[tango3065]

I have a new dell laptop with the intel 4965agn card installed and everything works great except I only get 2 bars of signal when I am anywhere near my wireless router, but when I go to the back of the house or outside I have all 5 bars. I have tried 2 new routers by linksys and belkin and changed all configurations but still the same thing. I contacted Dell and they did all the usual troubleshooting and decided they would send me another wireless card since they think mine may be faulty. You would that the signal would be 100% around the router but its only around 20-30% if I am within 20 - 30 ft from it. I don't have any connection poblems but i think I should have great signal when I am in the same room or even the ajoining room as my router.



I did try moving the router to a different spot in the room, and did unplug and remove the batteries in all other wireless devices but still the same wierd problem, and I am wondering if my cathedral ceiling in room where my router is might be the problem somehow since I have racked my brain on every other thing. And my 4 years of college in Information Technology isn't helping me with this :eek: .

[davinci]

download net stumbler...if it shows 20-30% connectivity then reinstall drivers, including the tcp/ip protocol stack.

remember tcp/ip uses CDMA, so if you're dropping packets, it's going to look like 20-30% connectivity, so there may be something wrong with your card or you have a very noisy area such as someone else's wireless router using the same frequency. netstumbler will show you this information.

I have a 4 year degree in management information systems....college is worthless, but it gives you the opportunity to actually get a job where you can post on THR all day, every day.

[exar]

college is worthless, but it gives you the opportunity to actually get a job where you can post on THR all day, every day.

Right on man...

IMO(professional) it's probably a faulty piece of hardware. Signal distortion due to interference would be my second guess.

[Kevin108]

Are you positive you're on the same wireless networks in both places you've tried? I have my own wireless stuff that I run my girlfriend's computer, TiVo, and my cell phone off of but if I explore I can pick up up to 6 other networks between neighbors, local businesses, and the municipal signal.

[rbernie]

You would that the signal would be 100% around the router but its only around 20-30% if I am within 20 - 30 ft from it.This is probably a function of the siting of the antenna; the antenna will create a 'bubble' of energy around itself and that bubble's characteristics (shape, size, and depth) will vary based upon ground plane shape/size/location and other significant factors. It's not uncommon to find wave propagation that looks like a doughnut if you get the antenna siting wrong; get inside the 'hole' and your S/N ratio drops like a rock. You may also have inadvertently created a highly directional bubble, in which most of the energy is being transmitted in a single direction.

Make sure that you've not co-sited your WAP around a cordless phone or any other device that may operate in the same band or which might be bleeding energy over into the bands used by the WAP. That can cause a localized poor S/N ratio that gets better as you move further out into the 'bubble'.

Make sure that you have no metallic objects, electric motors, CRTs, or other eleectomagnetic devices immediately around the antenna that might alter the shape/size of the 'bubble'.

[Dravur]

Sadly true. I work in the IT field as well, running servers from Vancouver to New York City from my home in Longmont, CO.

I have a degree in Business Marketing and Economics. Guess how many times i've worked in Marketing....0...

But College is fun and well worth it for that reason hehe. and the Econ degree comes in handy here sometimes when another Wal-mart thread pops up.

[tango3065]

Thanks for all the replies guys I will give the new wireless adapter a shot when I get it monday or tues and if that don't work I will just live with it because it is not affecting my connection in any way. Heres the strange part, when I go to connect to my network my pc shows that my network has excellent signal but when I actually connect to it it goes to fair or good but if I connect in another room away from the router the connection shows excellent before and after I connect to it lol.


Btw I reinstalled the drivers for the wireless adapter already and also took it out and reseated . I do think that it is bad since it wont connect in safe mode, but either way it woks and I like sitting im my lazyboy while surfing and working.

[tango3065]

Well the problem has fixed itself somehow, the signal has been excellent since last night and I have even restarted and reconnected many times just to make sure that it is going to stay that way. I have a free Intel 4065AGN N-generation wireless card coming tomarrow so I will have a spare if I need one and just from looking this particular card is very pricey, I have to say that Dell customer service is first rate.