what router is it? often it's because you have the wrong wireless settings on, or the encryption is wrong (some don't work so well with the MS one)
suggestions:
try switching off encryption for a while (use a MAC list to control access, encryption isn't as necessary as a lot of *very paranoid* people lead you to believe)
try switching to either g only or b only, not b and g
let me know how it goes
We would need to know how you have your Router and Wireless card before we can help.
Don't post your settings in the forum, but PM me and I'll give you my email address to send them to.
You've said that it is a transient problem - works then drops out after about 30 minutes.
So I don't know what settings problem will give you that - unless your wireless adaptor is getting distracted by a neighbour's router perhaps (as happenned to me recently, see below). For sure security settings are all or nothing - that's the point of them. You have got security turned on haven't you? At least MAC security as already suggested.
You don't say how far from your router the PC and / or laptop are - and this might be a factor.
Wireless is good but if you're using the PC/laptop any distance away with a floor or the odd wall in the way then you might be surprised how quickly the signal drops off. Fortunately the technology is quite resilient and carries on working even on quite a low signal - but you find it does drop out occasionally if the signal is very low. Usually I just re-connect and try to re-position myself in the room.... stand on one leg, that sort of thing!
The other day a neighbour was having broadband installed and for some reason his bright new, unsecured, wireless router over-rode mine - and caused a disconnect (as his wasn't yet online). I was able to fix this by moving his router down in my laptop's wireless priority list. Why his router about 100 metres away should take precedence over mine just 10 cm away, who knows?
Ermmm can you tell me what Cable Modem NTL left you with? Do you run any P2P stuff (Kazza, edonkey, Torrents etc...)? And (finally) what do you have to do to fix the problem so you van access the net again?
just realised you haven't even said you are using wireless... just assumed it from the other replies.
I've experienced a problem with Bit Torrent - whereby network connection got zapped after running Bit Torrent for a while and only solved by rebooted the router. Don't run it any more.
Just a thought...
Are there any heavy industrial units near (with about 500 yards) of you? This includes places where welding takes place.
I don't know NTL bb, and if it is always on it shouldn't suffer from the modem auto-disconnecting, however if it is ADSL then the modem may be set to auto-switch off after 30 mins inactivity. One more thing to rule out at least. Good luck.
I would also appreciate some help on this topic i am having similar problems,i have bt broadband,i purchased a Belkin router and card but this would not stay connected so i returned it and got myself a netgear router and card,this setup worked fine until one day we had a power failiure now this router will not stay connected either.I can unplug the router and connect to the net and it works fine (as long as i'm using the net) every morning when i come back to the pc it has add to this sometimes when i unplug the router plug it back in again check the net is connected,walk away,go back to the pc in 5 minutes it has disconnected,this is now driving me daft.....any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated..TY
have you all upgraded to the latest firmware? I have a netgear too, and it's been on and running fine for months.
remember on the adsl ones that you need to set the connection to always on.
Also, the netgear website can be pretty helpful.
well ty everyone for the quick response,may i also be a little bit CHEEKY and if you dont mind me saying that is one hell of a backside lucy....lol
:idea:
If you havent sorted this one out, you might wanna try the netgear forums. Try visiting the netgear uk site and clicking on support. Did read somewhere about disconnects on wireless. Have you looked at the power saving feature on the wireless card? device manager?. <ching> If not someone on there is bound to help you!.
NawtyPaul
Cant be botered to read it all - to pissed -
Try looking at your internet oppions in contol panel, then sercurity.
If you cant delite any of them, then im shit faced as to what to do.
Many thanks to everyone who has offered help,i have solved my router problem by visiting the Netgeat homepage and updating the firmware to the latest version..
: 
don't mind at all
