Hardwired PC has intermittent Internet Access when I start using wireless laptop help

Conan · 30-01-2007, 12:00

Hi All,

I have a Dell Dimension XPS T700r desktop Windows 98SE. I installed an Actiontec wireless router so I can use my Dell Latitude D820 wireless XP Pro laptop. It all worked fine and I can access Internet from laptop no problem
The problem is with my hardwired Dimension desktop. I have my NTL DSL cable modem connected to my Actiontec wireless router via ethernet cable
and then my desktop connected to the wireless router via USB hardwired cable ( my desktop only came with USB and thats why I chose this Actiontec wireless router because NTL recommended it and it has a USB
port so I can have my desktop hardwired via USB as it was before I installed the router )
anyway sorry to blab on, when the laptop is turned off, the hardwired desktop can access the Internet no problems. However, as soon as I start
using the laptop at the same time to acccess the Internet, the desktop
tries to open webpages but timesout and just hangs there, occasionally the desktop manages to access an internet webpage but then hangs again ! It seems as though the laptop overides or takes up all available
bandwidth ! can anyone help please as my daughter is giving me earache
as she uses the desktop on MSN !

Thanks in advance ,

Conan.

Aragorn · 30-01-2007, 13:31

Conan,

to CF - I hope you'll 'be back'!

Do you have more details on the router, eg Actiontec model no? I've never heard of a router that allows USB and ethernet connections, but doesn't mean it's not there.
Do you have any spare PCI slots in the PC to install an ethernet card? They are only about ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£5 now and a much better option than networking via USB.
Can we just confirm the USB cable is plugged into the router, not the NTL CM.

videodj · 30-01-2007, 13:31

Wasn't aware you could get a router that had usb. Anyway, I'd consider getting a ethernet card for your desktop, there only about ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£10, much better connection.

Conan · 30-01-2007, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Conan,

to CF - I hope you'll 'be back'!

Do you have more details on the router, eg Actiontec model no? I've never heard of a router that allows USB and ethernet connections, but doesn't mean it's not there.
Do you have any spare PCI slots in the PC to install an ethernet card? They are only about ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£5 now and a much better option than networking via USB.
Can we just confirm the USB cable is plugged into the router, not the NTL CM.

Hi Aragorn thanks for speedy response !
I amat work just now but can get Actiontec model for tomorrow or even tonight when I logon ! but I discussed this with the Actiontec technical guy and thats why I chose this wireless router as it allowed my desktop to remain hardwired via USB and I didnt have to install an Ethernet card !
I followed the Actiontec installation to the letter , connections as follows :-
NTL DSL/Cable Modem Ethernet => Router Ethernet input (via ethernet cable)
Router USB => desktop USB (via USB cable)
Laptop wireless

As I said in my first posting laptop access Internet fine but if I try access internet using the desktop at the sametime, the desktop cant access or it manages to access internet randomly hardly at all and just hangs there !
yet when not using laptop, the desktop connects to internet no problem ?
any ideas ?
Conan.

Aragorn · 30-01-2007, 14:41

How many ethernet ports does the router have? Typically you have one port labelled 'WAN' or 'Internet' and upto four 'LAN' ports. If the port is unlabelled it may be an internal LAN port rather than WAN. I guess we need to know more about the router. Even a digi photo of the router ports might help identify where the problem lies.

Conan · 30-01-2007, 15:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

How many ethernet ports does the router have? Typically you have one port labelled 'WAN' or 'Internet' and upto four 'LAN' ports. If the port is unlabelled it may be an internal LAN port rather than WAN. I guess we need to know more about the router. Even a digi photo of the router ports might help identify where the problem lies.

Hi Aragorn,

From memory the Actiontec wireless router I have has 1 x ethernet port identified as DSL/ethernet which I was instructed to connect to my NTL DSL/Cable modem Ethernet port, my router has 1 x other ethernet port left alone, and 1 x USB port which under instruction I have connected into my desktop USB.
Conan.

Aragorn · 30-01-2007, 15:40

Can you identify it from the Actiontec website?

Paul K · 30-01-2007, 15:50

Is the desktop clean? Antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-trojan etc tools run to make sure nothing is messing with the connection?

videodj · 30-01-2007, 15:53

Had a look at their website, has your router got 2 usb ports?

The model I found had a usb WAN port and a usb LAN port.

Conan · 30-01-2007, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Can you identify it from the Actiontec website?

Hi Aragorn,
If you go to www.ntlworld.com\ntlshop look at the wireless routers recommended, you'll find it there Actiontec wireless DSL/Cable Modem 802.11g wireless networking kit . If you go down to the descriptions etc it lists interface ports, ethernet input. ethernet output, USB output, wireless transmission. I dont know why it doesnt appear on Actiontecs' home page
but it does exist, I'm not going mad ! yet !!
Conan.

---------- Post added at 15:59 ---------- Previous post was at 15:55 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Is the desktop clean? Antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-trojan etc tools run to make sure nothing is messing with the connection?

Hi Paul,

I've got Zonealarm, and AVG antivirus running on desktop !
I havent checked it for a while but I can do tonight ! but that wouldnt explain how the harwired desktop accesses internet with no problems when wireless laptop is turned off ! yet when I use the laptop , the hardwired desktop just hangs with an occaisional internet connection
happening but even then it just hangs !
Conan.

---------- Post added at 16:01 ---------- Previous post was at 15:59 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by videodj

Had a look at their website, has your router got 2 usb ports?

The model I found had a usb WAN port and a usb LAN port.

Hi videodj,

my Actiontec router has one ethernet input port labelled connect to DSL/Cable modem, one ethernet output port, one USB port and wireless transmission, thats all.
Conan.

Aragorn · 30-01-2007, 16:23

I wonder if the USB port is supposed to be a print server?

The NTL piccie looks similar to this one which def doesn't have USB. The NTL kit includes a USB wireless adapter and USB cable for connecting PC to wireless adapter. Are you using this adapter for the other PC?

Conan · 30-01-2007, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I wonder if the USB port is supposed to be a print server?

The NTL piccie looks similar to this one which def doesn't have USB. The NTL kit includes a USB wireless adapter and USB cable for connecting PC to wireless adapter. Are you using this adapter for the other PC?

Hi Aragorn,
no I havent used the USB wireless adapter for my desktop ! my reasoning
was that because its an older pc 7 years old now and Windows 98SE I figured hardwired would ensure best communication, do you think it would work better if I install the USB wireless adapter that came with ?
if it did work better how is that ?
Conan.

---------- Post added at 16:30 ---------- Previous post was at 16:27 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Hi Aragorn,
no I havent used the USB wireless adapter for my desktop ! my reasoning
was that because its an older pc 7 years old now and Windows 98SE I figured hardwired would ensure best communication, do you think it would work better if I install the USB wireless adapter that came with ?
if it did work better how is that ?
Conan.

Oops I forgot to add , I spoke to the Actiontec Technical support guy and explained my pc type and what I wanted to do before I went with Actiontec, he said the router USB connection allows you to setup the router and afterwards acts as a direct connection instead of using wireless.
and dont forget when , laptop is not being used, the desktop accesses the
internet no problems via the router USB to desktop USB cable !
Conan.

Aragorn · 30-01-2007, 16:38

Maybe thats the clue

Quote:

router USB connection allows you to setup the router

- it poss that it is only active when the wireless is disconnected. Would make sense if you are buying it for a PC without ethernet, as you normally setup wireless via a 'wired' connection.

If the USB adapter is free, I would load the drivers and plug it in. Wired USB networking isn't great to start with, so it may even be an improvement!

Note - with W98 you 'may' have to uninstall the old NTL USB drivers before installing the Actiontec drivers.

Conan · 30-01-2007, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

Maybe thats the clue
- it poss that it is only active when the wireless is disconnected. Would make sense if you are buying it for a PC without ethernet, as you normally setup wireless via a 'wired' connection.

If the USB adapter is free, I would load the drivers and plug it in. Wired USB networking isn't great to start with, so it may even be an improvement!

Note - with W98 you 'may' have to uninstall the old NTL USB drivers before installing the Actiontec drivers.

at this stage I'll give it a try ! it can't be any worse !
if it works Aragorn I owe you a pint !
Conan.