Wireless Network Not Detected

[Le Pacha]

OK, here is my setup:
A cable modem is hooked up to a Linksys Broadband router with a built in phone adapter, RTP300 (for Vonage). This in turn is hookep up to a Linksys broadband router with wireless access point BEFW11S4.

The computers are 2 dell latops running windows xp home editions and with wireless netowrk cards.

For some reason, less than 48 hours ago, neither of the laptops can pickup the wireless signal unless the computer is in the same room as the router. once it is moved 4 or 5 meters away from the router, even with no doors or walls in between, it loses the signal.

the only cordless i have is a 900MHz set. And it is not like there another cordless in the apartment next to me becasue the association of the signal loss when moving the laptop away is consistent.

The only change i made in the past week is that i reversed the routers, it used to be the one with the wireless access point connected directly to the modem.

But that was one or 2 days before i started noticing the problem. Could be that I haven't noticed the problem in the first one or two days.

I haven't altered any settings in either of the routers, just disabled the wireless security settings after the problem occured to make the testing of the connection easier.

So can any one advise me with how to fix this problem? Will switching the arrangement to how it was help? If so why should it?

[ktkendall]

I ended up scrapping my BEFW11S4 for a newer wireless router, that model is a lemon, and even tough it does work like you have it with 2 routers, if you decide to scrap that 11S4, all you really need to replace it with is a WAP. When I scrapped my 11S4, dual router setup, with 1 good wireless router downstairs and just a little 4 port switch up here it all works much better now.

[Le Pacha]

Yeah I know it is about time to replace that wireless router with a WAP, after all I just got the other router a month ago.

But still everything was working fine until 2 days ago. What could have caused the problem? Did the old router got older all of a sudden?

[bob_man_uk]

i never had the access point model but i did have a linksys router which did become very sensetive as to where i placed the machines or how far they were, i did at one point have everything going at one point but then the next everything would stop except for the machines in the rooms surrounding the router, i upgraded the firmware and never had a problem with it since. thats my fix for most wireless devices, routers or access points, check the firmware and see if there is an update.

Matty G

[Le Pacha]

Well i got the latest frimware from linksys.com but i don't think it made any difference, wireless access is still a pain.