Network, connection and router problem, please can you help ?

My Internet connection freezes every now and then, sometimes every few minutes and sometimes every couple of days and anywhere in between (although I have been told that there is nothing wrong with the router itself but that it's probably because of a 'wireless network security problem').

If I disconnect then reconnect the power supply to the router it starts working again fine.

I have been using the network with no problems until about 10 weeks ago when this problem started, it began around the time that a friend began using their laptop here with this wireless connection (up until last week) although that may be coincidence.

The network is unsecured - has been ever since I set it up when I had my first laptop (about 4 years ago ?) and I know it needs to be made secure but am not sure how to do it so that I can use *my desktop, *my current laptop, *my daughter's laptop (DAUGHTER A) which started being used on December 25th using a new TP-Link (N series) wireless dongle (the problems started way before this was even brought into the house) and also *my other daughter's laptop (DAUGHTER B) - which hasn't been powered up since June 2010 but will be being brought here soon and connected wirelessly, *plus any others which may be brought into the house and used with my permission (and me entering they key/PIN/password for the network).

Details which may be useful are :-

DESKTOP - XP - connected to router via ethernet cable - Norton Internet Security

MY LAPTOP - Windows - 7 connected wirelessly with card - Norton Internet Security

DAUGHTER A's LAPTOP - Windows XP - connected wirelessly with a TP-Link dongle - Norton Internet Security

DAUGHTER B's LAPTOP - Windows 7 - to be connected wirelessly with card - will be using VirginMedia Security

ROUTER - Belkin 54g (Model F5D7230-4 version 6000uk)

Norton Internet Security (version 17.8.0.5)

BROADBAND ISP - VirginMedia

I have a sneaking suspicion that someone / something may be accessing (or trying to access) one or more of the computers or interfering with the connection itself somehow although this may just be plain and simple paranoia on my part.

I have never upgraded/updated the router nor has it been reset (although I know I can and maybe should do both). I was going to reset it and then put in a password to secure it, then upgrade it following the manual's instructions, but have just remembered hearing that problems have been reported with Belkin routers and VirginMedia so didn't want to do anything without asking advice here first.

I have replaced the ethernet cable between the modem and router and also the one linking the router and desktop pc with brand new ones and this made no difference.

It is fairly obvious, I think, to anyone who reads this, that my technical knowledge is pretty poor. I know there are loads of tutorials and help sites out there to assist me, but nothing which seems to explain in simple terms how to do these things while re-assuring me that I'm not going to mess up my network, computers, (hardware & software), accounts or anything else.

I am perfectly capable, however, of following instructions when told what what actually needs doing and in which order so the family can all return to using our computers without having to frequently disconnect and reconnect the router and worry about 'safety'.

The information on (a)how make the network connection 'secure' (b) preventing the Internet connection to keep cutting out and (c) configuring the Norton Network Security Map (without giving away any information to anyone who may already have unauthorized access to the network or computers) just seems to be overwhelming, contradictory and confusing.

Please, please could someone tell me how to alter things so as to sort these problems out ?

Yes, I know that I am daft having been using computers, the Internet (wired and wirelessly) and Norton for so long but without actually understanding anything properly, but I do want to rectify the problem now :)

Have I confused you as much as I have myself ? I hope not !!

To put things in a nutshell I'd like to

1) make my network 'secure'

2) know what my IP address is (is the one for the wired desktop the same as the one for the wirelessly connected laptops ?)

3) sort out the problem with losing the Internet and needing to re-boot the router so often in order to re-connect

4) block anyone who has already accessed any of our computers or the system already

5) know whether I need to change any IP addresses or other relevant information when it's all done in case anyone else has got hold of it (including site/membership/account password or user names etc)

Ok, I'm pausing for a long, deep breath now and hoping that someone may be able to tell me how to sort all of this out in whatever order it needs to be done.

Regards

Katekitty

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