Move the laptop right next to the router if you can and see what kind of signal you get with the card right next to the router antenna. I'm betting that will be a very strong signal. Then pull back and see if it drops off.
I'm betting that the laptop is putting out so much RFI (Radio Frequency Interferrence) that it's interferring with the card. If that is the case, and it probably is, get a USB wireless thingy so you can move it away from the laptop.