Ok, so I had my wireless network on Wednesday night. Last night my computer could no longer find it. No idea what's going on with it. I have a 5 year old Linksys 2.4ghz wireless G router that was an absolute pain to get connected in the first place.

I think it's time to get a new router. I'm not looking for top of the line. Just a decent router for one laptop and a wireless printer. I need something VERY easy to set up and was considering a new Linksys G, a Belkin G+ or a Belkin N

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Linksys-W...roductDetail.do

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Belkin-Wi...roductDetail.do

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Belkin-N-...roductDetail.do

Please help!

Go with a Linksys, then as soon as you get it, Flash the ROM with DD-WRT firmware.

Stay away from the Belkins

^^^ uber tech geek. should be trusted. ^^^

(and i mean that as a good thing, bimmer. )

before getting a new router, make sure your wireless antenna was not turned off on your laptop. Some laptops have a little button or switch and it can easily be bumped and turn off without telling you that it is off - just won't find the network.

See if your ISP provides wireless routers now, many will provide them for you.

Thanks for the advice! I don't really know what you mean when you say flash the ROM with dd-wrt!

Thanks! I did check the switch and it's on. Time Warner provides wireless networking for an extra fee per month....no thanks!

I'm with you.
What does this mean?

I have a new Linksys router and am having a similar issue (suddenly my laptop doesn't want to connect and the switch is still on). Would this - whatever is it that you said - help me too?

Mine goes out / disconnects almost once or twice an evening, every day.

Why is that Bim?

Definitely agree with Bimmer - IF you need a new router, stay away from the Belkins and get a Linksys.

Check out this troubleshooting guide to see if you can locate and fix the problem you're seeing first:

http://www1.linksys.com/support/troubleshoot/index.html

Here's a step by step for how to utilize dd-wrt firmware (which is great):

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Installation

While Linksys does make the best wireless routers, the software that runs them tends to be a bit flaky.

DD-WRT is basically a new, 3rd party operating system for the routers. It makes them more reliable, offers more and better network security options, and a lot more options for the router in general.

Cause you are running the flaky Linksys firmware

Excellent, will run that program.

My router isn't more than 6 or 7 months old and it has done this since I got it.

Just make sure you follow the directions, and flash it with the correct version. You don't want to Brick the thing!

If you need any help, just let me know.

Mine is the same age, but just started doing this since we moved a couple of weeks ago and got Wireless broadband.

Just to let you know, my son got a new laptop for college and we decided to put in a wireless router by Lynksis. This way he could use his and I could still use our PC.

Before we could get it to work, we had to call (Lynksis) there tech support for them to clone the IP for the laptop to the router. Took about 45 minutes by phone. After that we have never had another problem.

Linksys it is! Wish me luck! Hopefully the new one will be much easier to install than the old one was!

Actually what they probably had you do was clone the MAC address of the laptop onto the router. ISP's used to try to block routers on their network by only allowing computer MAC address on the network.

Everything bimmer says goes over my head...just sayin'
That and when I tried to read the Installation instructions linked above, my eyes actually crossed

I'm not worthy...I'm not worthy...

I am married to a computer genius and he always teases me about marrying him for free tech support. Everyone calls him for help, so much so that he has VNC access to all of our parents computers.

While that is not the reason I married him, it is VERY handy.

For all of you who truly appreciate Bimmer's tech support, I am sure he likes to be paid in cache.

Thank you, thank you very much.

LOL @ GD!!!

LOL@GD 2. Another thumbs up for the Linksys as well.