How do I make my wireless reception stronger?

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cjsuh · #1 Post by **cjsuh** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:57 pm

I have a T42 with Intel 802.11b/g wireless. I also have cable modem broadband access with a Linksys WRT54G wireless router. I use Windows XP to configure my wireless settings and haven't touched Access Connections at all. Everything works fine, but for one small annoyance. Whenever I start up my ThinkPad, I get the full 54mbs with Very Good to Excellent reception. But, as my usage continues, the strength of my connection suffers. After just five minues it drops to 13 MBS at Good reception. Occasionally it will go back up, but it rarely keeps a solid strong connection. I should mention that my router is no more than 20 feet away from my laptop, separated by two thin dry-walls. Even when my laptop is five feet from my router with clear line-of-sight my reception dances around all over the place.

How can I strengthen my connection, or what steps can I take to see why my connection is so wishy-washy?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

kjarrett · #2 Post by **kjarrett** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:01 pm

I just bought a Tritium Flatenna for a client and it boosted his signal strength nicely, by 20% or more:

http://www.tritium.co.uk/

$22 shipped - not bad if you ask me. It focuses your signal, so it might or might not be best for you. Look into it and decide yourself.

-kj-

JohnV · #3 Post by **JohnV** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 3:24 pm

I would look for possible forms of interference such as a cordless phone or microwave....etc.

John

Chun-Yu · #4 Post by **Chun-Yu** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 3:34 pm

If you are willing to run "unofficial" firmware for your router, google around

This router runs linux and there is an unofficial firmware available somewhere that allows you to boost the signal strength (up to 3 times the power output! ...although I probably wouldn't recommend boosting it that much, hehe).

#5 Post by **carbon_unit** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:14 pm

Prepare to read a lot, click here and you will find all the answers.

cjsuh · #6 Post by **cjsuh** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:32 pm

Thanks, everyone.

The Linksys forums seem like a great source of information. Time to get cracking!

#7 Post by **carbon_unit** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 7:05 pm

I'm using the HyperWRT firmware and it ROCKS!!

jsmit86 · #8 Post by **jsmit86** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 7:59 am

Before you go nuts using hacked firmware etc...
Do these 2 things

1. Try a few different channels, and see what happens. Often interference is the cause of flakey connections.

2. Speaking of flakey connections....

Upgrade to the latest version of IBM access connections software, install it, and the make sure the WinXP Wirelss Zero Congfig utility service is stopped and disabled!

Before I did these things, I had exactly the same symptoms you have. After these tweaks, totally smooth sailing!

cjsuh · #9 Post by **cjsuh** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 9:23 am

1. Try a few different channels, and see what happens. Often interference is the cause of flakey connections.

Sorry, I'm a real novice here. Is there a way to switch my channel setting without having to re-install the whole router? I have a Linksys WRT54G and whenever I pop in the CD I only see the option to install...

2. Speaking of flakey connections.... Upgrade to the latest version of IBM access connections software, install it, and the make sure the WinXP Wirelss Zero Congfig utility service is stopped and disabled!

I actually use the XP Wireless utility to connect because Access Connections kept losing signal. Do you think Access Connections is a better utility with the updated software?

Thanks!

Humpa · #10 Post by **Humpa** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 10:17 am

cjsuh, your router control panel is actually on the router.
You can access the linksys control panel from http://192.168.1.1 (easiest if you plug your ethernet cable from thinkpad to Linksys WRT54G).
By default, linksys has a password of admin and you can leave the username blank.
There is even the ability to use 3(?) extra channels on your model (with a warning about it being illegal in some countries - ie: USA). I'm not sure what needs to be done for thinkpad's wlan card in order to use those extra channels though.

I would try everything available to me in order to get your connections like you want them. A lot of people like ibm's Access Connections. I wouldn't be happy until I had it working properly using either WinXP Zero Config and ibm's Access Connections - because it should work well using either.
I'm using Windows instead of Access Connections at the moment. I don't need all the nice features of Access Connections, so I uninstalled it for now (but it seemed to work perfectly).

jsmit86 · #11 Post by **jsmit86** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 8:24 pm

I actually have had better luck with the Access connections than the Win XP software. Again this is AFTER the upgrade. It is so easy to use, that I would actually like to use it on other PC;s I have instead of the Win XP utility. Again if you use Access connections, disable the windows software.

Regarding the router, the information in the above post is correct. I have a 802.11b router, so the page may be different, but I just go into the setup page, and select the channel there. The Thinkpad will automatically adjust to the new setting. Try a few channels until you find one with the best signal strength, and the least amount of "downshifting" from 54mbs to lower rates. Often the problem is caused by a phone or another wireless system on the same channel.

How do I make my wireless reception stronger?

How do I make my wireless reception stronger?

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