Now....Bad wi fi connection

When you say "not receiving good solid signal" do you mean the wireless signal coming out of your router/gateway? As in how many bars show up when you connect to the network? Or do you mean the internet is just slow or problematic?

If you literally mean the wifi signal, then I don't believe anything can be done at the ISP level that would affect that one way or another. What kind of router/gateway do you have? Also how do you have the wireless configured? It's more likely the wireless conditions around you have changed, like a neighbor installing a new stronger router that is interfering with yours, or some kind of wireless interference from something in the home (microwave, cordless phone, etc). I will know more and be able to give better suggestions once I know what kind of equipment you're using. 

Hi, thanks for your reply. It went into my spam folder and I just now found it. Ok, The internet simply stops from time to time, then starts back up about a minute later. Does that answer your question sufficiently? We don't have any new equipment, ect and the microwave isn't running when this happens. It's simply something new and frustrating. Thanks for your continued help.

 What kind of router/gateway do you have? It should have a model number on a sticker somewhere. Usually near some bar codes.

We have N 300 Wireless Router  Netgear WNR2000 v3

Wireless troubleshooting is somewhat difficult, especially through a key hole. First, allow me to break down the 3 main things that affect wireless performance

Location- Try to put the wireless router someplace in the middle of the house, but far away from things that might interfere with it. Most routers these days have beam-forming, so how you place the antenna isn't as important. 

Congestion- This is caused by other network around taking up bandwidth and interfering with yours. Think of it like a radio, only so many stations, and when you start moving them too close together you get bleed over. The best way to combat congestion is try to use the 5Ghz band as much as possible. 5Ghz has some limitation when it comes to wall penetration, but since alot less people use it, so congestion is alot less. You can also use programs like inSSIDer  that will scan the wireless networks around you so you can see the least congested/best wireless channel to broadcast.

Interference- This can be anything from a microwave, a AC, a generator, cell tower near by, or older cordless phones. Interference is harder to track because most times it's intermittent, so it's more something to keep in mind when troubleshooting then it is something to design around. 

So I would suggest keeping the 2.4Ghz band mixed, but setting the 5Ghz to N only. That will allow optimal performance on the 5Ghz band but still allow for flexibility on the 2.4Ghz.  Do you have anyone that can help you with that? Did you originally set up the first router?

The thing is, nothing, NOTHING, has changed. The router is in exactly the same place as it's always been, before this problem started, and we don't have any new interference items in the house. Why is it not possible that this is a cox issue?

Cox internet user said:
The thing is, nothing, NOTHING, has changed.

That isn't quite factual. If NOTHING changed, you wouldn't be having a problem. Maybe you didn't change anything, but there are many things (as discussed in previous post) that can change and effect wireless outside your control. Just last week a neighbor installed a wireless printer with direct-print, and it was blasting it's wifi signal so much, it was killing my signal. 

Cox internet user said:
Why is it not possible that this is a cox issue?

Wireless is created by the wireless router. The amount of signal coming out of the router is totally separate from the signal going into the modem. Case and point, unplug the modem, and you will see the same strength wireless signal. You won't  be able to get online through it (since no modem) but the wireless itself (WLAN) will be identical. This is similar to how the signal and range of a cordless phone (not cell) have nothing to do with phone service. 

First thing I would do is download inSSIDer and see what networks are around you. Try to find a channel that has the least routers on it, and you can use that for your channel. This article gives a step by step on how.

Last, what is your comfortable level configuring routers? Do you have any friends that might be able to help?  Wireless troubleshooting is just a complex process. 

I really appreciate your help. I don't mind delving into the issue and figuring it out, and I will do as you suggested.  Thanks again.

LOL, I thought you were Cox tech support. I just online chatted with tech support and they checked and said my signal is weak and changed it. Simple as that. It WAS on their end. Thanks anyway though.

Cox internet user said:
I just online chatted with tech support and they checked and said my signal is weak and changed it

What did they change it to? No one on the phone at Cox can control how much signal gets to your modem, nevermind how much wireless signal is coming from the gateway. Sounds to me like they just reset the gateway, as part of the boot process it locked on a different Wifi channel, and ::poof::better signal. The problem with that is channels change all the time....but nevermind, its working better, your happy. thats all that matters right?

Thanks, I did do a new combo router/modem. All's good now!!