Wireless question

This is not stricktly GW related but i don't know where else to ask so I'll try here. I use my laptop with a wireless connection but it's usually placed quite away from the modem, so sometimes it works ok, i have decent speed, the connection is stable, etc... but others I get dced every minute. My question is, what it depends upon? (Yes, i am a total illiterate in those things.) Why sometimes it works good and sometimes not at all? And is there anything (cept moving the laptop) that can be done to improve the situation?

Ok my question will be if you move your laptop closer does the connection get better? A modem has a range for a wireless signal. If it gets better when you are closer then simply go to best buy or whatever computer type store you shop at and buy a range expander so you will be able to sit wherever it is you are currently at and having connection issues.

If the connection is ok and sometimes not, even when you are close it could just be a lag issue or maybe the firewall is acting up and trying to block something trying to get in our out of the router and sometimes it flags it and sometimes it doesn't.


http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Cisco-...p_ob_e_title_0


This link is just to show you the type of device I mean. I don't suggest one way or the other to buy it. Totally just googled range expander and clicked the first thing to popup.

Thank you for the reply. Suppose i'll have to buy a range extender then (to avoid tearing the modem to pieces in a moment of rage...).

The orientation of the antennas on the router can play a part. Vertical is usually best, but not always. You could try moving the router and/or changing the position of the antennas to get as good a signal as possible.
It's possible, btw, that some other device in your house (or a nearby neighbor) is causing interference, and it's only while it's in use that you DC. When it's acting up, try to note if anyone is using a portable phone or w/e.

The router was already moved to its closest location to my pc (there are 3 computers, counting mine, they require to be covered and the area is quite big). I tried changing antennas position but didn't notice any difference.
If there is an interference it's not from my apartment, but it might be from any apartment near mine - no way to check it, let alone do something about it. If something is causing interference, will a range extender still fix the problem?

could be interference. change the channel your router operates on (you will have to check the manual or online for your specific model) to one end or the other.. in the US there are 10 channels you can choose from and they change the frequency the radios are using.

also check to make sure that windows is not allowed to shut down the device to save power. if set it can constantly kill your wireless connection and it may not be re-establishing the connection correctly when you resume using it.

also, you said there are 3 computers on the network... are all 3 wireless and are they having the same problems?