Choosing network adapter
 

I get dropped off the internet a lot, and more and more frequently. I'm pretty sure its my network adapter and not the router. In order to reconnect I have to unplug/replug my network adapter. Its a USB adapter for my laptop because for some unfathomable reason my built-in won't connect to the router at the house I now live in. It'll ask for the passkey to the router, and then won't connect, so I use a USB network adapter, but it seems like I need a new one. I don't know much about these TBH, so any advice? What do I need to know when choosing one and what is considered a reliable brand?

Go for a good brand name...I have the best luck with DLink, Linksys or Hawking products. For some reason, there really seems to be a difference with the bigger names over the generics in these devices.

I can just FEEL a tw response coming in
3...
2...
1...

HA! I'm a genius! I fixed my built-in wireless card! My tech savvy roomie couldn't fix it at all, and I just kinda figured, well if he doesn't know....
Then I started looking at it and realized the IBSS was set to 802.11b, but the network adapter I'm using says "802.11g" so I changed that setting to 802.11b/g on my built-in, and now I can connect! Whooooo! I actually don't really know what any of that means, but I feel smart!

hehe

dont'cha love that when that happens :)

Yeah! Just wished it'd happened months ago, I've been using that crappy adapter since September.

fixed that for ya ;)

As usual, you always post cheap shots and not one single useful fact. Wacko extremism is alive and well.

If both the internal NIC and the USB connected NIC do not connect to that router, then why are you accusing everything else - not the router?

First thing - where the network cable connects to router and NIC is (traditionally) a light. What is that light both when connected and when connection is lost. What are those lights showing at both ends.

Same applies to the internal NIC. What does that light (and router light) show when connected to the router.

Router lights are either adjacent to where the ethernet cable connects. Or on the front panel. Disconnect an ethernet wire and the light should extinguish. Connect and the light should illuminate.

Computers at both ends can be completely fried. And still those lights should work if only the ports, wire, and connectors are OK. First thing first. Are the ports, connectors, and wire OK? And are they OK when communication is lost?

Something that happens sometimes is that people fix things without using exactly the means or methods that you would have chosen. Fact.

NB

A network adapter, or any other device for that matter, connected via USB, can have .... difficulty if the default settings for XP for USB ports / laptop are left in place. Specifically, the power settings for USB ports on laptops is usually set to "let the computer(operating system) manage the power settings for this port". This means that the OS can choose to turn off the port to save power. Why and how it comes to this choice is not that important. When you're using the usb port to connect a keyboard and the port starts and stops, who cares, it wakes up again when you press another key. When it is the network card that is connected to a port that's turned off, you have a lot more trouble.

I recommend that you change the power management settings for the USB ports (all of them) to "Do not turn this device off to save power" or ... words to that effect. This can be done in Computer Management -- Device Manager. If you're having trouble finding the place to make this change, send me a message and I'll connect and fix it for you.

If that was a problem, the lights (as described earlier) would indicate that had happened. Better is to first know what is and what has failed before changing anything.

What was posted more suggests a router, connector, wire, other other defect. Even the internal ethernet port (that apparently works elsewhere) and that USB adapter - both are having problems only with that router?

What is your problem? This wasn't a cheapshot at all. Simply reading the first post led to your exact post about the problem and asking for "facts". Stop being so overtly sensitive.

Bwaaaahaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Well you did predict correctly, although it was really more like stating the obvious, but you detracted from the drama of the white horse, cape, and multimeter, riding to the rescue. Oh, and you forgot the fucking expletives.;)

It's like how people are "overtly sensitive" when you make a joke about how all Rush lovers say "I hate Rush, BUT..."

t-dub, you're the man! These guys are jealous of your superior brain. Keep giving well-thought advice, and ignore the constant crying.

:lol:

fixed that for ya.

I never said shit about Rush - you are confused. . . .
IIRC that was you Lookout and Bruce calling each other names and you complaining about it being gender related - I believe it was here
Yup that about summed it up.

I was no part of it.

Oh, calm down :lol: ...I know what was said in that particular instance.

That part of it was to point out the hypocrisy that runs rampant.

Oh, and you know, I doubt MTP started this thread so you could get a shot in at tw. You do that a lot. Of course, it's immensely cool to behave that way towards tw.

I'd like to start a thread asking some questions about my car. Will you please show up early and diss tw for anything he MIGHT say?

Oh, it was a joke? Well, duh, that was the fucking point: y'all don't get to decide when someone should and should not get a fucking joke, or when a Dwellar should not be "overtly sensitive", or when it actually IS a funny observation or when it isn't because someone's tiny pathetic ego gets bruised.

Oh boohooo, tw didn't get my joke.

And "fixing" quotes? It's been SO overdone.

So many posts. Not one provided Morethanpretty with even one useful word. None answered any of those questions. But a political agenda demanded he had to bring Rush Limbaugh into it.

Morethanpretty - I thought from your first post that a USB was a wired connection. Take advantage of a good and working system. Do that wired connection to confirm those lights work. To confirm a wired connection works. Doing this now is both easy. And makes any future failure easier to eliminated. Doing it later when other problems exist can create confusion.

A working wired connection today is important for discovering or solving future hardware problems. Easiest if you do it now; learn what indicator lights should be glowing.

Wrong again tom, She brought him into the thread not me.

Guess you missed post #4.

I suggest you read it again. I didn't call anyone any names.:eyebrow:

Sorry - I apologize to you, Bruce.

Please, stop with playing the innocent victim...here and elsewhere.

You threw the first punch here and here. You throw subtle bombs or snarky remarks and then respond with a "who me -- just a joke" and/or the "sheeshes" and the rolling eyes more than I care to link.

Incorrect.
FYI - it was a take-off on another post from another person. Almost verbatim. This has been going on for years. Nothing snarky nor negative. Failed attempt at humor - apparently so.

A post for help like the original in this thread has been followed by one of Tom's a dozen times with virtually the same response.
No facts, no details...
and here.
0-fer-2.
I agreed with glatt and took a shot at Rush. Care to try again?

Of course none of these exchanges included you. If you don't like what I post, then put me on ignore. You certainly wouldn't be the first nor the last.

"sheesh"....."down boy"....."lighten up"......

Sound familiar?

You can dish it out and dodge and weave with the best of them.

The last I heard, exchanges on here are open for anyone to participate.

And "I call it like I see it."

That should sound familiar too.

After your repeated incorrect assumptions, I spelled it out for you figuring it was an inside joke you missed.
If not, like I said put me on ignore.

What is this I don't even. Blast it with piss.

Thanks TW for trying to help, but I did already fix it. It was just a setting on my network card, or whatever. There were multiple reasons why I knew the problem was the adapter and not the router:
1: Resetting my network adapter would fix the problem (temporarily), not the router.
2: My on-board wouldn't connect because it wasn't compatible (I didn't know I could change the setting.) The network adapter worked, just not well.
3: There are 4 other people (3 of em comp geeks) and if the issue was the router they would be having the problem too and try to have fixed it by now.

Thank you anyway TW and BigV. Hopefully those responses will help someone else.

The cheapshot at TW before he ever even posted in this thread was very unwarranted and bad taste. I don't appreciate it in the politics threads (any of the cheap shots taken by anyone), but shit like that needs to stay in those threads. I generally stay away from them because I don't like all the personal attacks. I hate that the politics threads are so immature and unpleasant because of it, I would like to be able to read a respectful and open discussion at least once before all the normal culprits start slinging insults. Don't act like "someone else started it." That doesn't even work when you're in kindergarten.
That kind of behavior definitely does not need to spill to the rest of the board.

STOP IT!

:notworthy

My apologies. It wasn't intended as a cheap-shot, but I recognize now that is how it was perceived and for that I am sorry.

Of course it was intended as a cheap shot. It did not discuss technology. And did not discuss the topic - networking. It obviously was intended as a cheap short - as classicman was doing simultaneously in many other threads - as also identified here by Redux.

And you did not apologize to those you were taking cheap shots at. Obama is still waiting.

No it wasn't, it was your intro, man. :haha:

No tw, it wasn't and I apologized.