burlmart wrote:
Well, I could try to makr this interesting for all, but I’m afraid only the deep-in-the-weeds techies will find it so…
Moved our cable modem and Linksys WRT54G2 dual band router 30 ft and 3 interior walls away from my desktop that is wirelessly connected via a Linksys WUSB600N USB wireless adapter (the Linksys stuff is about 5 yrs old, dual band 802.11b,g and WPA2 security).
Two other laptops and even the desktop show top notch signal (next to my desktop) at 54Mps and ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’ strength. Both the Linksys and the WinXP wireless network handler software say so, and the linksys shows a 100% link strength. Speedtest.net varies w/ Down/Up speeds of 22/19 Mbps early morning to 6/4 Mbps sometimes, but generally pretty good around 10/10.
Things went smooth for several weeks after the router move, but in past few days, if I hibernate or restart the computer, desktop cannot reconnect, despite the good signal reading on desktop…Unless I go to the router and unplug/plug its power cord - and this works every time.
This occurs using either the Linksys or WinXP wireless software handlers. You only use one or the other at any time, and I was using WinXP.
Somebody help me, please.
Moving the router 30ft AND THREE WALLS is most likely your problem.
Most USB wireless adapters have several issues.
1 is the "antenna" is built into the adapter (no external antenna or removable external antenna). This severely LIMITS REAL LIFE distance of Wifi.
2 USB wireless adapters plugged into the BACK of your desktop often are placed in terrible places for good signal.
3 USB wireless adapters tend to not have as much TRANSMIT power, USB port has 5V and 500 MA limit which makes getting high power/long distance from a USB wirelsss adapter rather difficult at best.
My suggestion is to try a 6ft USB "extension" cable, this would allow you to MOVE the USB wireless adapter up and away from the PC and possible closer to your AP.
If you are thinking about a new USB wireless adapter then search for one that has a REMOVABLE external antenna. This allows you to use an optional higher gain antenna.
OR buy a INTERNAL wireless card, this allows your wirelss card to transmit up to the full power limit and they will have external antenna connections.
Personally my own experience with Wifi in home usage is to FORGET ABOUT IT and HARD WIRE the PC with Ethernet cables. MUCH, MUCH more reliable and not to mention FASTER than most Wifi APs will give you. This is especially true of a DESKTOP PC which isn't something you pick up and take with you around the house.
My Netgear router AP gives me on a good day 20ft of full signal at 35ft it is less than half signal at 50ft it is GONE.
I have in the past worked with Industrial APs, typical USABLE indoor distance was about 125 ft with NO WALLS in between the AP and PC.
