Why does my wireless router only work sometimes? All the time, my computer says it is picking up a strong signal from the router, but sometimes my computer cannot access the internet. Is it something to do with encryption?
It may not be encryption if it happens sporadically, but you should at least test this by removing or reducing security in your router and see if it solves the problem. Does it happen after you’ve taken your laptop someplace else and used another wireless network, then returned? Maybe something gets reset somehow. Still, once you give your laptop a WEP key or the like for a particular home network, the laptop shouldn’t have to ask you again. It might be good just to eliminate security and then add it back one item at a time, checking your laptop’s ability to connect each step of the way.