Better at a Distance

I have a Compaq laptop acquired a few months
ago. While originally it worked well, presently
it fails to make a useful connection if it is
near the router, but works better at a distance
of perhaps 40 feet, in another room. Since I
have two wireless routers, I think that we can
rule them out. (For tests, I always have the
wireless turned on in only one router.)

What are possible causes of this problem?

Thanks for your help.
Mike.

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:30 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <WS%Yi.5$ET.4@trndny03>:

>I have a Compaq laptop acquired a few months
>ago. While originally it worked well, presently
>it fails to make a useful connection if it is
>near the router, but works better at a distance
>of perhaps 40 feet, in another room. Since I
>have two wireless routers, I think that we can
>rule them out. (For tests, I always have the
>wireless turned on in only one router.)
>
>What are possible causes of this problem?

Interference. See list of possible sources in the wiki below.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:35:00 +0000, John Navas wrote:

> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:30 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <WS%Yi.5$ET.4@trndny03>:
>
[...]
>>What are possible causes of this problem?
>
> Interference. See list of possible sources in the wiki below.

The problem appeared without any change in relevant environment.

Mike.

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:01:17 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <xn0Zi.9$NC.3@trndny07>:

>On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:35:00 +0000, John Navas wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:30 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <WS%Yi.5$ET.4@trndny03>:
>>
>[...]
>>>What are possible causes of this problem?
>>
>> Interference. See list of possible sources in the wiki below.
>
>The problem appeared without any change in relevant environment.

How do you know that aren't any new sources of interference?

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:04:26 +0000, John Navas wrote:

> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:01:17 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <xn0Zi.9$NC.3@trndny07>:
>
>>On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:35:00 +0000, John Navas wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:30 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <WS%Yi.5$ET.4@trndny03>:
>>>
>>[...]
>>>>What are possible causes of this problem?
>>>
>>> Interference. See list of possible sources in the wiki below.
>>
>>The problem appeared without any change in relevant environment.
>
> How do you know that aren't any new sources of interference?

I haven't brought any new electronic things into my house.

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:28:09 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <JM0Zi.5$Z01.4@trndny01>:

>On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:04:26 +0000, John Navas wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:01:17 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <xn0Zi.9$NC.3@trndny07>:
>>
>>>On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:35:00 +0000, John Navas wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:30 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
>>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <WS%Yi.5$ET.4@trndny03>:
>>>>
>>>[...]
>>>>>What are possible causes of this problem?
>>>>
>>>> Interference. See list of possible sources in the wiki below.
>>>
>>>The problem appeared without any change in relevant environment.
>>
>> How do you know that aren't any new sources of interference?
>
>I haven't brought any new electronic things into my house.

Are you sure? Really sure? Otherwise...
It could be caused by malfunction.
It could be caused by a neighbor.
It could be caused by the city.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

John Navas wrote:
> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:28:09 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <JM0Zi.5$Z01.4@trndny01>:
>
>> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:04:26 +0000, John Navas wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:01:17 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <xn0Zi.9$NC.3@trndny07>:
>>>
>>>> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:35:00 +0000, John Navas wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:30 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
>>>>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in <WS%Yi.5$ET.4@trndny03>:
>>>>>
>>>> [...]
>>>>>> What are possible causes of this problem?
>>>>> Interference. See list of possible sources in the wiki below.
>>>> The problem appeared without any change in relevant environment.
>>> How do you know that aren't any new sources of interference?
>> I haven't brought any new electronic things into my house.
>
> Are you sure? Really sure? Otherwise...
> It could be caused by malfunction.
> It could be caused by a neighbor.
> It could be caused by the city.
>

Why not try checking to see if you can reduce signal strength in your
router.

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:30 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have a Compaq laptop acquired a few months
>ago. While originally it worked well, presently
>it fails to make a useful connection if it is
>near the router, but works better at a distance
>of perhaps 40 feet, in another room. Since I
>have two wireless routers, I think that we can
>rule them out. (For tests, I always have the
>wireless turned on in only one router.)
>
>What are possible causes of this problem?

Interference. However, the interference is not entering at the router
end. It's getting to the Compaq laptop. (Interference can happen at
both ends of a link). If the interference is maximum if you're
standing near a window, it's almost certainly coming through the
window.

Possible sources are many but can possibly be identified if you offer
some sort of pattern. Is there all the time, or only erratically? If
erratic, at some specific time of day? How long does it last? Etc.
Your laptop may also have some way to display the signal strength and
signal quality. What you'll probably see is that the signal strength
is better when you're close, but the signal quality may get worse due
to interference.

You can also install Netstumbler on your laptop, and use the indicated
signal strength and quality to do a site survery around what I assume
is your house.
<http://www.netstumbler.com>
If Vista, use Visumbler:
<http://www.techidiots.net/project-pages/vistumbler>


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 (E-Mail Removed)
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:26:30 GMT, Mike -- Email Ignored
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> I have a Compaq laptop acquired a few months
>> ago. While originally it worked well, presently
>> it fails to make a useful connection if it is
>> near the router, but works better at a distance
>> of perhaps 40 feet, in another room. Since I
>> have two wireless routers, I think that we can
>> rule them out. (For tests, I always have the
>> wireless turned on in only one router.)
>>
>> What are possible causes of this problem?
>
> Interference. However, the interference is not entering at the router
> end. It's getting to the Compaq laptop. (Interference can happen at
> both ends of a link). If the interference is maximum if you're
> standing near a window, it's almost certainly coming through the
> window.
>
> Possible sources are many but can possibly be identified if you offer
> some sort of pattern. Is there all the time, or only erratically? If
> erratic, at some specific time of day? How long does it last? Etc.
> Your laptop may also have some way to display the signal strength and
> signal quality. What you'll probably see is that the signal strength
> is better when you're close, but the signal quality may get worse due
> to interference.
>
> You can also install Netstumbler on your laptop, and use the indicated
> signal strength and quality to do a site survery around what I assume
> is your house.
> <http://www.netstumbler.com>
> If Vista, use Visumbler:
> <http://www.techidiots.net/project-pages/vistumbler>
>
>

It might also be beneficial to have a look at what channels are being
used within close range of your system. It might be better to select a
channel that isn't being used and set it in your router. See how that
works. (No need to change the SSID.)

On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:45:44 -0600, Cal Vanize
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>It might also be beneficial to have a look at what channels are being
>used within close range of your system. It might be better to select a
>channel that isn't being used and set it in your router. See how that
>works. (No need to change the SSID.)

Yep. Channels are important. However, the latest generation of
wireless access points arrive by default with a channel selection of
"auto". The idea is for the access point to automagically select an
empty channel. In theory, you don't have to set your channel or find
an empty channel.

It sorta works, but I have my doubts. For example, I'm not convinced
that it can detect networks that don't broadcast their SSID. What
I've also found at one customer with DI-624 wireless router and one
DI-624 acting as an access point, is that they both radios ended up
near one channel after about a week. I would have expected them to
end up at opposite ends of the band, but that wasn't what happened. I
have no idea what went wrong, so I just disarmed this feature and
manually set the channels.

I've also received calls from customers complaining that "it was
working just fine, but now I seem to be getting interference". At
first, I was blaming new wireless network arriving in their area. Upon
further tinkering, I found that they had automagic channel selection
enabled and it had landed on a rather bad choice of channel. When I
disarmed the feature, sniffed a bit, set the channel manually,
everything was back to normal.

While I'm ranting on the subject, I also found that it was very
difficult to get a wireless router in auto mode to change channels. I
tried every trick and source of interference I could find and never
got it to reliably switch channels. However, it would sometimes
switch without the slightest provocation. I have no idea what
algorithm is being used, or exactly how it's suppose to work. My
current guess is that it only switches when there's no traffic, making
it useless for selecting the channel with an active connection.


--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 (E-Mail Removed)
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS