Internet Connection Problem

[Petrushka]

I've just purchased a Samsung 5509P5C laptop (Windows 8) and am experiencing some problems with intermittent internet connection breakdown.

Is this a router problem? (Currently with Talktalk). Diagnostic search says there is a broken cable or one not plugged in properly but everything looks fine to me. Is a stronger router called for? I didn't have this problem with my clapped out old Acer and another family member does not have this problem when using his laptop in the same house.

[johnb]

Have you tried unplugging the cables (from the phone socket to the router and the from router to the PC) then plugging them in again?

Does jiggling either of the cables cause the connection to fail?

Also, try rebooting the router by switching off its mains power, waiting for 20 secs then switching it back on.

[Petrushka]

Have you tried unplugging the cables (from the phone socket to the router and the from router to the PC) then plugging them in again?

Does jiggling either of the cables cause the connection to fail?

Everything looks fine but will try unplugging the phone socket cable. I'm on wireless connection so no cable to the laptop. Did wonder if the extreme heat might be responsible. Whatever it is it's damned annoying.

[french frank]

'or one not plugged in properly'

A common excuse when it doesn't know quite what the matter is. As johnb says, switching off the router for a short while might solve it. Fingers crossed!

[Wallace]

It is always worth changing the wireless channel on the router to see if it makes a difference. Instructions from TalkTalk are here

I have BT Broadband and my PC, old laptop, iPhone and iPad were all working well with the WiFi however, yesterday for the first time, my relatively new iPad kept dropping the internet connection while the other devices continued to work perfectly. I changed the wireless channel on the BT Broadband Hub (their name for the router) and problem was immediately fixed. Everything was working fine again.

You can always put the channel back to its previous setting if it doesn't help.

[Dave2002]

Have you tried the laptop in another Wifi zone, to check that it works? If not, send it back.

I wonder if it could be a Windows 8 issue - odd things happen, though I've not actually heard of them getting worse. One of my friends had a couple of laptops, neither of which had very good wireless, and one was very poor. When they were both upgraded from Windows 7 they both became much more usable - which wasn't expected, but was a welcome surprise.

[Petrushka]

I've tried unplugging cables and plugging them back in again but problem still persists. The router isn't one of those listed on the Talktalk page as it is so old (had it since 2007) so wonder if the brand new laptop is proving too much for it and we need a new one? I've also noticed that the internet light on the router is intermittent. At the moment it isn't possible to try the laptop in another place but will endeavour to do so. I'll try my clapped out Acer to see what happens. It's worth pointing out that the problems only began with the new Samsung.

Another thing I've noticed is that it seems at its best late at night.

[jean]

I have had a lot of internet connexion problems with TalkTalk. It hasn't been easy to get help from them, either.

[Petrushka]

I have had a lot of internet connexion problems with TalkTalk. It hasn't been easy to get help from them, either.

How did you solve the problem in the end, Jean?

[jean]

I'm afraid that after struggling a few times with people on the other end of a phone line who seemed to be reading from a prepared script that did not fit the case, I handed over to OH and left it all to her.

She found them so frustrating that in the end we decided to switch suppliers (to PlusNet), though I have to say that since we made the decision the problems haven't come back.

We haven't completed the switch though, and TalkTalk kept threatening to disconnect us which apparently they do not have to do.