Ethernet router connection fine wireless connection not?

[#1]

Hi,
I have a Netgear router and run a US Robotics wireless sender from that.
I connect one mac via ethernet directly to the Netgear router and the other mac connects wirelessly through the US Robotics.
The mac connected to internet through ethernet works faultlessly. My problem is the wireless system has begun to faulter, slowing and dropping out all together? its worked perfectly up to now.
I switched over the wireless router from a linksys to the US Robotics two days ago because I suspected the linksys but it seems as if its not a hardwear issue as the US Robotics has the same issue.
I've tried reseting and rebooting and switch off/on.
Anyone got any good advice or links

[#2]

Does your Netgear router not support wireless?
I've not heard of USR since the dial up internet days!

[#3]

I'm assuming the wireless sender allows you to alter the wireless channel?
If so try googling "inSSIDer" it's a free program that allows you to scan for local WiFi networks and see what frequency and channels they're using. By using that it's possible to see if there might be a better channel with less traffic to change to.
Adam

[#4]

Netgear unit is not wireless alas. the USR is newish, blue flashing leds and everything
I shall try inSSIDer, but how might I change the channel in the software?

[#5]

inSSIDer is not free, says $4.99 mac app store

[#6]

I'm not sure how you'd change the channel software, I'd try googling the make and model and search for a manual, it's usually possible to fine these online as .pdf documents.

Quote

inSSIDer is not free, says $4.99 mac app store

err, sorry did not realise that!  It's not too costly I suppose but up to you if you wanted to try it, I've personally found it useful to resolve a similar problem.

[#7]

Thanks Adam,
How come everything worked for years up till two days ago though?

[#8]

Perhaps someone nearby got a new wireless device.
There's plenty of stuff inSSIDer doesn't show you, so you might just as well start by trying channels 1, 6 and 11.

[#9]

Quote from: ejs

Perhaps someone nearby got a new wireless device. There's plenty of stuff inSSIDer doesn't show you, so you might just as well start by trying channels 1, 6 and 11.

I just reset the USR and its now running superfast, which is nice however its likely that its a channel issue.
I just tried to access the USR on 192.168.2.1, which the manual says is the default, howver cant be as it dont work!
how do i access the USR to channel change?

[#10]

istumbler is free
There are different versions for different OS versions

[#11]

Quote from: nitram

istumbler is free There are different versions for different OS versions

thanks for that, saw istumbler and downloaded for 10.4 but unfortunately plugin not working..

[#12]

How about KisMAC?
http://trac.kismac-ng.org/wiki/Downloads
Doesn't look as user-friendly as inSSIDer but I believe it is available for OS X 10.4.

[#13]

You could try pinging the broadcast address to find the USR:
ping -b 192.168.2.255
But that may not work as things don't tend to respond to pings, especially broadcast pings.
You could also look in the Netgear's config pages to see if it has the IP address of the USR.

[#14]

Quote from: ejs

You could try pinging the broadcast address to find the USR: ping -b 192.168.2.255 But that may not work as things don't tend to respond to pings, especially broadcast pings. You could also look in the Netgear's config pages to see if it has the IP address of the USR.

So it seems by resetting USR and then going through the laptop and not the desktop I could access the USR settings on 192.168.2.1
Could change the channel and vitally set a new password. Using istumbler I set the channel to 6 and i'm getting 60% and 20% noise. Everyone else around me is on channel 1, 7 or 11, thought i'd try 6