So, it's becoming more obvious lately that something is wrong with my wireless on my computer. It sometimes will randomly disconnect for absolutely no reason, or will have trouble connecting to a network for no reason. My internet will go mega slow. For instance, I've been playing this game online with my boyfriend, and his screen is completely loaded by the time mine is even at like... 10%. It's awful.

Thing is, I'm not really sure if this is a problem with the wireless card itself, or just something that isn't updated on my computer that may be messing with the wireless. If it is a problem with the wireless card, how much do wireless cards cost to replace? I'm pretty sure the warranty on my computer is expired, so I don't think I could send it to HP or anything. It's an HP Pavilion dv6000 and is almost 3 years old I believe, if that info helps at all. I dunno, figured I'd ask here since I'm clueless and you're all a bunch of dorks. Any help would be much appreciated.

Has this been a more recent occurrence, or something that has happened over a long span of time?

What is your internet speed in general? (If you're not sure, visit this site and post the results.)

Internal wireless card wouldn't be worth replacing, you'd be better to get an external USB one that would plug into the side.

I'd be surprised if it were a hardware issue though. What OS are you running, and what wireless config software are you using (manufacuter's or the Windows Zero Configuration)?

This has been happening for probably like... 6 months now, maybe? I mean, for a while I thought it was just because my boyfriend's internet sucked, cause when I connected to UBWireless/Secure at my place, I never had an issue. But now it seems that no matter where I go the internet is kinda slow/I get disconnected. Here's the speed test:


Comparatively, my boyfriend just did one and got like 13 or 14 download speed.

I'm running Windows Vista. As for software... I have no idea haha. I think it uses HP wireless assistant or whatever, but I have no idea how to actually find that out.

There's nothing wrong with 4.93 mbps, that shouldn't be noticably slow, especially over wireless.

Has to be some sort of software-side issue if it was only doing it on some networks.

Does it only happen on wireless? Have you confirmed that over ethernet, it works fine?

Have you disabled the wireless adapter lately (under the control panel)?

It's likely either an IP configuration issue in Windows or the HP software. You might find that the Windows built-in Zero Config is better anyway...personally, I'd uninstall the HP software.

It's not super slow when browsing, but when playing games, it's definitely a lot slower. One main issue I'm having is the fact that it disconnects for no reason. It's super frustrating.

I haven't tried ethernet though. I probably could if I could track down my ethernet cord.

How old is the router, and how old is your computer?

Is the wireless network secured? Do you have a STRONG password on it (something more than your phone number).

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I'm using the UB network, which means I'm either using UBWireless or UBSecure depending on which one is being less of a pain in the ass. Usually it's UB Secure, but sometimes it will disconnect from UB Secure and won't reconnect, so I'm forced to use UB wireless. Both of them require our UBit names/passwords to get in. My computer is about 3 years old give or take. I mean, it could just easily be that UB's internet is shitty, but I feel like it's been slow on other networks other than UB's. It just pisses me off when I'm trying to do something and all of a sudden the connection drops, and then it's sometimes a pain in the ass to get it to reconnect.

Yeah, UB's networks definitely suck. UB Secure only connects about half the time on my phone, and UB Wireless is a pain because of the authentication screen.

But, there may very well be an issue.

Impossible to tell if it's related to wireless or not if you haven't tried a wired connection.

Plus...wired is so much faster anyway. I max out around 7-8 mbps on UB Wireless or UB Secure, I routinely get 90+ on ResNet.

Yeah, I hear that. I feel like given how focused UB is on computer science/engineering/all that jazz, they'd have a better network than they do. I'll have to tried a wired connection at some point, but it'll probably have to wait til after classes are done with as I'm way too busy to do anything atm.

And yeah, I was shocked. I was on a computer in the Lockwood Cybrary and tried the test out for funsies. It got up to like 80ish, I think maybe more. I was impressed haha. You live in the dorms, I gather? Which one, if you don't mind answering? I know in the dorms, the wireless can be really good or really bad depending on where you live. I lived in Richmond my freshman year and I never had an issue. Went to Fargo the next year and it was awful. I had to be on ethernet almost all the time to keep from going insane.

I hear you there. Unfortunately, CIT has no relation to the CS dept, and as good as the CSE program supposedly is, the CIT department really sucks. There's so many things that don't work and they have no plans of fixing. ResNet blocking all but a few routers, iPrint Anywhere, public sites virtualize all apps, etc.

I live in Governors (for two more weeks, anyway), and there is no wireless. There's one access point on the ground floor of each of the 4 buildings, but really the only people that can use it are those who live in the halls directly above it. Most people have their own routers set up, or know the password for a friend's.

I'll be in Hadley next year. According to what I'm reading, all of the apartments have wireless. Although I'll end up setting up my own router anyway.

hey, ill be governors in the fall

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PSA: I am an overly sarcastic person. If you take me at my word, then i will most likely anger and offend you.

Eh, thats stupid. And that sucks about Governors. I'm kind of surprised that Governors doesn't have wireless. I'm pretty sure most of the dorms at Ellicott do now.

Yeah, all the apartments have wireless, though I think the wireless can be spotty depending on which apartment you live in. Not really sure how Hadley wireless is. I have some friends that are living there next year though.