The old VISTA BROADCAST FLAG proved that the router makers were being lax and not keeping up. This feature in Windows can result in the scenario you noted and is (A) a sign the router is out of date on the firmware, (B) can be turned off in Windows (google Vista Broadcast Flag) and (C) a shame of the industry that rolled out such a feature and created too much trouble for folk that don't want to become network gurus.
Hope that's it.
Bob
Not sure if this is the right place to post this, or quite what's happening or if this is even possible, but here we go anyway.
I live at 2 addresses (families, eh?). 2 days ago, my router started dropping connection, and disconnecting all devices from it. We all just assumed it was the router playing up, and were preparing to call BT to get them to come and sort the problem out.
The next day I was at house #2. Upon connecting my laptop to the router there, low and behold, the connection dropped out! All other devices were booted off the network as well.
Now, how likely is it that both routers, at 2 addresses miles apart, can both be having identical problems?
Also, is it possible for one laptop to single handedly mess up 2 routers whilst kicking off every device on them?
My iPod can't even find the network when this happens, and our other laptops just can't connect to the routers, but can see the connection.

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