Router Channel Change

[#1]

After a couple of years with no problems connecting to my wireless router I suddenly started to get disconnects and speed varying between 1.0Mbps and 54.0Mbps.
I'm using ST 576 and pcmcia D-Link G650.
I was arranging to visit a friend, who used to be network director of Pipex, and mentioned problem to him.
He suggested interference or possibly someone running a more powerful router nearby - maybe new neighbour.
He said to manually change router channels - my Speedtouch was set to Ch 6 automatically so manually changed it to Ch 12. No more disconnects and a steady 54.0 Mbps.

[#2]

That's good to hear. I'm visiting a friend tomorrow with the same problem - hopefully your post is a good omen. 

[#3]

Certainly worth trying as my wireless connection has been rock solid at 54.0Mbps since the change.

[#4]

It's a good idea to try to spread out the channels you try first, so go for 1, 6 then 13 and work through the intermediate ones after.

[#5]

Just read that now I've got back 
Started sequentially from Ch 1. The clear winner was Ch 11.

[#6]

Another method of finding a good channel is to use Netstumbler or Kismet to scan for networks if your wireless card supports it. That will give a list of networks, their channels and strength. From that you can then pick which channel, for your own network, is likely to be least affected by the other networks. Bearing in mind of course that only channels 1,6,11 are completely non-overlapping!.

[#7]

Quote from: Chris

It's a good idea to try to spread out the channels you try first, so go for 1, 6 then 13 and work through the intermediate ones after.

bear in mind that some PC of american heritage only go up to channel 12

[#8]

Wireless connection has run faultlessly since changing from channel that I'd used for two years.
I've installed NetStumbler and can't see any other local networks that use Channel 6 so still don't know what was causing interference.