Wi-Fi Problems

Hey everyone,

This is my first post here and I've joined up because I really have no idea what to do about this problem.

Some info about my machine: HP Pavillion entertainment PC Windows 7 64 intel bit i7 QC 1.6ghz.

Problem: I went on a trip to Iran and used my computer at my friend's place that had wireless. To connect to their network, I had to first connect to a wireless network and THEN set-up a new broadband connection and enter the user name and password. I had to do this everytime I connected to the internet there. The wireless notification bar always had a yellow triangle over it, even though I was able to connect to the internet.

I am now in Italy, and the first hotel I stayed at I tried to connect to the wireless network and it kept saying couldn't connect. The second hotel, it's connected but the speed is constantly changing from 6.0mpbs , 12.0mbs etc and sometimes the connectivity drops. Web pages are extremely slow to load in all browsers but the only broswer that actually works (albeit extremely slow) is Internet explorer. Firefox and Google chrome will not load pages at all.

I've tried everything to resolve this problem. I did a virus check with AVG and nothing came up. I uninstalled and re-installed the wi-fi driver, that didn't work. I check all the settings in Internet explorer and everything is set to automatic. I tried IPrelease and renew in the command prompt, that hasn't change anything. Tried a system restore, hasn't worked. All ipv4 settings are set to automatic. I deleted the broadband connection i made in Iran as well, that hasn't changed anything.

One thing I noticed is that when I try to log-in into hotmail via Internet explorer, in the address bar next to the address there is a small icon of the Iranian flag??

I really have no idea what is going on and have completely run out of ideas. Any help would be appreciated so I can get my internet back to normal. It seems like my computer thinks it is in Iran still or something.

Would appreciate any help that someone could offer. I am really out of ideas. Not far off from re-installing windows at this point..

Regards,

Errol

 

Hi Frank and welcome to CHF!!

While I am not discounting the possibility that the problem may be with your computer, I doubt that to be the case. I have had the same problem many times in the past and have always found that the issue was with the hotel, the positioning of their router, and the fact that they are ususally very poorly maintained. Have you reported your problems to the Front Desk? Are you getting the same results in common areas like the lobby?

As for the Iran thing, have you cleared your cache and/or temporary internet files as well as your cookies. I see that you are here now so you must have some connectivity.

 

Hi BeeCeeBee,

Thanks for your quick reply. I thought it was my computer because I've now had issues connecting to the wi-fi in two hotels, but no I haven't reported it to the front desk yet. That's my next step.

I've cleared my cache and cookies and temporary internet files from every browser ( Mozilla, IE and Google Chrome). Most of the time the connection bar is 2/5 ( it is saying the signal is fair ). Maybe I really have been unlucky twice connecting to the internet from two hotels.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

When I was traveling a lot through not only the US but also Ireland and the UK I seemed to get no better success rate than 50% Often I found that what seemed to work in the lobby would suffer a serious breakdown in my room.

On one occasion a room change helped. I really think it is them.

 

Please let us know how you get on. The yellow triangle that you see is an indication of "limited or no connectivity" generally that means that you are seeing the router (wifi network) but that there is an issue at the router level that is not letting you connect to the internet. That would be their problem to correct. Some hotels rooms are also equipped with an ethernet connection. Some will even supply a cable for your use if you do not have one.