constantly changing signal strength

26 Nov 2006 1:12 PM

T5

I have a home wireless network using a netgear DG834PN (Mimo) wireless
network router/modem. I setup the network using an ethernet connection to
the router and configuring all of the other machines on my network. I am
broadcasting an SSID (channel 6) with 128bit wep encryption on 802g only as
all of my machines have wireless g adapters.

The problem I am having is that my Vaio Laptop which has an intel 2200bg
proset wireless adapter (with latest updates) is finding it difficult to
maintain signal strength, when I switch it on I get 100% 54mbps excellent
then 5 minutes later it drops to 24mbps fair.

I know that there could be a number of factors but I have eliminated the
following

1. Situation of the router, it is on a high shelf with no interference from
electrical appliances and I have had full strength signals from the position
of the router to the location of my laptop in the past.
2. My sons pc is equidistant from the router but he receives a full strength
signal albeit his pc is directly above the router (router in downstairs
study and his bedroom above study) He also uses a netgear WG111 wireless
adapter.
3. I have tried all channels on the router
4. I have tried turning off the (broadcast SSID) feature, apparently this
can affect signal strength.

Could anybody give me some tips on how to setup for best wireless connection

26 Nov 2006 6:39 PM

Axel Hammerschmidt

T5 <noans***@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I have a home wireless network using a netgear DG834PN (Mimo) wireless
> network router/modem. I setup the network using an ethernet connection to
> the router and configuring all of the other machines on my network. I am
> broadcasting an SSID (channel 6) with 128bit wep encryption on 802g only as
> all of my machines have wireless g adapters.
>
> The problem I am having is that my Vaio Laptop which has an intel 2200bg
> proset wireless adapter (with latest updates) is finding it difficult to
> maintain signal strength, when I switch it on I get 100% 54mbps excellent
> then 5 minutes later it drops to 24mbps fair.

This is not unusual. The indicator starts off af 100 pct then drops. It
takes some time for the connection to reach its steady state.

> I know that there could be a number of factors but I have eliminated the
> following
>
> 1. Situation of the router, it is on a high shelf with no interference from
> electrical appliances and I have had full strength signals from the position
> of the router to the location of my laptop in the past.

Someone else in your neighbourhood (with SSID turned off) may now be
using channel 6. also, see below...

> 2. My sons pc is equidistant from the router but he receives a full strength
> signal albeit his pc is directly above the router (router in downstairs
> study and his bedroom above study) He also uses a netgear WG111 wireless
> adapter.

Your son has a PC, with an external antenna? Your lappy har a small
internal. That could be the reason.

> 3. I have tried all channels on the router

What happens, in detail, when you switch channels?

> 4. I have tried turning off the (broadcast SSID) feature, apparently this
> can affect signal strength.

It shouldn't.

> Could anybody give me some tips on how to setup for best wireless connection

Have you tried moving your Vaio around and what happens to the signal
then?

27 Nov 2006 12:26 AM

Jack (MVP-Networking).

Hi
24Mb/sec. is excellent "Speed" for an 802.11g Wireless card (average is
around 20Mb/sec.), you probably gets so high because it is connected to a
MIMO signal.
The initial 54Mb/sec. is probably an artifact reading. To get a better
"Speed" you have to buy the D-Link matching MIMO card.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

Show quoteHide quote

"T5" <noans***@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eYEsLyVEHHA.3660@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I have a home wireless network using a netgear DG834PN (Mimo) wireless
>network router/modem. I setup the network using an ethernet connection to
>the router and configuring all of the other machines on my network. I am
>broadcasting an SSID (channel 6) with 128bit wep encryption on 802g only
>as all of my machines have wireless g adapters.
>
> The problem I am having is that my Vaio Laptop which has an intel 2200bg
> proset wireless adapter (with latest updates) is finding it difficult to
> maintain signal strength, when I switch it on I get 100% 54mbps excellent
> then 5 minutes later it drops to 24mbps fair.
>
> I know that there could be a number of factors but I have eliminated the
> following
>
> 1. Situation of the router, it is on a high shelf with no interference
> from electrical appliances and I have had full strength signals from the
> position of the router to the location of my laptop in the past.
> 2. My sons pc is equidistant from the router but he receives a full
> strength signal albeit his pc is directly above the router (router in
> downstairs study and his bedroom above study) He also uses a netgear WG111
> wireless adapter.
> 3. I have tried all channels on the router
> 4. I have tried turning off the (broadcast SSID) feature, apparently this
> can affect signal strength.
>
>
> Could anybody give me some tips on how to setup for best wireless
> connection
>