Magic Banana said:
it does not list all Wifi access points. In fact it lists the neighbors'
access points but not their own!
Assuming you had taken all security steps in your router. Your problem is
not you computer, Why? because You can see your neighbors WIFI access point
but Not yours
First thing:
I would try to ping the WAN, the router in your parents house.
example: ping 192.168.1.1 from your laptop for responsiveness.
If there is response, and still you can't access the router, telnet the
router to check the DHCP settings{ routing tables and channel Bond they are
using, channels between 1-15 and check transmit band 20 or 40 mghz B,N, OR G.
Most of the time is Automatic, but standard router automatic has a failure,
because the nearby spectrum of WIFI networks is saturated by other routers
signal. Like if everyone hugging the same Band. The channels 1-10 is normal
channeling 11-15 is different region of the world. You have to work and find
out.
If it is auto or manual. Just save any setting and do an Internal software
reboot,(soft reboot) not hardware because you will lose all the changes you
have done. It will take the router to default settings.
I will recommend to do soft reboot before a hard reboot and change the
channels. 99.8 will refresh the IP tables and work fine after that.
If that is giving issues as an access point, move the router around.
Considering environmental variables that will cause conflict. Any electric
appliance nearby, less than three feet will cause transmit and receive noise
and distortion.( Harmonic distortion)
Another issue is physical distortion, such as cement walls, brick walls,
false walls interrupting the range. Most routers will work fine on the "N"
band. Your antennas will do the job, normally is 3 to 5 dbi depending on the
router.
Basically you will have to the leg work. I could go in full technical details
but that will take a 350 pages of information. Anyhow congratulations, you
have been introduced to world of routers.
