Wireless Card Frustrations

Flux · Post by **Flux** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:04 am

I have a Linksys wireless card in a computer in my basement. It was having trouble keeping a signal from my Linksys router upstairs, so we decided to get a Linksys expander. The card is still having problems maintaining a connection to my router.

Also, sometimes the card does not pick up at all and it only works again when I reseat the card or change PCI slots. But the problem always comes back.

3 Questions:
1.) Is Linsys a bad wireless card? If so, what other brand should I buy?
2.) Has anyone else had a similar problem and changing cards fixed the problem?
3.) Does anyone know of any device that would cause interference with the router? I.e. it seems like RF wireless devices cause problems.

Router: WRT54G w/ SpeedBooster
Card: Not sure exact model, but it is a G card.

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:26 am

since the G spectrum is 2.4Ghz, it will only be interefered by other deives using the 2.4Ghz spectrum, whatever that may be.

I also use linksys hardware and ive never had any problems with them!
Maybe you have a bad card... but maybe its where the card is?
The basement isnt the best place for reception considering the router is upstairs?

You could try a different card if you can borrow one?

Flux · Post by **Flux** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:12 am

I am aware that the basement isn't the best location. But I really don't want to run a cable from the upstairs to the basement, so we are trying the wireless solution with a expander at the middle floor.

dday · Post by **dday** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:25 am

I know this may seem simple, but you don't have a cordless phone that uses that same frequency do you? I ran into that when I first went wireless in my laptop. I use the same equipment you do and was picking up routers all over the neighborhood at first. Then my neighbor got a wireless phone and screwed me up for a while. I tried different channels until I have a strong signal from my router again.

Flux · Post by **Flux** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:39 am

We do not have a cordless phone, but I didn't even think about the neighbors.

I have used 2 channels, but I have not tested each individual one much. That is a good suggestion. I will try that.

The thing is, it seems the card is flakey. Then again, that card is the only wireless device with than the router and expander in the house.

kenc51 · Post by **kenc51** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:19 am

2.4GHz freq is used for everything like remote control cars etc. Kee the router/adapter away from the wall....
Try channel 1 and then 13.
Also you can get modded firmware's for that router.....it will allow you to increase the signal......they also add ALOT more features....

bubba · Post by **bubba** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:28 pm

most RC cars/trucks/plains run on AM 27 MHz and 75 MHz and FM in the 72-75 MHz. range

A buddy at my work was having issues with his wireless set up, come to find out that His network and a nieghbors was conflicting when he got a certain distance from his router. he ended up running through the channels till he found on that did not have any conflicts.

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:30 pm

i still think its the fact that we are in the basement... and your probably surrounded by concrete which has a very useful tendency of absorbing nearly all forms EM radiation... your wireless being one of them!

T-Shirt · Post by **T-Shirt** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:56 pm

Microwaves, 2.4 cordless phones, garage door openers, radar and "fuzz-buster" type radar detectors are common interference items.
concrete, rebar, pipes, ductwork, paint( (some types of latex), leaded, anything with white (titanium oxide)) are all good absorbers of RF.
Absorbers are not RF magnets (they don't suck energy to them, they just don't reflect or allow it to pass through) sometimes moving the AP's even a couple inches makes the difference between a good signal and an intermittant one
HOWEVER, wired is always better, even a (cat 5e-cat 6) wire from the main router to the remote AP is well worth the effort for the best throughput

Immortal · Post by **Immortal** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:19 pm

Im not saying they attract EM, but absorb all thats incident upon them.. thats where the main problem lies. The only way i can see this working is to get the extender physically into the basement....

Flux · Post by **Flux** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:28 pm

Thank you for all your suggestions. I am going to mess with the channels and moving the expander around. I am also going to move the computer upstair to see if the signal says strong the entire time.

Thanks again.

KnightRid · Post by **KnightRid** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:02 am

you could get the antennas for the linksys to increase the range also.

I have had mixed results with these - I hae a person that i set a wireless router up in one room, but I can not connect through a bathroom into the living/sitting room even though it is only about 18ft away!

Pipes are the problem I think - wireless is picky! I have an access point here at home and a wired router, and I dont get the range i should with the extra antennas - range is dependant on conditions and environment - dont think many of us have a nice open house to get signal everywhere

Mike

channels, location, and signal strength - where location is the most important ( at least in my experience )