Tech Help Internet randomly drops out

MacArther

MacArther

Keeper of Treeception
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Joined
Sep 22, 2010
Messages
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It seems to happen more when I'm playing a game in online mode (i.e. multiplayer, or something where Steam or Origin is in Online mode). There is no stutter or warning sign, I just get booted from my family's WiFi. I can usually reconnect immediately, but this has caused several games to crash or freeze. Help please!
 
Have you or anyone else made any changes to your data plan, changes within your router/modem settings, or perhaps new internet hardware (router/modem, wifi extender, etc)?

(I'm assuming this only started happening recently..? Or has it been a longtime issue?
 
No changes to the router or anything. This is a new thing at the house which started about a month ago. The killer part is that the wireless is secured so...yeah.

Windows 8.1 64 bit operating system, Dell Inspiron Laptop with 630m Nvidia graphics card on board 8GB of RAM. Intel core I7-3632QM CPU @ 2.20GHZ
 
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Ah, so your connection is wireless?

Do you have any other wireless devices connected to the same network? If so, how many, and have you tried disconnecting any that aren't in use from the network and trying again?
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Also, a couple other questions that may or may not be related:

Do you use QoS (Quality of Service)?

At any time, have you tried running a connection diagnostic via the 'Network and Sharing Center'? If so, has it ever given you a error message or 'solved a problem' since this issue started?
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EDIT:

Also, I'm assuming you haven't heard of any work being done on the internet in your area at any point since the issue started?
 
FireHazard772 said:
Ah, so your connection is wireless?

Do you have any other wireless devices connected to the same network? If so, how many, and have you tried disconnecting any that aren't in use from the network and trying again?

At least 4 other devices...closer to 6 or 8, and they're in use.
---

Also, a couple other questions that may or may not be related:

Do you use QoS (Quality of Service)?

At any time, have you tried running a connection diagnostic via the 'Network and Sharing Center'? If so, has it ever given you a error message or 'solved a problem' since this issue started?

If you mean the windows prompt about internet connection, no I have not tried because usually I can reconnect immediately. However, even with "connect automatically" checked on our wifi connection, I still have to manually click it again.
--

EDIT:

Also, I'm assuming you haven't heard of any work being done on the internet in your area at any point since the issue started?

Aside from FIOS no longer belonging to Verizon, nope.
Click to expand...
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strange... i was working on the same issue. I think this could be windows 8.1 related. My daughters computer has just recently just started doing the same thing.
 
Are your drivers for your wireless device up to date? That might resolve some issues.
 
I'll put you through some basic IT helpdesk troubleshooting steps:

1. Did you turn it off and back on?

...Kidding.

First, I would run an Ethernet cable (cat5e/cat6) from your laptop to your router. Most routers have built in fast/gigabit ethernet switches. Run something (your game, a download, etc) for the same length of time you normally would while connected to WiFi and see if the drops still persist. If you still lose connection, it is most likely your router causing the issue.

You can perform the same test using another device (computer, phone, iPad, whichever you may have) while connected to WiFi for an extended period of time as you would on your laptop.

Now, if your laptop is the ONLY device whatsoever that is dropping connection, try to "forget" the home network and reconnect to it, re-entering your WiFi password. If the problem continues.....

....Try looking up the specific model of your laptop online, I recommend Dell's website, and find and download the adapter's driver manually. This way you won't have to upgrade to Windows 10 via Windows Update. I would but I have no idea what specific model your laptop is.

Apologies for the long string of text. I'll help out as best I can with as much IT knowledge I have gained from the past 3 years of being a network tech. Just need some small bits of information!
 
It might just be the amount of devices connected and the distance from the box?

I have had this happen to me several times as well. My connection is wireless, it seems like the more the devices the slower the connection is. There is about 7-8 devices connected to the net at a time, depending on when they are on or whatnot the connection is terrible and I am unable to load Youtube, Crunchyroll or whatever streaming service I have.

Since I moved back in June I have been having wireless internet, it sucks and I hate the connection speeds it has throughout the day. I will be calling my ISP to have the internet box moved because there are no connection ports in the walls on the other side of the house so I had to connect it to the far end of the house about 50 feet away (through walls, floors, there is no direct line of sight) and it seems like the my internet card and box have a hard time keeping a strong connection. On days where there is no one really on the internet I have a great time with the WiFi and there are no connection drops.

Soon enough I am going to go back to wired but for now how bad the net is I am unable to game online which I have wanted to do for the last 3-4 months since I have had wireless.
 
First off, It seem's your playing wireless. I suggest you download an App on your Phone and check if anyone else is using the same signal range as you. If to many people are set on the same signal bandwidth it could be what is making you drop.

Here are some good apps....
Android

IOS

Sorry, Not an IOS user so can't give you a good recommendasion..
 
Thanks for the app suggestion, I will look into it and see who else is using it. I don't think that anyone in the area is using outside of my family. The passwords are soooo random out of the box, I just bought a powerline internet setup and the password that it came with, cause I bought the wireless one is so random I did not think it would be that lol

I need to go wired within the year I at least got a 50% boost of internet speeds. I have an ethernet port on it connected to a switch so that I can have multiple devices wired. For now this is my best bet before having to move the internet box it might cost a little more this way but seeing as I live with my parents I don't want to mess the internet.
 
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