OK, here's my set up at home. My router is downstairs and my computer upstairs no more than 15 steps away. I have Dockpoint wireless highspeed. Occasionally when I am online at home, the computer will lose it's connection for 10-20 seconds every 3-5 minutes. The "connection strength" can be very good or excellent and then it is all of a sudden gone. Why?? Now, with that in mind, my year contract with Dookiepoint is up as of April 21 and I'm probably going to look at Roadrunner. Roadrunner was not available at my house until September of '04. Will a switch to Roadrunner stop this connection issue or is there another possible glitch?
Chuck, What type of router do you have? And do you know what channel it is operating on? Also, when this occurs, is is by any chance at times when someone is using a cordless phone in your house? (They can interfere with other wireless devices.)
The router is a Linksys Wireless-G router. I have no clue what channel it is on. I looked on both the router and the antenna that's on the back of the CPU, but I don't see anything about a channel. As for the telephone question, this problem happens all the time. In fact, the phone is not being used currently and I just lost connection while writing this twice, both for about 7 seconds. It's usually not a big deal, but when I am uploading or downloading, sometimes it kicks me off. Any ideas?
id say its the pos dockpoint connection. i had almost the same problem when i used them. i switched to RR and have only been down 1 time in the last year. if the speeds and prices are still the same, youre paying 45 bux for 512/512 (run a speed test @ dslreports.com and see if youre actually getting that, i highly doubt it). i now get 5000/384 for the same price thru RR.
Chuck, if you have satellite call 'em up and tell them you want to whole nine-yards and you will get a deal on RR. I've got it for 29.99 a month for 18 months. DVR has changed the way I watch television. I don't think I will go back to satellite after my 18 months... I'll just have to drop those movies channels that I won't be able to afford!
I can't get the wife to agree to the digital phone (because of the new phone number), but I am seriously thinking of changing cable and internet. We've got DirecTV now. Maybe if I beg I can get the same deal with just those two. It appears that space_cowboy and I have the same router, so maybe it IS Dookiepoint that's causing my problem.
Just to confirm your setup: You have an outside antenna on your house to connect to Dockpoint. There is a cable from the antenna that comes into your house and plugs into the WAN port on the back of the Linksys Wireless-G Router. You have a wireless card in your PC that then allows you to connect to the Linksys router, correct? If that is the case, one thing you might want to try is changing the Channel that the Linksys-G is operating on. You may find that this clears up the problem for you. To change the Channel, you'll need to login to the Admin interface on the Linksys router. (This can be done through your web browser, or the setup CD that came with the router, but you'll need to know the Admin password to get in and make changes.) Once you have logged in to the Linksys, there is a section that allows you to pick the channel you want it to work on. Most of them tend to be set on Channel 6, so try one of the other available ones that will be listed. If your problem is being caused by interference on that channel, switching it may alleviate the problem. Once you have changed the channel on the router, you may have to update the same setting on your PC wireless card. I say "may" because I have seen the PC pick up the changes automatically before, but sometimes it does take having to make the same channel change on your PC so they match up. Hope that helps!
math for chuck.... youre best possible dl speed = ~55kbps my best possible speed (which i have) = ~600 kbps all for the same cost...i get over 10x's the speed that you do. i *think* they still have the new customer deal going... 29.95 for first 6 months..also, and this is a biggie, NO CONTRACT REQUIRED. which means they have to continually keep you happy.....
You had to go the "midget porn" route, didn't you. Look, I served my time, now let it go. Thanks for the numbers space, I think that sealed Dockpoint's fate. If I can follow all of your steps, webbie, I'll try that tonight and let you know if that helped in the short term. I think long-term is definitely going to be Roadrunner.
BTW, anybody got a number for Time Warner locally, or do you simply order online or through an 800 number?
I have the same router, with my main computer hard wired to it, a wireless adapter on my B-I-L's computer upstairs, and WI-FI cards on the laptops. My B-I-L complained after a while that he was booted off in a fashion similar to what you have described. I added a repeater thinking it was a signal strength problem since it was as far from the router as possible. He had not experienced a problem until he added some online games too. He finally just started using the extra phone line for dial up. I moved the wireless adapter to my son's computer when he came back home for a time and he had no problems. The laptops only have a problem when the wireless phones are used so it seems to be something relating to the specific computer and/or programs running on it. :?
Chuck: You can grab one of the $29.99 Road Runner deals without getting rid of your Satellite television. I did that for about 6 months until I got fed up with satellite!! No regrets! Road Runner is far superior to anything else in this area.
Webbie, didn't have time to try your solution last night, but I did call Time Warner. They have to do something called a "site survey" and they will call me within 7 days. Either way, I'm still switching to RR. BTW, just to let you know how irritating this can be, I can't even do the speed test on the other thread because I keep losing my connection. Grrrrrr!
Chuck it seems that we have the same problem. I also have Dockpoint wireless and have the same up and down up and down problems. Its just seems to come and go. About a week ago they Dockpoint did some changes and it was supposed to solve the problems. After being down for 4 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That would be my business DSL - so believe me it was not fun - I finally got DP to figure out what the problem was and they said my speed had been raised and I should be good to go. It was better for about a day - and now I am back to slow, down , up down , slow, slow.................. I want to change back but with it being a business location - all of the supplier SLAM you $$ wise. That's why I went with Dockpoint. But it looks like I am contemplating switching back to RR or Sprint @ about 80.00$ a month. But as my mother would say 'you get what you pay for"!!!
4 DAYS?!?!? I guess my problem has been pinpointed. And after reading your situation, I don't feel so bad about bashing Dockpoint. It appears that they deserve it.
Depends on how you quantify "superior". 1. Speed .... "yes" 2. Security ...... "NO!" 3. Down Time ...... Current rating 15% higher down time than ADSL but is improving. In an age when stealing the brand of your underware over the web will make someone a living by selling the data ..... I'm putting security as my first factor.
