Wireless Routers

[Bottom Line]

Ok...all you computer saavy peeps. I recently bought a wireless router (Linksys WRT160N) for the house. I have not had any issues connecting to the internet with a laptop. I moved my desktop to another room in our house, but there there is not a phone connection. So I purchased a Linksys WUSB600N...which is a USB adapter so my desktop is wireless. The desktop, with the USB adapter is about 30 feet, but in a different room, than the router. But I keep getting a message saying I have lost my internet connection. Does anyone have experience with these USB devices? Do they not maintain a strong enough signal? Would a wireless card for the desktop
have a stronger signal than the USB device?


I am thinking my modem and router are not the problem, because the laptop has not had any issues.

Thanks for the input....

 

[Tonka Boater]

I think you are correct, the USB device is probably too weak. It also depends on what is between your desktop and the router. Even though it's only 30 ft. -- are there a lot of walls or other obstructions?

I have an internal wireless card for my for my desktop that I rarely use but it picks up signals from several neighbors down the road. It's a very strong receiver with a 5" square external antenna.

.

 

[DavesWorld]

Are you getting the same behavior with the lappy when it's placed next to the desktop with the same USB card? It sounds like you may have some RF interference someplace inside the home. The router and cards can be configured to use a difference frequency often solve these types of problems.

Is the USB wireless card a Linksys as well?

If you need a really solid, stable, and high performance link, you may want to consider a power line connection like the one sold by DirectTV.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bottom Line]

Are you getting the same behavior with the lappy when it's placed next to the desktop with the same USB card? It sounds like you may have some RF interference someplace inside the home. The router and cards can be configured to use a difference frequency often solve these types of problems.

Is the USB wireless card a Linksys as well?

If you need a really solid, stable, and high performance link, you may want to consider a power line connection like the one sold by DirectTV.

Hope this helps.

The laptop has not had any issue when connecting. The router in on the main floor of the house...and the laptop(90 % of the time) is in the basement.

The USB wireless is also a Linksys...and supposed to be compatible with the router.

 

[DavesWorld]

Does the signal strength vary on the desktop? Do you have a strong signal and a fast response and then the connection dies?

Are there a myriad of other routers close by? They probably are of the same frequency type with the default configuration so you may be stepping on each others toes.

The problem really sounds frequency related. Do you have a wireless phone in the house? Try turning it off to see what the results are.

Is the router locked down so only you have access? Any chance that you're the unofficial access point for the neighborhood?

 

[fc3]

802.11 operates on 2.4 GHz. Frequencies that high don't propagate well though walls and other items. Compound the problem with a tiny antenna and interference with other 2.4 GHz spectrum stuff like portable phones and bluetooth adapters and it's surprising that it works at all. Try an adapter with a better antenna. Notebooks usually have an antenna or two flanking the LCD screen.

Best regards,
Frank C

 

[IronMan]

You might also try a USB extension cable. Use it to locate the USB wireless adapter in a location that gives a more consistent signal.

 

[Alegria]

You should check to see what network you are connected to. If your neighbor has an unsecured network (why I don't know) your USB computer may be jumping from your network to theirs and that is why you see the signal jump around. If it stays locked on your network, and you still see it dropping, then I would say it could be interference, but both are N based items so that might not be it. Could the usb device be dropping down and moving around the bands and could that be causing your issue as it trys to negotiate. Is there a settings utility on the usb device and can you lock it on one band, and maybe lock to your network? You may want to check on your usb device the connection priority or the order of networks, there may be another network first and that may be causing it to jump around, move your new router connection first and it should find it and stay there.

 

[K-9]

wi-fi works on the same frq.2.7 same as cordless phone or wireless camara and wireless alarms,,when I pick-up the cordless phone it knocks the laptop off of the wi-fi..loss of signal...wi-fi have limited range 30' clear shot to AP(no walls or metal blocking