04-13-2009, 03:40 PM

We have just switched to At&t FastAccess DSL Xtreme Internet (3 Mbps/384 Kbps).

They also gave us a Wireless Router made by 2wire.com the model is a 2701HG-B.

But It keeps on cutting out and disconnecting. It is getting really annoying.

With our old internet (Brighthouse, which was slow as molasses) we used Airport Express.

We also have settings too, which I really dont think are the problem but who knows.

We have wireless channels 1-11 (In our neighborhood everyone is on 6, 1, or 11)

For Security we have WEP-Open, WEP-Shared, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, or WPA-PSK & WPA2-PSK.

And Wireless mode we have the options 802.11b/g, 802.11b, or 802.11g.

I Just want to know how I can protect us from everyone in the neighborhood from jumping on our wireless and stop the problem we are having for it is really annoying to have internet one minute and not the next.

THANK YOU

PhotographicMac
(Running 13inch 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook, 17inch 1.5 GHz Powerbook G4, A POS PC that I work on, and 2 16GB 3G Iphones)

04-13-2009, 03:45 PM

If you take off the SSID and put on a WPA2-PSK then that will pretty much keep people off your connection for sure.

Without the SSID checked your network won't show up. They actually have to know the name of your network to connect to it. The WPA2-PSK is the password and it's usually a lot harder to crack than some of the other ones.

Not sure why your connection is unstable though. You might want to give them a call about that.

04-13-2009, 04:14 PM

Is it unstable all the time? Or only when connected to it via wireless?

04-13-2009, 05:45 PM

Is there any reason why you can't just go back to using your Airport Express?

04-13-2009, 06:42 PM

To answer you question Eric559 - Only when connecting wirelessly.

Lifeisabeach, I was actually thinking about doing that but have not tried it out yet, the wireless router they gave us has at&t plastered all over it and I don't know if i have to keep on using it.

04-13-2009, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by CrimsonRequiem

If you take off the SSID and put on a WPA2-PSK then that will pretty much keep people off your connection for sure.

Without the SSID checked your network won't show up. They actually have to know the name of your network to connect to it. The WPA2-PSK is the password and it's usually a lot harder to crack than some of the other ones.

Not sure why your connection is unstable though. You might want to give them a call about that.

Disabling SSID broadcast doesn't protect you in the least. Your SSID is still discoverable with a simple wi-fi sniffer.

Turn on WPA encryption, preferably WPA2-PSK with AES and you should be fine. If you're having drop-outs, chances are it's an interference issue.

For more information, take a look at this.

04-14-2009, 01:59 AM

Try different encryption. I would always get dropped connections wirelessly when I had WPA enabled. I had to go with WEP and I stopped getting dropped.

Also, how is your network set up? If that wireless thing att gave you is a wireless modem you can problem get them to give you just a modem and then connect that to your airport express.

04-14-2009, 02:25 AM

I have worked with a few 2-Wire 2701HG-B's. One had an issue where it would drop Wireless a lot no matter what encryption we used. The others were fine.

The 2701HG-B is both the DSL Modem and a Router. To use it as just a modem so you can use your Airport you will have to set the 2-Wire 2701HG-B to Bridged Mode. Below is a URL that tells how to do just that. A bit tedious compared to some I have worked with but if you want to try the Airport, that is the only way to use the 2701HG-B as just a modem.

I would give WPA2 a shot first. I have 4 Wireless Access points here plus one router all using WPA2 and never one drop in 4 years with this setup.

Bridge Mode for the 2Wire 2701HG-B AT&T Southeast Forum FAQ - dslreports.com

04-14-2009, 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by dtravis7

I have worked with a few 2-Wire 2701HG-B's. One had an issue where it would drop Wireless a lot no matter what encryption we used. The others were fine.

The 2701HG-B is both the DSL Modem and a Router. To use it as just a modem so you can use your Airport you will have to set the 2-Wire 2701HG-B to Bridged Mode. Below is a URL that tells how to do just that. A bit tedious compared to some I have worked with but if you want to try the Airport, that is the only way to use the 2701HG-B as just a modem.

I would give WPA2 a shot first. I have 4 Wireless Access points here plus one router all using WPA2 and never one drop in 4 years with this setup.

Bridge Mode for the 2Wire 2701HG-B AT&T Southeast Forum FAQ - dslreports.com

Excellent suggestion. I forgot all about bridge mode.

04-14-2009, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by Eric559

Try different encryption. I would always get dropped connections wirelessly when I had WPA enabled. I had to go with WEP and I stopped getting dropped.

Also, how is your network set up? If that wireless thing att gave you is a wireless modem you can problem get them to give you just a modem and then connect that to your airport express.

Eric, seriously, you need to get off of WEP - you might as well be using no encryption at all. WEP can be hacked in seconds and there are readily available tools out there to do so.

If WPA isn't working for you, get the firmware updated or try WPA2, but by all means, get rid of WEP.