Intermittent wireless connection

[Sousuke]

I'm using a Netgear WG311T PCI wireless card, with 2 netgear routers, one of them being sort of a wireless access point (can't remember the right word, it just kinda 'slaves' to the primary router) that is my primary wireless connection.

The problem comes randomly (as far as I can see). The connection seems to be there, but MSN can't connect, pages in my browser doesn't load, etc etc, basically there is no 'net connection, but it's shown as connected by the XP wireless connection utility (and previously using the propriety netgear utility, which i thought was the problem).

While I'm having the connection problems other computers connected to the same router with LAN cables work perfectly fine.

I've checked that the power saving mode of the wireless device is off, and out of ideas.... so.. that's why I'm here

[glc]

Using 2 routers can give you all kinds of configuration headaches.

[Sousuke]

It happens no matter which router I connect to.. the one with the DHCP server's further, so I tend not to use it much.

[glc]

If they are both wireless, that's exactly what I mean!

[Ob1]

you have a router with another AP setup as a repeater, what happens if you disconnect the repeater, does your problem stop?

have you tried changing wireless channels? updated firmware on the router and on your wireless cards? do you have cordless phones?

[Sousuke]

Well.. if I turn off the repeater, then I just have 1 less AP.. the problem doesn't seem to stop.

Changing channels is something I haven't tried.. firmware on the router is updated, but I don't think my cards are updateable..

I have a cordless phone.. doesn't seem to matter whether I'm using it, though.

[Ob1]

i would double check netgears website for updates for your wireless nic cards, even though netgear can be slow at releasing updates, im guessing there might be at least one driver update. i know i had the netgear WG311T in one of my desktops and i had constant issues with the signal dropping off, so i just yanked mine

[Sousuke]

So I guess I could try my luck with another wlan NIC? Any reccomendations, then?

[Ob1]

Linksys has always treated me good.....

you could do another PCI card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124115

or use a usb adapter which will allow you to move it around to get the best possible signal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124126

[Sousuke]

Thanks for the input.. I'll look at Linksys whenever I have time to replace it. Most possibly I'd take the PCI card, because I have enough wires meandering around my desk (and the repeater AP is just a wall and 5 meters away).

In the meantime.. the problem seems to have been alleviated by changing the MTU size to 1492 (from 1500), still get the occasional 'disconnects' but somewhat less often.