Before I call my computer guru, a quick wireless question.

[Paper Roses]

As I plod along, using my old PC, I have had a major problem as of the last few days. The weather may be a factor with all the storms we have had in N.E. but:

The last few days my reliable old machine has slowed to a crawl. Last night I could not even pull up my home page. The little circle just kept going round and round. I gave up, shut down the computer and flipped the switch off on the power bar. Never did that before but I thought that, if the neighbors are using their machines on my network connection, Nuts on them!

I have kept up with all updates, deleted cookies and all the rest of that stuff.
Many people are working from home how because of the state of emergency and I wonder if they are using my wireless connection for their computers.

I tried to Google for an answer but the info is beyond me. I don't know wireless password and have no idea how many people many be piggybacking on my service. I do know that there are many neighbors in the neighborhood that have wireless connections.
Before I call in the expert, can this be why my computer is so slow?
Before these last storms, I never had this kind of a problem but now it has become awful.
Any idea if my problem is my neighbors? I live in a very densely populated area.

[PoliticAverse]

1. Really simple test. Turn off your wireless router. Go do something else...

Last edited Wed Feb 11, 2015, 06:07 PM - Edit history (1)

for a bit of time. Come back later and turn your router back on and see if things are still slow.

[Fumesucker]

2. Can you plug your computer directly into your cable/dsl modem?

There's a good chance the problem is with your internet provider given the bad weather, our connection often goes slow or non existent during times of bad weather.

If you can plug in directly, bypassing the wireless, then you'll be able to confirm or eliminate the wireless as being involved in the problem.

[Go Vols]

4. +1

[Mnpaul]

3. look up the ip address for your router

google this: ip address (make and model of your router)

type this address into browser in the area where the current website is displayed

hit enter

you are now at your router's homepage and you should be able to find out who is connected to it

if you give us more detailed info, we can give you more detailed instructions

[Paper Roses]

5. Problems still. I hardly know what I am doing but:

My old trusty computer seems to be fine most of the day. I turn it off during times when I don't use it. It seems that, every day starting about dinner time, this old machine starts to crawl. I know I have neighbors who are piggybacking on my wireless connection.

Can I do this safely?
I can't fiddle with technical 'this and that' but would like to flip the power-strip to 'off' for the evening. Anyone who tries to use my connection will be out of luck--. I am not connected. Phooey on them. Buy your own service. I have done this for the last 2 days, flipped the switch back in the AM, speed normal.

Does the flipping of the power switch cause any problem with this old machine?

[Go Vols]

6. Set a password on your router,

that will stop 99.9% - 100% of people using your router for a connection.