I have a Gateway Solo running Win ME and I have two wireless networks I can access. 
 One is DSL, one is Cable Modem.  Both are using idential DI-614 D-link wireless 
routers.  I've even switched routers between DSL/Cable but I get the same problem:

When the computer connects to the Cable Modem router, Iexplore crashes, freezing 
up my taskbar and shortly thereafter, the whole computer.  

This never happens on the DSL router, and like I said before, I've swtiched routers 
to no effect.  I also bought a new wifi card for the laptop and still it crashes 
when connected to the cable modem router.

Any ideas why it hates cable modem but not DSL?  Is there some intergral difference 
between DSL/Cable interaction that freezes Iexplore?

Thanks in advance.
Wayan

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First make sure you have the routers built in firewall functions enabled. Second, make sure you have all of the security updates installed on the systems and third that you have scanned for Virus, ADware/Spyware, Worms, Trojans and other Malware.

What could be happening to you, is that some Worm/Exploit on systems on the Internet might have your Cable's IP address, or systems on your Cable ISP's local loop might have your Cable modems MAC address. They could be sending packets trying to infect your system and causing it to crash. Cable ISP's are more exposed to this type of problem and can do less than DSL ISP's about blocking this type of traffic. While the DSL networks (single point connection to you) can do a lot more to protect you and usually have less problems like this.

To protect yourself, you have to make sure your system is first clean of any Malware, Browser hijackers and Internet accelerator products. That you have all of the Security updates. That your router firewall is working. And that your system is set up to block attacks with either a software firewall or have it ports closed (see GRC.com).

Another possible cause is that you have one of the browser hijacks or Internet accelerator products that have altered your system's network support to use their DNS instead of the default ISP's DNS. In that case, the rogue DNS could be blocked or difficult to access through the Cable ISP's network, while it works OK through the DSL ISP's network. Check in the Network settings, TCP/IP --> (network adapter) properties, DNS Configuration tab. It should show "Disable DNS" selected. If any IP address shows up here, it could be the cause of the problem. For example, a DNS hijack, or even your DSL provider supplying software that inserted their DNS IP addresses. Then with Cable ISP, your system can not reliably reach the DSL ISP's DNS servers or other rogue DNS servers that your system is set to use.

Last, it is possible you have a bad or noisy Cable connection or more than one low loss splitter between the pole and your modem. Low signal quality due to noise on the cable, bad cables at your location, loose coax connections or too many of them, all can cause signal quality problems. These result in errors and lost packets. Too many lost packets to the DNS's can cause IE to hang and take down your system. Cable (and phone DSL) can work OK for phone and TV service, but when the higher power used by Modems is placed on the lines, bad connections can heat up and degrade the signal quality. The symptoms of this is usually that it works fine when you first start using it, but after only a short time it starts to fail and will not start working again until you have stopped using it for awhile (allowing the connections to cool off).

Most customer owned Cable modems have status pages that you can reach at http://192.169.100.1 and usually have signal levels displayed. On cable you need the received signal level power to be between 50 dBmV and -50 dBmV, with 0 dBmV being nominal (a single splitter drops this from 3.5 dB to 12 dB depending on quality and connector loss). Also you want the upstream power level to show below 52 dBmV (low 40's is normal). A higher level indicates a cable loss problem (bad or broken shields, connectors or too many splitters).

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