Can too many computers using a wireless network cause connection loss

[ShyGuyInChicago]

I went home from college for Thanksgiving and when I came home the wireless internet started acting up. It would show that we are connected to our network, but that we have no access. And sometimes the connection gets lost. The computers in my house connected the wireless are my mom's, sister's, and dad's laptops and my brother's desktop. I came home with my laptop and netbook and that is when the problem started and my sister developed the theory that having 6 computers connected to our network could be causing the problem. The router is located in the basement and everyone but my dad uses their computers up stairs.

D0 you think my sister is right?

The router is a Cisco Linksys WR120N.

[scuba steve]

Well I suppose having to reroute connection to that many systems could prove a problem, delivering a more diluted service but keeping your router in the basement? I'm not surprised it's been acting up to say the least, you ideally should have the router in the centre of the home as to distribute the signal evenly across the house... just think of all that concrete the signal goes through before reaching even the ground floor.

[JackOfClubs]

It could. If it's an older router, it could be starting to give out. Routers can become "overloaded," to say. We have a Linksys WRT160N and there are 2 PS3s, up to 4 laptops, my iPod, my phone, a desktop and a wireless printer using it, and every now and then, it will just kick one of the PS3s or laptops off.

Next time it happens, plug out your router for a few seconds, then back in. That should help a bit.

[Ender]

I'm having this issue. it's like, time to upgrade routers.

[Iceman]

It seems like I have this issue sometimes

[Ender]

One of these should fix the problem; http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2643993&CatId=373

:P

[AutoPlay]

I very much doubt you would over load that cisco router in your home

do you have any wireless telephones plugged in near the router?

[ShyGuyInChicago]

I very much doubt you would over load that cisco router in your home

do you have any wireless telephones plugged in near the router?

Yes, we do about ten feet away.

[Shenron]

Well, it might not be the router so much as the ISP. Depending on the quality of your internet connection, you may or may not be able to support that many computers. It also depends on what you are doing on the comp because different things use different amounts of bandwidth. If you are using all of your bandwidth then you will get kicked off of the network because there are other comps still sending and recieving packets. It is kind of like a traffic jam, with the network being the Interstate and the comps being cars. If you see you can't go any further you take the nearest exit right? Except this is forced, not voluntary. (Sorry for the corny analogy.)

[Commander Thor]

Yes, we do about ten feet away.
If they're 2.4ghz phones, try moving the router (Or phone) away to another room. Wireless telephones can, and usually do, interfere with wireless networks.
The other option (And better option), is to get new phones that operate on a different frequency. Phones that operate in the 4-6ghz range are perfect if you have a wireless network in the house.
Well, it might not be the router so much as the ISP. Depending on the quality of your internet connection, you may or may not be able to support that many computers. It also depends on what you are doing on the comp because different things use different amounts of bandwidth. If you are using all of your bandwidth then you will get kicked off of the network because there are other comps still sending and recieving packets. It is kind of like a traffic jam, with the network being the Interstate and the comps being cars. If you see you can't go any further you take the nearest exit right? Except this is forced, not voluntary. (Sorry for the corny analogy.)
A router will not kick you off the network, regardless of network congestion.
Even if it did, internet speeds are not fast enough to get to that point. Most people have a 5-20mbit line into their house, which a wireless network is more than capable of handling. (Most wireless networks can handle 54mbit+)

[Shenron]

A router will not kick you off the network, regardless of network congestion. Even if it did, internet speeds are not fast enough to get to that point. Most people have a 5-20mbit line into their house, which a wireless network is more than capable of handling. (Most wireless networks can handle 54mbit+)

Well, I used to help with IT at the private school I went to and whenver we had more that 20 computers on the network using the internet, the network would get bogged down and subsequently crash if too many people started viewing videos or downloading things...
Also, what I meant was kick you off the internet. I should have stated that I guess lol, but when someone says "I got kicked off" the usually mean the internet, not the network as a whole. The OP said they would be connected with no access....thats where my theory come in.

(250th post! yay!)

[Commander Thor]

Well, I used to help with IT at the private school I went to and whenver we had more that 20 computers on the network using the internet, the network would get bogged down and subsequently crash if too many people started viewing videos or downloading things...
Also, what I meant was kick you off the internet. I should have stated that I guess lol, but when someone says "I got kicked off" the usually mean the internet, not the network as a whole. The OP said they would be connected with no access....thats where my theory come in.

(250th post! yay!)

Then your school had shitty internet. :p
At both of my high schools, and my tech school, the internet would get bogged down during peak times, yes. Almost to a complete halt, taking upwards of a minute to load a page like Google. But we never lost access.
Again, you shouldn't get kicked off for congestion.

[AutoPlay]

Well, I used to help with IT at the private school I went to and whenver we had more that 20 computers on the network using the internet, the network would get bogged down and subsequently crash if too many people started viewing videos or downloading things...
Also, what I meant was kick you off the internet. I should have stated that I guess lol, but when someone says "I got kicked off" the usually mean the internet, not the network as a whole. The OP said they would be connected with no access....thats where my theory come in.

(250th post! yay!)

Schools networks are notoriously bad. Cisco make exceptional network equipment, theres not a chance that lynksis would be even phased by more than 20 devices connected at once.

Then your school had shitty internet. :p
At both of my high schools, and my tech school, the internet would get bogged down during peak times, yes. Almost to a complete halt, taking upwards of a minute to load a page like Google. But we never lost access.
Again, you shouldn't get kicked off for congestion.

you my friend sound like someone i could sit down and have a rather large and good convosation with :D

anyway:

I would try and purchase an 802.11n NIC and make sure you only use 802.11n as it runs at 5.0Ghz at 300mb/s

you wont get 300mb/s of course as your limited to the line rate and jitter. but it will cut out the interference caused by your telephones

[ShyGuyInChicago]

I was wondering. My brother's XBOX 360 is plugged via Ethernet into our wireless router. Could that be the problem? We have both that and the cable modem plugged into it. Sometimes while my brother is gaming we can't get on the Internet and sometimes he gets kicked off the Internet as well.

[AutoPlay]

I was wondering. My brother's XBOX 360 is plugged via Ethernet into our wireless router. Could that be the problem? We have both that and the cable modem plugged into it. Sometimes while my brother is gaming we can't get on the Internet and sometimes he gets kicked off the Internet as well.

Nah, it should still work fine

pingtest.net

can you post your result please?

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Nah, it should still work fine

pingtest.net

can you post your result please?

http://www.pingtest.net/result/31147546.png (http://www.pingtest.net)

[Ender]

http://www.pingtest.net/result/31149207.png (http://www.pingtest.net)
http://www.speedtest.net/result/1089902964.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

And how bad is this? lol

[Daniel_]

It does it in my house, but usually only when we have 3+ computers using the internet at one time.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Image (http://www.pingtest.net)
Image (http://www.speedtest.net)

And how bad is this? lol

It is decent.

[AutoPlay]

Image (http://www.pingtest.net)

That jitter seems a bit high, that can cause connection issues. an Ideal jitter is between 0 and 1.5ms

Image (http://www.pingtest.net)
Image (http://www.speedtest.net)

And how bad is this? lol

Holy fuck, look at that jitter, speed isnt too great ping isnt bad

[ShyGuyInChicago]

That jitter seems a bit high, that can cause connection issues. an Ideal jitter is between 0 and 1.5ms



Holy fuck, look at that jitter, speed isnt too great ping isnt bad

I tested it again.

http://www.pingtest.net/result/31380673.png (http://www.pingtest.net)