Very poor performance from Netgear DG834G

I've just purchased this wireless ADSL router and the signal strength
is utterly appauling.
If I stand with my laptop right next to it, the signal is EXCELLENT
but by two steps away (about 10 feet) it drops to GOOD.
If I dare to walk upstairs where the router is still in line of sight
as it's at the foot of the stairs, the signal drops to POOR. By the
time it's out of sight it disconnects altogether.
Even when the signal strength is excellent it still claims only 1 or
2MB data rate.
Am I doing something wrong? My old cable wireless router had excellent
signal strength all over the house.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've just purchased this wireless ADSL router and the signal strength
> is utterly appauling.
> If I stand with my laptop right next to it, the signal is EXCELLENT
> but by two steps away (about 10 feet) it drops to GOOD.
> If I dare to walk upstairs where the router is still in line of sight
> as it's at the foot of the stairs, the signal drops to POOR. By the
> time it's out of sight it disconnects altogether.
> Even when the signal strength is excellent it still claims only 1 or
> 2MB data rate.
> Am I doing something wrong? My old cable wireless router had excellent
> signal strength all over the house.

You have attached the arial right?.


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<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've just purchased this wireless ADSL router and the signal strength
> is utterly appauling.
> If I stand with my laptop right next to it, the signal is EXCELLENT
> but by two steps away (about 10 feet) it drops to GOOD.
> If I dare to walk upstairs where the router is still in line of sight
> as it's at the foot of the stairs, the signal drops to POOR. By the
> time it's out of sight it disconnects altogether.
> Even when the signal strength is excellent it still claims only 1 or
> 2MB data rate.
> Am I doing something wrong? My old cable wireless router had excellent
> signal strength all over the house.

Summat not right there. I installed one of those for someone a couple of
weeks back, he lives in a 3 floor maisonette on the fifth floor and gets
excellent strength everywhere in his flat. And it still works ok 5 floors
down on the ground as well!!
I would check the netgear site to see if there are any firmware updates that
could affect this issue. Netgear is good kit, but I've had to update the
firmware on a few routers to get them to work properly.

HTH
SteveH

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 12:32:17 GMT, "SteveH"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> I've just purchased this wireless ADSL router and the signal strength
>> is utterly appauling.
>> If I stand with my laptop right next to it, the signal is EXCELLENT
>> but by two steps away (about 10 feet) it drops to GOOD.
>> If I dare to walk upstairs where the router is still in line of sight
>> as it's at the foot of the stairs, the signal drops to POOR. By the
>> time it's out of sight it disconnects altogether.
>> Even when the signal strength is excellent it still claims only 1 or
>> 2MB data rate.
>> Am I doing something wrong? My old cable wireless router had excellent
>> signal strength all over the house.
>
>Summat not right there. I installed one of those for someone a couple of
>weeks back, he lives in a 3 floor maisonette on the fifth floor and gets
>excellent strength everywhere in his flat. And it still works ok 5 floors
>down on the ground as well!!
>I would check the netgear site to see if there are any firmware updates that
>could affect this issue. Netgear is good kit, but I've had to update the
>firmware on a few routers to get them to work properly.
>
>HTH
>SteveH
>

Graham - yes, the arial is connected and screwed in!

SteveH - thanks for the tip. I will do just that.
I tested it with my wifi PocketPC and the signal drops out at about 20
feet even in direct line of site. As you say, something is definitely
not quite right.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

>>
>
> Graham - yes, the arial is connected and screwed in!
>
> SteveH - thanks for the tip. I will do just that.
> I tested it with my wifi PocketPC and the signal drops out at about 20
> feet even in direct line of site. As you say, something is definitely
> not quite right.

If it's new then get it exchanged. I had no reception problems like that
even with the installed firmware. Sounds like a duffer.


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<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've just purchased this wireless ADSL router and the signal strength
> is utterly appauling.
> If I stand with my laptop right next to it, the signal is EXCELLENT
> but by two steps away (about 10 feet) it drops to GOOD.
> If I dare to walk upstairs where the router is still in line of sight
> as it's at the foot of the stairs, the signal drops to POOR. By the
> time it's out of sight it disconnects altogether.
> Even when the signal strength is excellent it still claims only 1 or
> 2MB data rate.
> Am I doing something wrong? My old cable wireless router had excellent
> signal strength all over the house.

As others have said, it is probably faulty - but you could just check there
is no interference nearby, they can be affected by DECT phones, Bluetooth,
Microwave ovens and video senders.

Dave

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 15:52:02 +0100, "Graham Watson"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>
>>>
>>
>> Graham - yes, the arial is connected and screwed in!
>>
>> SteveH - thanks for the tip. I will do just that.
>> I tested it with my wifi PocketPC and the signal drops out at about 20
>> feet even in direct line of site. As you say, something is definitely
>> not quite right.
>
>If it's new then get it exchanged. I had no reception problems like that
>even with the installed firmware. Sounds like a duffer.

Exchanged it today (it was mail order but, by coincidence, I was local
on business today and they changed it with no questions asked).
Just got home about 20 mins ago and all seems to be working well. I'm
currently listening to the John Peel tribute which is occupying all my
thoughts but I think I'm sorted.
Thanks.

On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 21:05:09 +0100, Mark S. <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>On Mon, 25 Oct 2004 11:49:41 +0100, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>>I've just purchased this wireless ADSL router and the signal strength
>>is utterly appauling.
>>If I stand with my laptop right next to it, the signal is EXCELLENT
>>but by two steps away (about 10 feet) it drops to GOOD.
>>If I dare to walk upstairs where the router is still in line of sight
>>as it's at the foot of the stairs, the signal drops to POOR. By the
>>time it's out of sight it disconnects altogether.
>>Even when the signal strength is excellent it still claims only 1 or
>>2MB data rate.
>>Am I doing something wrong? My old cable wireless router had excellent
>>signal strength all over the house.
>
>It's faulty, get it exchanged while it's under 7 days.
>
>Mark S.

Genuine thanks to all for advice. It's great to have groups such as
uk.comp.homebuilt and uk.comp.home-networking to help me out.
There's always someone to help.

All's now sorted. Thanks.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've just purchased this wireless ADSL router and the signal strength
> is utterly appauling.
> If I stand with my laptop right next to it, the signal is EXCELLENT
> but by two steps away (about 10 feet) it drops to GOOD.
> If I dare to walk upstairs where the router is still in line of sight
> as it's at the foot of the stairs, the signal drops to POOR. By the
> time it's out of sight it disconnects altogether.
> Even when the signal strength is excellent it still claims only 1 or
> 2MB data rate.
> Am I doing something wrong? My old cable wireless router had excellent
> signal strength all over the house.

Go to www.adslreports.com and browse to the Netgear forum where, if you do a
search, you will find endless identical problems. A friend of mine had one
of these and when he first got it it was brill. Over the next few weeks
everything just slowed down - his home network and his Internet connection.
Turned out loads of people were having this problem. Some fixes were
suggested on the forums but none worked - either for him or seemingly for
other users so, in the end, he dumped the Netgear and got a Linksys which
has caused no trouble so far. BTW, he uses his Netgear wireless cards with
his linksys box no problem.

Sorry not to offer more help.

John.