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Question

Wifi Connections

by roy9030 Dec 12, 2016 2:10PM PST

i have 2 laptops (1 new), 1 samsung smart tv, 2 cell phones all using wifi and everything was fine until a few days ago.
I have a cable modem connected to the wifi router Wan port.
The wifi router is about 8 years old.
Now, the older laptop will only connect to wifi if and only if TV wifi is running, sometimes not even with that. The wifi runs ok at work.
The newer laptop does work sometimes with both TV on or off.
All devices are set to acquire dynamic ip and dhcp addresses.
I have tried shutting down and rebooting everything many times to isolate the problem but so far cannot understand dependency on the TV.

Discussion is locked

3 Posts

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Clarification Request

Have you tried a new router?

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 12, 2016 2:19PM PST

These can fail in odd ways.

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Not yet

by roy9030 Dec 12, 2016 2:42PM PST

i had the same no of devices for two years.
replaced one laptop with a new laptop but that worked fine for a week too.
the weird part is the TV is always able to connect to the wifi ... thought the wifi router and tv are in different rooms.
also now it looks like the wifi on the old laptop will also connect if the ethernet is connected but will drop if i take out the lan cable.
i shutdown everything and powered down the TV and reset the cable modem and router - then booted the laptop - still nothing.
i wanted to ask if there is some reason before going and buying a new router.

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Yes there can be some reason.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 12, 2016 2:49PM PST

If you want, try each portable device out at free hot spots. If they work there but incorrectly at home, it's what's at home.

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