What can I do to improve my wireless range?

Hi all. I just bought a notebook and wireless adapter/router last
Wednesday night, and although I'm up and running, I'm very dissatisfied
with the range I've got. I'll give some background, and then list what
I've done to try and solve problem(s).

1) Hardware; an Emachines M5310 notebook with integrated 54g wireless. An
SMC2835 54g notebook adapter and an SMC2804WBR 54g router. I bought the
external wireless card because I wanted to take advantage of WPA
encryption. The internal wireless is currently disabled (turned off)
except when I have the 2835 removed and am testing the internal card,

2) Problems:

a) I've never actually gotten the internal card to connect, although the
status icon in the system tray detects the network and says that there is
an excellent connection. Whether the router is set to no security or WEP
doesn't matter.

b) although I can connect with the 2835 extrnal wireless card (and
Netstumbler can pick up the network), I've got extremely limited range.
Basically, when the notevook w/adapter is about 4 feet away from the
router, I get an excellent connection rated at 54 mbps. Downloading to my
laptop is no different in speed than if I were downloading to my desktop.
But, as you move the laptop away from the router, the connection speed
and strength fall off rapidly. Approcimately 40-50 feet away, although
the network can be detected, it is constantly lost and regained. And,
I've never been able to access the internet from that far away.

3) What I've done to try and solve things

a) Place the router as high up as possible, as far away from my computer
and what I perceive to be other interfering components as possible (how
close can the router be to the cable modem?)

b) Try every channel from 1 to 11 inclusive

c) Turn off WPA and go to a totally open network

d) drink some more beer.


Now, as you can see I haven't tried too many things. That's just because
I am a complete newbie at this wireless thing and doubtless don't yet
know what is or should be common knowledge. No cordless phones are within
the same room, although a 900 mhz phone is located about 10 feet above
the router on another floor.


Any advice cheerfully accepted.

thanks

Tom

--
-------------------------
to email me, take my name
and get the lead out.

Thomas Davie wrote:
> Hi all. I just bought a notebook and wireless adapter/router last
> Wednesday night, and although I'm up and running, I'm very
> dissatisfied with the range I've got. I'll give some background, and
> then list what I've done to try and solve problem(s).
>
> 1) Hardware; an Emachines M5310 notebook with integrated 54g
> wireless. An SMC2835 54g notebook adapter and an SMC2804WBR 54g
> router. I bought the external wireless card because I wanted to take
> advantage of WPA encryption. The internal wireless is currently
> disabled (turned off) except when I have the 2835 removed and am
> testing the internal card,
>
> 2) Problems:
>
> a) I've never actually gotten the internal card to connect, although
> the status icon in the system tray detects the network and says that
> there is an excellent connection. Whether the router is set to no
> security or WEP doesn't matter.
>
> b) although I can connect with the 2835 extrnal wireless card (and
> Netstumbler can pick up the network), I've got extremely limited
> range. Basically, when the notevook w/adapter is about 4 feet away
> from the router, I get an excellent connection rated at 54 mbps.
> Downloading to my laptop is no different in speed than if I were
> downloading to my desktop. But, as you move the laptop away from the
> router, the connection speed and strength fall off rapidly.
> Approcimately 40-50 feet away, although the network can be detected,
> it is constantly lost and regained. And, I've never been able to
> access the internet from that far away.
>
> 3) What I've done to try and solve things
>
> a) Place the router as high up as possible, as far away from my
> computer and what I perceive to be other interfering components as
> possible (how close can the router be to the cable modem?)
>
> b) Try every channel from 1 to 11 inclusive
>
> c) Turn off WPA and go to a totally open network
>
> d) drink some more beer.
>
>
> Now, as you can see I haven't tried too many things. That's just
> because I am a complete newbie at this wireless thing and doubtless
> don't yet know what is or should be common knowledge. No cordless
> phones are within the same room, although a 900 mhz phone is located
> about 10 feet above the router on another floor.


Disable the built in Broadcom 54g in your device manager. It doesn't seem
to play well with other wireless devices. I installed an Orinoco 54bg in my
M5310 aznd afterwards I experienced some of your troubles and worse. If
there is a solution to be able to run the built in card as well as have
drivers loaded for a pcmcia wireless card, I sure can't find it.

I'm not familiar with your SMC WAP/Router but if the antennas are
detachable, you can add higher gain antennas to get a little boost to your
range. Go to http://www.fab-corp.com/ and choose the "Antennas Omni" link.
Look about half way down the page and you'll find range extenders with
different pigtails and rubber ducks with different connections.
http://www.pacwireless.com/PAWIN24-5RD_Data_Sheet.pdf and
http://www.pacwireless.com/PAWIN24-5OD_Data_Sheet.pdf are a couple of
products that might interest you.

"i'm_tired" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:gLBkb.504959$(E-Mail Removed). net:

>
>
> Disable the built in Broadcom 54g in your device manager. It doesn't
> seem to play well with other wireless devices. I installed an Orinoco
> 54bg in my M5310 aznd afterwards I experienced some of your troubles
> and worse. If there is a solution to be able to run the built in card
> as well as have drivers loaded for a pcmcia wireless card, I sure
> can't find it.
>
> I'm not familiar with your SMC WAP/Router but if the antennas are
> detachable, you can add higher gain antennas to get a little boost to
> your range. Go to http://www.fab-corp.com/ and choose the "Antennas
> Omni" link. Look about half way down the page and you'll find range
> extenders with different pigtails and rubber ducks with different
> connections. http://www.pacwireless.com/PAWIN24-5RD_Data_Sheet.pdf
> and http://www.pacwireless.com/PAWIN24-5OD_Data_Sheet.pdf are a
> couple of products that might interest you.
>
>


I tried your suggestion eceb thoufg I had made sure that the integrated
wireless was switched off. What did nake some difference was turning off an
aquarium pump offm of all things! The connection isn't the greatest, but at
least I can connect from another room, albeit with no security at all. But
this isn't a very feasible solution since the guys in my tank (Cichlids)
won't last too long without good filtration.

Tom

Others posting to this newsgroup have suggested the following for situations
where your router is upstairs and your client is downstairs:

1. Try to use your mobile client as close to directly beneath the router as
possible, since you get 1.7 times as much floor between you and the router
when you are at 45 degrees to it.

2. Try positioning your router antenna horizontally, or at some other
appropriate angle if you're not usually directly underneath the router.

You could also invest in an extender, or another AP to allow roaming.

"Thomas Davie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns9419BFBE9BC88tleaddavieshawca@24.66.94.159 ...
> "i'm_tired" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:gLBkb.504959$(E-Mail Removed). net:
>
> >
> >
> > Disable the built in Broadcom 54g in your device manager. It doesn't
> > seem to play well with other wireless devices. I installed an Orinoco
> > 54bg in my M5310 aznd afterwards I experienced some of your troubles
> > and worse. If there is a solution to be able to run the built in card
> > as well as have drivers loaded for a pcmcia wireless card, I sure
> > can't find it.
> >
> > I'm not familiar with your SMC WAP/Router but if the antennas are
> > detachable, you can add higher gain antennas to get a little boost to
> > your range. Go to http://www.fab-corp.com/ and choose the "Antennas
> > Omni" link. Look about half way down the page and you'll find range
> > extenders with different pigtails and rubber ducks with different
> > connections. http://www.pacwireless.com/PAWIN24-5RD_Data_Sheet.pdf
> > and http://www.pacwireless.com/PAWIN24-5OD_Data_Sheet.pdf are a
> > couple of products that might interest you.
> >
> >
>
>
> I tried your suggestion eceb thoufg I had made sure that the integrated
> wireless was switched off. What did nake some difference was turning off
an
> aquarium pump offm of all things! The connection isn't the greatest, but
at
> least I can connect from another room, albeit with no security at all. But
> this isn't a very feasible solution since the guys in my tank (Cichlids)
> won't last too long without good filtration.
>
> Tom

"gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:TBGkb.532$(E-Mail Removed):

> Others posting to this newsgroup have suggested the following for
> situations where your router is upstairs and your client is
> downstairs:
>
> 1. Try to use your mobile client as close to directly beneath the
> router as possible, since you get 1.7 times as much floor between you
> and the router when you are at 45 degrees to it.
>
> 2. Try positioning your router antenna horizontally, or at some other
> appropriate angle if you're not usually directly underneath the
> router.
>


Thanks for responding. But my wireless client and router aren't on
different floors. It's a 900 mhz cordless phone that is 8-10 feet
directly above the router and a very powerful aquarium pump that is about
10 feet away from it horizontally (I know, large volumes of water and
computers don't mix ). What I think I mnight do, now that I suspect
that the aquarium pump is at least part of the problem is to go with an
undergravel filter rather than an in tank canister filter and see if that
makes any difference. At least I've finally managed to get my integrated
wifi working

Tom



--
-------------------------
to email me, take my name
and get the lead out.

What kind of canister filter is causing your problem? I also have aquariums
and am also having some range problems. I have an Eheim Pro 2026 and a
Fluval 204.

--
Bob Alston

bobalston9 AT aol DOT com
"Thomas Davie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns9419DD533A2E3tleaddavieshawca@24.66.94.159 ...
> "gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:TBGkb.532$(E-Mail Removed):
>
> > Others posting to this newsgroup have suggested the following for
> > situations where your router is upstairs and your client is
> > downstairs:
> >
> > 1. Try to use your mobile client as close to directly beneath the
> > router as possible, since you get 1.7 times as much floor between you
> > and the router when you are at 45 degrees to it.
> >
> > 2. Try positioning your router antenna horizontally, or at some other
> > appropriate angle if you're not usually directly underneath the
> > router.
> >
>
>
> Thanks for responding. But my wireless client and router aren't on
> different floors. It's a 900 mhz cordless phone that is 8-10 feet
> directly above the router and a very powerful aquarium pump that is about
> 10 feet away from it horizontally (I know, large volumes of water and
> computers don't mix ). What I think I mnight do, now that I suspect
> that the aquarium pump is at least part of the problem is to go with an
> undergravel filter rather than an in tank canister filter and see if that
> makes any difference. At least I've finally managed to get my integrated
> wifi working
>
> Tom
>
>
>
> --
> -------------------------
> to email me, take my name
> and get the lead out.
>
>
>

"Thomas Davie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns9419DD533A2E3tleaddavieshawca@24.66.94.159 ...
> "gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:TBGkb.532$(E-Mail Removed):
>
> Thanks for responding. But my wireless client and router aren't on
> different floors. It's a 900 mhz cordless phone that is 8-10 feet
> directly above the router and a very powerful aquarium pump that is about
> 10 feet away from it horizontally (I know, large volumes of water and
> computers don't mix ). What I think I mnight do, now that I suspect
> that the aquarium pump is at least part of the problem is to go with an
> undergravel filter rather than an in tank canister filter and see if that
> makes any difference. At least I've finally managed to get my integrated
> wifi working
>
> Tom

I didn't think 900Mhz phones could cause problems. 2.4 Ghz, clearly, but 900
Mhz is pretty far from the B/G frequency band. I bought a 900 Mhz phone
recently just to avoid the conflict. It sits 4 inches from my router, and
(usually) about two feet from my laptop, and there's never a blip in
service.

Also, it's hard to understand how an aquarium pump could generate
significant power at 2.4 Ghz. I suppose it's possible, but basically it's
just a motor, and any emission from it should be at low harmonics of 60 Hz
(or 50 in Europe).

Do you usually have the aquarium between your laptop and the router? If so,
then when the pump is running, does it generates bubbles? I know it sounds
crazy, but maybe the aquarium is more opaque to to microwave radiation when
the water is agitated.

"Bob Alston" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:tgIkb.78652$Ms2.40021@fed1read03:

> What kind of canister filter is causing your problem? I also have
> aquariums and am also having some range problems. I have an Eheim Pro
> 2026 and a Fluval 204.
>

A Fluval 404. I wonder if this is coincidence or....? I've tried a few
things. Last night I was able to get a 'weak' signal in the rec room
downstairs by unplugging the 404, and today I got a 'low' strength signal,
albeit at 54 mbps with the built in card if I took the 404 to the washup
rom well removed from the router. Just now, I took my laptop upstairs to
the room directly above (where I will be adding a wireless card to a
desktop, and got a 54 mbps signal with excellent strength. I was able to
transfer a 700 meg file with no problem.

I'm going to see if it makes a difference shileding the 404 in any way and
will report back here.

Tom



--
-------------------------
to email me, take my name
and get the lead out.

"gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:j6Mkb.412$(E-Mail Removed):

>
> "Thomas Davie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Xns9419DD533A2E3tleaddavieshawca@24.66.94.159 ...
>> "gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>> news:TBGkb.532$(E-Mail Removed):
>>
>> Thanks for responding. But my wireless client and router aren't on
>> different floors. It's a 900 mhz cordless phone that is 8-10 feet
>> directly above the router and a very powerful aquarium pump that is
>> about 10 feet away from it horizontally (I know, large volumes of
>> water and computers don't mix ). What I think I mnight do, now that
>> I suspect that the aquarium pump is at least part of the problem is
>> to go with an undergravel filter rather than an in tank canister
>> filter and see if that makes any difference. At least I've finally
>> managed to get my integrated wifi working
>>
>> Tom
>
> I didn't think 900Mhz phones could cause problems. 2.4 Ghz, clearly,
> but 900 Mhz is pretty far from the B/G frequency band. I bought a 900
> Mhz phone recently just to avoid the conflict. It sits 4 inches from
> my router, and (usually) about two feet from my laptop, and there's
> never a blip in service.

Fair enough, and just now I took my laptop upstairs a few feet away from
the 900 mhz cordless and accessed the router with no problem.

>
> Also, it's hard to understand how an aquarium pump could generate
> significant power at 2.4 Ghz. I suppose it's possible, but basically
> it's just a motor, and any emission from it should be at low harmonics
> of 60 Hz (or 50 in Europe).

Makees sense to me, but it *seems* as if the pump was causing troubles
and I'll have to investigate further.

>
> Do you usually have the aquarium between your laptop and the router?
> If so, then when the pump is running, does it generates bubbles? I
> know it sounds crazy, but maybe the aquarium is more opaque to to
> microwave radiation when the water is agitated.
>
>
>

Ah, very good point! Yes I do. Think of a straight line between my laptop
and the routher (when the laptop is in the downstairs rec room and not
working). The aqarium is right in between the two, about 10 feet from the
router and 20-30 feet from the laptop). The filter is a below tank model
which siphons water out of the tank, filters it, and returns it to the
tank below the water line. But, I also have a second filter (an Aqua
clear) which is a hang on the back type of filter), and that creates a
waterfall effect which aerates and causes lots of bubbles. However, as in
a recent post, I found that by unplugging my Fluval I got weak reception,
and by removing it from my computer room I got low or medium reception.

Tom

thanks for the ideas

--
-------------------------
to email me, take my name
and get the lead out.

This is all quite ironic as my wireless network is encased in my fish tank!


"Thomas Davie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns941A83F97EFB5tleaddavieshawca@24.66.94.159 ...
> "gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> news:j6Mkb.412$(E-Mail Removed):
>
> >
> > "Thomas Davie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:Xns9419DD533A2E3tleaddavieshawca@24.66.94.159 ...
> >> "gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> >> news:TBGkb.532$(E-Mail Removed):
> >>
> >> Thanks for responding. But my wireless client and router aren't on
> >> different floors. It's a 900 mhz cordless phone that is 8-10 feet
> >> directly above the router and a very powerful aquarium pump that is
> >> about 10 feet away from it horizontally (I know, large volumes of
> >> water and computers don't mix ). What I think I mnight do, now that
> >> I suspect that the aquarium pump is at least part of the problem is
> >> to go with an undergravel filter rather than an in tank canister
> >> filter and see if that makes any difference. At least I've finally
> >> managed to get my integrated wifi working
> >>
> >> Tom
> >
> > I didn't think 900Mhz phones could cause problems. 2.4 Ghz, clearly,
> > but 900 Mhz is pretty far from the B/G frequency band. I bought a 900
> > Mhz phone recently just to avoid the conflict. It sits 4 inches from
> > my router, and (usually) about two feet from my laptop, and there's
> > never a blip in service.
>
> Fair enough, and just now I took my laptop upstairs a few feet away from
> the 900 mhz cordless and accessed the router with no problem.
>
> >
> > Also, it's hard to understand how an aquarium pump could generate
> > significant power at 2.4 Ghz. I suppose it's possible, but basically
> > it's just a motor, and any emission from it should be at low harmonics
> > of 60 Hz (or 50 in Europe).
>
> Makees sense to me, but it *seems* as if the pump was causing troubles
> and I'll have to investigate further.
>
> >
> > Do you usually have the aquarium between your laptop and the router?
> > If so, then when the pump is running, does it generates bubbles? I
> > know it sounds crazy, but maybe the aquarium is more opaque to to
> > microwave radiation when the water is agitated.
> >
> >
> >
>
> Ah, very good point! Yes I do. Think of a straight line between my laptop
> and the routher (when the laptop is in the downstairs rec room and not
> working). The aqarium is right in between the two, about 10 feet from the
> router and 20-30 feet from the laptop). The filter is a below tank model
> which siphons water out of the tank, filters it, and returns it to the
> tank below the water line. But, I also have a second filter (an Aqua
> clear) which is a hang on the back type of filter), and that creates a
> waterfall effect which aerates and causes lots of bubbles. However, as in
> a recent post, I found that by unplugging my Fluval I got weak reception,
> and by removing it from my computer room I got low or medium reception.
>
> Tom
>
> thanks for the ideas
>
> --
> -------------------------
> to email me, take my name
> and get the lead out.
>
>
>