Wireless network/laptop question
 

I know this isn't strictly travel related, but there are a lot of smart folks here, and I'm in dire need of help, so here goes...

I run a wireless network in my house. I've been using an old crappy Toshiba laptop with a US Robotics PCMCIA wireless card, and my desktop connected to a Belkin router. This has all worked fine, and the signal strength to the Toshiba is fantastic (I can take the laptop outside, upstairs, no worries).

I bought a new Compaq Presario 2100 series laptop. I can't get this darn thing to work with the network properly. I'm using the same USRobotics card that I was w/ the Toshiba. It connects, but the signal strength and link strength are extremely poor (30% or so) on all channels. The connection drops a lot. I've got the most updated drivers, I've got the most current BIOS and I've updated the firmware. None of this seems to help. I can't even get a decent signal sitting directly next to the router. I'm concerned that there's something about the laptop itself that is interfering with the signal (is this thing made of lead??).

Any ideas? Thanks!

Buster,

I don't know that I can offer any help except to tell you that I have a presario with an Orinoco Gold card. The card worked great with other laptops but when I put it in the compaq it did the same thing - low signal, dropped all the time. I was thinking it was a physical problem with the card but when I put it back in another laptop everything was great.

About a month ago I ran Windows Update for the first time in a while and after a reboot it popped back to 100% signal strength and has been rock solid ever since.

I'm inclined to think it's a coincidince, but who knows...it's worth a try. I didn't see anything specific to the driver or wireless that got installed.


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-alan in sitges, home of Si-Do

Thanks Alan. I'll have to try that! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

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.

Hmmm, odd same wlan USB device...

However did you go from an older OS to a newer one? There is a good chance a driver update or newer generation driver may be part of the problem. Most likely a way to lower power consumption might be causing a lower overall signal. Just a thought. A PC-Card WLAN card is the best solution

Thanks all for the advice. I went out and bought a new wireless adapter, and that one worked. There seems to have been some sort of conflict between my old card and the new laptop (maybe an XP incompatibility?). Anyway, I seem to be back in business with the new card! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif