My laptop immediately connects to a friend's wireless Roadrunner cable modem connection w/o problems, but I only occasionally can access the Internet. Sometimes I'll have internet access which lasts for as little as a few minutes or sometimes several hours. Sometimes I have Internet right after boot-up, sometimes its unavailable after startup but is becomes available later (without restart).
I'm able to connect to other wireless roadrunner connections like this one: Open authentication and disabled encryption. I have the connection set for the DNS to be automatically assigned as well as IP (by DHCP). I always connect as 192.168.0.110 and am able to ping the DNS within a 2-7ms response time.
I'm using a new Sony Vaio with the latest XP and Norton Security Suite. I've tried disabling the firewall, but that doesn't seem to help. I've repaired the network connection, but that doesn't seem to help. There is one nearby, encrypted network, but I don't think that's the problem. Its on a different channel.
Sometimes, if I restart my pc a few times, I'm able to get Internet access. Even when I don't have Internet, I'm always connected to the network and able to get a prompt reply to my ping. When I have internet access, its pretty fast. I've gotten downloads rated at over
350k. Its like a lightswitch; when it works, it works great, otherwise it doesn't work at all.For what it is worth, the DNS, DHCP, & Default gateway are 192.168.0.1 and subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 I get a lease with a one week duration. DHCP and autoconfiguration are enabled. The Firewall on the cable modem is not enabled.
Does anyone have any suggestions?