Is the problem with my computer, modem or my router?

I am assuming your new desktop is receiving a wireless signal. The problem is your router.
The router can handle a limited number of devices. Sometimes tablets and computers will use more than one of these ports, because the router thinks they are different devices than earlier. The hardwired one never confuses the router, since it has only one constant path.
Your choices would include getting a router that has a larger number of user pathways, hardwiring your new desktop, or continuing to power cycle the router.

We had that problem recently. It was our modem. We got a new one from the cable company and it’s fine now, for the most part. Our service is still a little temperamental, but that is because we need a new router as well.

try blowing on the connectors to remove dust. solved my last connectivity issue.

Does this happen after you use your cordless phone? Think about it.
Some of the older 2.4 GHz transmit exactly where some WiFi networks operate and cause disconnection when in use. I had a similar issue and it took ages to figure out that was the root cause. I bought a new 5.6 GHz phone and that fixed the issue.

My money is on the router. They seem to work forever or be flaky pieces of shit. I have always had good luck with Netgear ones. And you can score one for 30 bucks.

I’d guess it’s just a range issue and sometimes it loses that wireless connection momentarily and then doesn’t pick it back up. Remember, walls kill range, so do floors, and if you’re below the router, whatever it’s sitting on is between you and the signal as well. It’s not quite as simple as a straight line, but none of that stuff helps.

It might be a configuration issue with the router, but it wouldn’t be due to a limited number of connections, you can have dozens of devices connected to it wirelessly unless you have a limited number of IPs configured. Generally that’s listed as an IP range in the configuration (something to check, you want that range to be wider than the number of devices you have, no reason not to have 20+ in that range). I’m assuming it’s set up with DHCP on, most are unless you specifically configure it not to be.

Assuming the downstairs computer is running Windows, you can right click the network icon in the tray next time it gets dropped and select “Troubleshoot”, if it reconnects then it just lost the connection and didn’t pick back up where it left off. You might consider moving your router. It will also save you a trip upstairs to disconnect/reconnect the router.

The troubleshoot will basically just sever the current connection and start over just like a restart. It will also give you more information if it’s unable to connect.

Other than that, most routers have tons of options on them, you can usually find an online guide pretty easily with a google search and that might be worthwhile.

could be too many devices fighting for bandwidth on the wi-fi

router config would be my first place to go to see if you can improve it

I’m just going to call bullshit on all the router config stuff. With a decent router two wifi connections and one wired shouldn’t be a issue. I have way more going on with a cheap router that has been flawless for two years.

I have also had shit routers that needed to be reset every week. Just buy a cheap router. If the problem persists return it.

@johnpowell – ISPs sometimes deliver theirs with an IP range of 4 IPs, it’s just a configuration, but keeps a lot of folks from having more items connected than that, or bumps one off to let one on.

Why call it bullshit?

That the ‘older computer’ that is hard-wired into the router works all the time says that the problem is not with the cable modem or the service provider. And clearly the hard-wired portion of the router is also AOK.

I like @funkdaddy‘s idea to check the DHCP settings and make sure they are configured to provide a range of IP addresses that’s enough for all your wireless gadgets.
While your at it check all the wireless gadgets and make sure they are all set for ‘automatic’ or ‘DHCP’.
HOWEVER, you might have a situation where these gadgets are getting IP assigned automatically but while one of them is snoozing the router might re-assign it’s number to a device that is active. When the first one wakes up then they will fight with each other for network access. If you have a situation like that consider assigning distinct IP addresses to each of the wireless devices, and make sure those IP addresses are outside the range of the DHCP pool, are distinct from each other, and are in the subnet range defined by the subnet mask (usually that just means the first three numbers are identical on all your gadgets, e.g. 192.168.0.xxx).

@LuckyGuy also has a good point that a cordless phone or microwave could be knocking your gadgets off the network. If that’s the case you can try setting your wireless channel on the WiFi to something besides its default. Try a few different channel settings and maybe one of them is immune to your phone interference.

You have a problem in your system, because as you said it is 7 year old. So, may be there are ranges issues in your system. And thats why your router is not supporting to your System.

Um, the seven year old one is the one that doesn’t have problems. DHCP has been around for a long time.