Wireless Network Problems...

[Ivelliis]

I have a three storey house (Ground 1st floor 2nd floor), and my computer is on the top floor. The router (if that's the name for the other antennea(sp?)) is downstairs on the bottom floor.

I get reception sometimes, but then I get limited connectivity and it takes 5-10 minutes to get connectivity back. I'm using a desktop with a Belkin High-Speed Mode Wireless G Desktop Network Card. My sister has a laptop and a WL 1000 Air Link High Speed Wireless Broadband (PCMCIA) Cardbus. Her connectivity might be low, but it is always on. Even when the Sent and Recieved numbers didnt change on the Wireless Connection Status thing I could still access the internet with good speed.

If it helps I have houses being built next to this house, if that could affect it. But if it affected mine should it not affect my sisters?

Sorry for the less-than-perfect terminology, I tried

Any ideas why it is doing this? It's so annoying playing WoW and it freezing, kicking me off, and me coming back dying.

[Thoran]

I bought wireless G with the intention of getting a decent home network without having to run cable... but the damn thing was so unreliable I ended up running cable anyway. Half the time a computer in the same room as the router would lose the connection. It seems many people have these things and they work great, so maybe it's just a crappy router (linksys wrt54gs), but it just doesn't work very well, has crappy range, and is buggy with UPNP.

I've got the wireless turned off and use it as a broadband router only now that the gigabit network is in.

[Szass-Tam]

Well, I also have a wireless network using Belkin, and often when connection goes off, turning the modem off and waiting twenty seconds before re-plugging works.

[Bungleau]

Wireless-G has a range of 150 feet under ideal conditions. Things like walls and metal between the WNIC and the WAP will reduce that distance. Remember that you've got to look at the total distance -- from ground to second storey and potentially from one end of the house to the other.

You might want to put in another WAP directly above the first one. Then connect to that WAP and not the one in the ground level. That should improve performance.

Personally, I find XP to be annoying about wireless activity. Keeps dropping and refinding, and telling me it's doing so... I don't care any more (to quote Phil Collins) [img]smile.gif[/img]

Side note: I trust you've got security established on here. If not, others could be picking it up, and one Wireless-B connection will slow down speeds for *everyone* to that level -- from 54 mbps to 11 mbps.

(WAP = Wireless Access Point, fancy name for the wireless router)

[Felix The Assassin]

In addition to above; what other type of wireless systems, microwave ovens, and security systems are placed in between the WAP and the node? Do you have cable or satellite TV? A lot of variables reduce the total distnace, and amount of 'tune' that is within the frequency, electrical lines, water lines, flooring etc(masonary is the worst from a wireless standpoint). I don't like to mention 'name brand' by name, but 'some' products work harder/better than others to maintain their purpose in life, by providing a limited connect vs a no-connect.

Possibly relocating the one router into the center zone could assist in better service. Adding more hardware, things like a 'wireless access point' could help distribute the signal to the 3rd floor.

[Ivelliis]

Hmmm I'll tell my dad that when he gets back from work.

I have Satellite TV, and I think that's the only wireless thing between my computer and the WAP (I learnt some terminology ).

Running a cable is possible, but will be hard.

We already had a card, but bought a faster one. The faster one was faster but less reliable. Me, being ingenius, replaced the antennae on the new card with the antennae on the old (removed) one. I have no idea why I did this I just thought "What the hell". It's been more reliable this evening since I done it - I didn't get kicked off WoW once because of limited connectivity.