PC losing internet connection

[jmci9]

Hi there,

Senario
I have a Sony laptop with a WIFI connection and a Belkin DSL router transmitting my 2mb broadband. This works well all throughout my house.

Problem.
I have recently bought a desktop PC and have managed to get this working wirelessly (eventually). For some reason, the signal that my desktop recieves is really weak and (presumably) drops of the internet intermittantly. This is becoming tiresome and I have checked all the settings and nothing looks amiss.

Can someone help me as this is very annoying especially when downloading.
Will a signal booster help .. where do I get one of these?
Do I need to buy a better card for my desktop (not sure what the one I have is)!

Cheers :-\

Thread is old and locked - MidiMoto

[syphus]

There a multitude of reasons why a desktop wireless adaptor could be giving you strife, but let's presume that all the hardware is functioning correctly, and look at the following:

Antenna orientation
Sometimes people forget to attach the antenna, or orientate it properly. To get the best reception, it should be at a right angle to the access point (imagine radio waves emanating from the Access Point’s antenna in an expanding cylinder from it’s antenna, or in a sphere if it has a omni-directional internal antenna, and position the desktop antenna in such a way as it would be catching the most radio waves, ie, has the most length facing them). You will get the worst reception when it is pointing right at the access point.

Positioning
Any objects in the way of the of radio waves will attenuate (reduce them) them. Think of everything in your house being varying levels of transparency, the denser they are, the more they attenuate the signal. Furthermore, radio waves rebound off any materials with varying attenuations based on whether their absorbing qualities. Wood, people, gib/dry wall and furniture are nearly transparent; brick, stone and metals are translucent and concrete will dampen the signal considerably.

Interference
Anything that produces electromagnetic harmonics will interfere with the signal. This includes CRT based devices like monitors and TVs, your computer, microwaves etc. Make sure that there are none of these between you an the access point.

All of the above issues would cause a narrow range of symptoms including low signal strength, inconsistent signal strength and unpredictable losses of connection.

If none of that helps, post back.

[jmci9]

Thanks for the advice Syphus, ;D

Unfortunately I am still unable to receive a strong signal.ÂÂ! If I place my laptop next to to desktop the laptop receives a strong signal but the desktop is weak.

My laptop can pick a strong signal up anywhere in the house, this is why I think there is a problem. There are no confilcts with the hardware installed on my desktop (device manager) but it continues to drop off the internet connection and jumps back on when it feels like it!

My router is positioned downstairs ontop of my fridge in the kitchen (due to the DSL connection being there), I might have to run an ethernet cable from the router to the desktop but this will be a pain (hence why I bought a desktop with a wireless card).

Is there anything else I can do?

Regards
Jmci9

[syphus]

You may be looking at a defective wireless card in your desktop. :-\

You should be able to get it replaced under warranty, from whomever you bought it.