• Registered: 2010-07-30
  • Posts: 56

Topic: Wireless signal problem

Hi:

I realize this may be a hardware problem, not a software one, but I thought I'd ask the panel anyway:

I have a Gateway NV53A laptop. From the start, I've had trouble with the wireless. It works (I'm using it now), but the signal is pathetic. Sometimes it's less than 30 percent, which makes zero sense since it's not a big house. I'm less than 50 feet away from the router, a Linksys WRT110. Even when I'm less than 10 feet away, I get less of a signal than I'd like.

Subsequent research shows my wireless router is a piece of junk, so I've recently traded up to a Netgear wireless-N 300 (WNR2000), but it's not much better. Right now the little wireless icon on the desktop shows a 31 percent signal. Again, I'm less than 50 feet away from it.

I'm starting to think it's not the router. I realize it could be the walls, but since this is such a small house, I thought I'd ask around about drivers. I never updated mine, just going with the default installed drivers. Would updated drivers potentially fix this? If so, is there a good idiot-proof guide out there? Normally I'm not so squeamish, but wireless and video drivers are two things I don't like messing with unless I have to.

  • rich
  • #! Junkie
  • Offline
  • From: teh interwebs
  • Registered: 2009-01-26
  • Posts: 408

Re: Wireless signal problem

At the end of the day, what any little icon says is irrelevant. I've had a full icon with wicd, nm-applet says 45% etc etc.

The main point is that your internet speed isn't affected and everything else works ok. Try a speed test:
http://www.speedtest.net/

If it's not as you expected, use traceroute and ping on a few hosts, including your router and see if packets are being dropped or you are getting a wireless signal failure.

Last of all, get USB wireless dongle and test it against your in-built wireless, and see if there is any major difference.

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