What is wrong with my wifi network?

Asked by crisedwards (329

) March 4th, 2009

This has me and Comcast stumped. I have the most-basic home wireless network you can get: Cable>cable modem>Airport Extreme. Worked fine for a year but, about a week ago, the wifi stopped working. I did the basic diagnotics, resetting the Airport Extreme, resetting the modem, etc. Nothing. Called Comcast. They said the modem was fine (they can test it remotely and even sent two guys out too check it). Well, since then, I have tried everything I can, replacing every step in the system with different items—two different modems, two sets of cat5 cables, three different wifi routers: Airport Extreme, AP Express and a Linksys N something or other with a Mac installer, and two different computers. The result is always the same (and here’s where it gets confusing):

I can get online with no trouble when directly connecting a computer to the modem with an ethernet cable. BUT, when I try to connect a wifi router to that same cable, it always says that it cannot detect any connection to the internet. Any ideas? I can’t imagine that I have three routers that are all defective at the same time.

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5 Answers

Got any cell phones, home alarm systems, radios? Moved the router since it stopped working? Move everything away from your router, and move your router to a nice wide open place. That’s the number one step.

Are you sure your neighbor isn’t like me and stealing your wifi? :D jk.

asmonet (21455

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@asmonet I’ve done that. The closest appliance is about 15 feet away and it’s a manual typewriter.

crisedwards (329

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Hmm. Well, I’m actually screwed on my internet right now too, through Verizon. Turns out that through an error my billing was active, but the circuit that my service was on was disconnected for nonpayment. Which is impossible since I’m on automatic payments. So… the only way to fix it was to disconnect and cancel service, then reorder. Should be back next Thursday.

Maybe something similar happened to you? It took me three weeks to figure that out with them. Mostly because the majority of the people I dealt with were in India. At least up until this week.

asmonet (21455

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Actually, on a second read because you can still connect, I’m inclined to think it is something with with your routers or your settings, and I’m not gonna be much help on that front. Sorry. :(

asmonet (21455

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Could it be the Airport Extreme has failed? Have you connected with the cable, gone to apple and made sure you have all the upgrades on your computer? I had some problems with some software running right because I didn’t keep up with the upgrades.

AlfredaPrufrock (9394

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