Has supper and relaxes on the computer about 6pm every night, STEALING YOUR DSL SERVICE.

[srhoades]

Originally Posted by corpseal

Pretty obvious. A neighbor gets home about 5 pm. Has supper and relaxes on the computer about 6pm every night, STEALING YOUR DSL SERVICE.

I'm doubtful of that. If it was "secured" with WEP, maybe, but it is WPA.

[corpseal]

Okay. Then check by logging into the router and seeing if any foreign computers are connected. If not, then it is possible that the ISP has not provided adequate bandwith for all the users in the area.

[reddog6259]

srhoades,

You can go to the command line and ping a site like www.yahoo.com and see what the response times are. This is done by:
Going to the start menu and clicking on run.
Type cmd in the open window and hit ok
Type this command on the black screen: ping www.yahoo.com
Look to see what the RTA's are
They will end in ms
Post the results

See below for example:
c:\ping www.yahoo.com
Pinging www.yahoo-ht3.akadns.net [209.191.93.52] with 32 bytes of

Reply from 209.191.93.52: bytes=32 time=39ms TTL=50
Reply from 209.191.93.52: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=50
Reply from 209.191.93.52: bytes=32 time=59ms TTL=50
Reply from 209.191.93.52: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=50

Ping statistics for 209.191.93.52:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 34ms, Maximum = 59ms, Average = 41ms

This can help establish if there is a bandwidth issue.

NOTE: : A continuous ping will give more replies. This is done by adding -t to the fend of the command. example: ping www.yahoo.com -t

[reddog6259]

srhoades,

You can go to the command line and ping a site like www.yahoo.com and see what the response times are. This is done by:
Going to the start menu and clicking on run.
Type cmd in the open window and hit ok
Type this command on the black screen: ping www.yahoo.com
Look to see what the RTA's are
They will end in ms
Post the results

See below for example:
c:\ping www.yahoo.com
Pinging www.yahoo-ht3.akadns.net [209.191.93.52] with 32 bytes of

Reply from 209.191.93.52: bytes=32 time=39ms TTL=50
Reply from 209.191.93.52: bytes=32 time=34ms TTL=50
Reply from 209.191.93.52: bytes=32 time=59ms TTL=50
Reply from 209.191.93.52: bytes=32 time=35ms TTL=50

Ping statistics for 209.191.93.52:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 34ms, Maximum = 59ms, Average = 41ms

This can help establish if there is a bandwidth issue.

NOTE: : A continuous ping will give more replies. This is done by adding -t to the fend of the command. example: ping www.yahoo.com -t

[Big Al 24]

Originally Posted by corpseal

Okay. Then check by logging into the router and seeing if any foreign computers are connected. If not, then it is possible that the ISP has not provided adequate bandwith for all the users in the area.

My cable service has slowed a little since many condos sprouted up on my block. We had a condovalanche.