Signal problem / add-on antenna

I have a home network with a Linksys WRT54G and one client with a WMP54G
adapter on WindowsXP. The router was one floor below and one room over
from the client. I was getting connection drops that would last about an
hour. So I ran some cable so that the router was about 20 ft away from the
client and pointed directly at it. Still, there is 3 walls in the way and
the antenna on the client computer is on the backside of the computer.
Signal strength went up to good/very good. Then over the next day strength
went to low, very low and then dropped out for about an hour. When it
comes back it goes right to good/very good. This happens regularly about
once or twice a day. I'm using the supplied antenna on both client and
router. The product sheet for WRT54G and WMP54G have 15dB Transmit power.
Does this also mean the antennas have 15dB signal strength? If not then
what's a good add-on antenna to buy for under $50? Do I have to replace
both antennas on the router?

Misc info:
On the router I'm using
WPA PSK
channel 11
MAC filtering

Client:
Turned off Zero Config service so that computer wouldn't connect to
neighbors system.

Try positioning the antennas, so that the sides of the antennas on the
WRT54G, and the WMP54G, are pointed parallel to each other.

Also, look for outside interference, ie; 2.4GHz cordless telephones,
Audio-Video transmitting devices, wireless cameras, and microwave ovens.

Bill Crocker


"Eric H" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have a home network with a Linksys WRT54G and one client with a WMP54G
> adapter on WindowsXP. The router was one floor below and one room over
> from the client. I was getting connection drops that would last about an
> hour. So I ran some cable so that the router was about 20 ft away from the
> client and pointed directly at it. Still, there is 3 walls in the way and
> the antenna on the client computer is on the backside of the computer.
> Signal strength went up to good/very good. Then over the next day strength
> went to low, very low and then dropped out for about an hour. When it
> comes back it goes right to good/very good. This happens regularly about
> once or twice a day. I'm using the supplied antenna on both client and
> router. The product sheet for WRT54G and WMP54G have 15dB Transmit power.
> Does this also mean the antennas have 15dB signal strength? If not then
> what's a good add-on antenna to buy for under $50? Do I have to replace
> both antennas on the router?
>
> Misc info:
> On the router I'm using
> WPA PSK
> channel 11
> MAC filtering
>
> Client:
> Turned off Zero Config service so that computer wouldn't connect to
> neighbors system.

Thanks for the suggestions, the interference is probably coming from a
neighbors wireless network. I've tried different channels with no luck and
I'm not sure what else to try besides trying to improve reception quality
with a new antenna.

BTW: I've had the antennas parallel.
FYI: LinkSys suggests trying channels 1,6,11 and changing your SSID (why,
I don't know)
<http://www.linksys.com/support/top10faqs/wrt54g/Slow%20Connection%20or%20poor%20signal%20strength% 20with%20the%20WRT54G.asp>

-EricH


On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 11:44:06 -0500, Bill Crocker wrote:

> Try positioning the antennas, so that the sides of the antennas on the
> WRT54G, and the WMP54G, are pointed parallel to each other.
>
> Also, look for outside interference, ie; 2.4GHz cordless telephones,
> Audio-Video transmitting devices, wireless cameras, and microwave ovens.
>
> Bill Crocker
>
>
> "Eric H" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I have a home network with a Linksys WRT54G and one client with a
>> WMP54G adapter on WindowsXP. The router was one floor below and one
>> room over from the client. I was getting connection drops that would
>> last about an hour. So I ran some cable so that the router was about 20
>> ft away from the client and pointed directly at it. Still, there is 3
>> walls in the way and the antenna on the client computer is on the
>> backside of the computer. Signal strength went up to good/very good.
>> Then over the next day strength went to low, very low and then dropped
>> out for about an hour. When it comes back it goes right to good/very
>> good. This happens regularly about once or twice a day. I'm using the
>> supplied antenna on both client and router. The product sheet for
>> WRT54G and WMP54G have 15dB Transmit power. Does this also mean the
>> antennas have 15dB signal strength? If not then what's a good add-on
>> antenna to buy for under $50? Do I have to replace both antennas on the
>> router?
>>
>> Misc info:
>> On the router I'm using
>> WPA PSK
>> channel 11
>> MAC filtering
>>
>> Client:
>> Turned off Zero Config service so that computer wouldn't connect to
>> neighbors system.

Eric H wrote:

>I have a home network with a Linksys WRT54G and one client with a WMP54G adapter on WindowsXP... <Snip>
>
Once, or twice a day, just like after moving the router? Or how many
times a day? All for an hour? Or is it sometimes 15 minutes, etc?

>So I ran some cable so that the router was about 20 ft away... <Snip>
>
About how far away was it, (As the crow flys.) with your original setup?

>Then over the next day strength went to low, very low and then dropped out for about an hour. When it comes back it goes right to good/very good. This happens regularly about once or twice a day.
>
You don't have a really big cat covered in tinfoil? Scratch that... <G>
Actually it sounds like there is some kind of a wireless device in use
that is interfering. Likely someone making a phone call, or some such.
Since your signal is good before switching antennas, I'd try switching
channels on the router. Run a different channel for a full 24 hours and
see if you still have the dropping problem. If you haven't already, try
rotating the stock antennas and refreshing the WLAN monitor on the
client machine to see if you get an even better signal. Make a note of
the best positions. Move 'one antenna at a time' first on the client
card. You could try with the equipment back in their original positions.
I doubt very much it's a setup, or hardware problem, since it's a
regular thing.

The stock antennae are cheap. You could try the cantenna at
http://www.cantenna.com/, or homebrew like at
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html . Radio Shack has a
rubber duckie antenna extender. If convinced you need more antenna, then
change the WMP54G antenna first and see the results. Antenna and WRT54G
information can be found here at http://www.freeantennas.com/ .

>Client:
>Turned off Zero Config service so that computer wouldn't connect to neighbors system.
>
Is your neighbor coming home at certain times of the day and turning on
their wireless laptop, or device? You know for a fact you had problems
with their network?