Help a frustrated rdm

[Kirsteena]

Ok, I hve been having a problem for a couple of weeks now, and I am getting annoyed. Especially when at this rate it will start keeping me from my Zenith Mitts.

I run FFXI in two places, but on the same computer. At home, a wireless network, at my b/f, plugged into a router. Up until recently, no problems. Suddenly, last week, when at home (wireless), I disconnected, and could not log back on at all - it got stuck at the checking POL viewer stage. Was like that the rest of the night. Next day, logged in fine - until about four hours later it started again. Cue much swearing, as I was in xp party at the time.

During these wierd dc phases, I can browse the net, and I can do some other stuff, but AIM (go go trying to get a message to Murphie yesterday), and stuff like Norton liveupdates are also a no go area. I tried things at my b/f's (the non-wireless connection) and it was perfectly fine. Came back home yesterday, it started again.

Now, I'm totally confused. I have tried rebooting our router/modem (even gave it a good half hour switch off), nothing happens. It is a secured wireless network, noone else is on it. Oh, and noone else in my house was using the net at the time. Anyone got any suggestions?

And if this is in the wrong place, please feel free to move it.

[Necropolis]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

Hmm...

The only time that I had a similar problem was when I went from one connection to another on my laptop. The way I fixed it was to not put the laptop in hibernation. If I just restarted the computer and then connected internet etc it worked fine.

If you arn't hibernating between changing locations, I don't know what to tell you. Good luck and hope you figure it out.

[Kirsteena]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

No laptop, it is a desktop pc that gets lugged about - not ideal I know but me and the b/f are both gamers so....

[Roo]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

Have you tried hardwiring at home? If so does that produce the same results? If it doesn't then my conclusion would be to have your wireless card checked out. Additionally if your PC is anything like my laptop you might have a list of preferred networks. If you happened to get onto a neighbor's wireless network because you live in an appartment then they might have a firewall preventing something (this could happen if you both leave the network names as default like Linksys). These are all shots in the dark. My advise to you is try to eliminate as many varibles as possible. If you can narrow it down to the modem or the wireless card or something like that it will give you an idea of where to start exploring corrective options. Best of luck to you.

[Srxjo]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

are you on Aol, if yes then you must sign off as i can not connect to FFXI or Xbox live when i'm signed on my AOL account

[Kirsteena]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

No, I just use AIM - and normally have no problems. I wasn't even logged into when it went funny, I just wanted to get a message to Murphie to pass onto someone afterwards.

[Feba]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

go go trying to get a message to Murphie yesterday

I saw this, and immediately thought "Wait, did the carrier pigeon died?". Incorrect grammar and all. Then I realized, who the hell has carrier pigeons anymore?

[Kirsteena]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

Lol Feba!

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

During these wierd dc phases, I can browse the net, and I can do some other stuff, but AIM (go go trying to get a message to Murphie yesterday), and stuff like Norton liveupdates are also a no go area. I tried things at my b/f's (the non-wireless connection) and it was perfectly fine. Came back home yesterday, it started again.

If you can post the error messages exactly as reported by Norton LiveUpdate or AIM, it would be helpful.

Also, if you can post the results from Windows' command prompt (type cmd from the Run... dialog) for this command:

ipconfig /all

A) When connection is working for FFXI.
B) When connection is not working for FFXI.

Those would be helpful as well.


p.s. When you say you can browse the Net, do you mean any website? Even websites you do not usually visit?

[Rostum]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

Would there be a port blocked, that FFXI uses, at all?

[Kirsteena]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

I don't get error messages, they just kinda hang there, and then eventually get the "not responding" message.

Next time I am at home, and trying this (won't be tonight as I am out), I'll post what ipconfig says.

And as far as I know, yes for websites I don't normally visit - I was certainly able to access one I hadn't accessed before cause I was trying to upgrade my mobile while this was happening

[Clever Ninja]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

All I can assume if there's something obstructing your wireless connection like a phone or other wireless device either your b/f's home or around it. Wireless connections are sensitive to that.

[Kirsteena]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

At home, there is no other wireless in the house. Maybe a phone interfering, but no reason why it should suddenly start about a week ago - nothing has changed.

[Feba]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

Is your place in an apartment building? Could be a microwave.

EDIT: Could easily be something a neighbor is using, wireless phones, wireless keyboards, lots of things use 2.4GHz nowadays. Would easily be possible if someone just bought something new. I have a friend that works for the DOT in his state as a network admin, still has problems with his wireless keyboard being interferred with by a neighbor's phone.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Help a frustrated rdm

I think we can pretty much rule out interference, as she retains connectivity for web use.

The interesting pattern is that FFXI and AIM do not work when she experiences the problem, while web remains accessible. That seems to rule out DNS trouble, and eliminates a many potential problems with her home network from consideration.

FFXI and IM services both require accounts, and are possibly sensitive to IP address changes. (Both systems only permits one login at a time, so if you change IP address, they may get unhappy.)

General web surfing, on the other hand, does not require one to be logged in, and is generally not very sensitive to IP address changes--usually it's like losing barely noticeable info, with symptoms like the server "forgot" which pages you've visited already.

Two more piece of info to collect:
1. Log on to the router, to check the "up time" for the current connection (different brand of router call it different names), when you notice d/c problem. The idea is to see if you've actually maintained a constant connection or did something happened and the router reconnected to ISP.
2. Log on to the router to collect its "WAN" (ISP assigned) IP address, before and during connection problem.