DLink DWL-G520 Problems

[Jobu]

So here's the situation...

Bought the DLink DI-624 XtremeG Router and the DWL-G650 Wireless Laptop Card to go with it. Downloaded the latest firmware for the router, popped in the card and boom - everything worked like a champ. On my laptop, I've got WPA enabled, I'm sharing the DSL line in my house, getting the 108 Mbps connection speeds on file transfers, etc. Works great.

Fast forward about a month - I'm building a file server out of an old computer I have laying around. I put a fresh install of XP Pro on it, get it all updated, and put in a brand new DWL-G520, the DLink Wireless PCI card. I download the latest drivers for it, install the WPA supplicant, and it connects to the network - but only at 11 Mbps. In fact, when I try to do any serious file transferring, the Tx Rate fluctuates between 11 and 2 Mbps. Not only that, but the connection is extremely flaky - random disconnects (especially during heavy file transfer), has trouble getting an IP from the DHCP server on occasion, and the Wireless Utility crashes from time to time for no obvious reason. This happens regardless of whether or not I'm running WPA, WEP, or no encryption at all - I get the exact same problems every time. Ditto with going to previous versions of the drivers. I've tried changing the Tx rate on both the card and the router, disabling Super G on the router, reinstalled the firmware update, tried the card in a different PCI slot, and every time I get these intermittant problems.

I'm assuming it's the card and not the router, since the laptop's card works great, and I've verified it's speed/stability through heavy file transfer. Am I missing something here? I'm inclined to blame it on the card itself, but a friend of mine bought his own and had almost the exact same issues as me. So I'm wondering if it's some setting I'm missing, or something else I've done incorrectly. Link/Signal quality don't seem to be the issue, as they are always hovering anywhere from 70-100%. Does anyone have any suggestions on things I can try to get this card up to snuff? Has anyone else experienced this sort of thing with their wireless cards? Or did I just get a dud? Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

If the Wireless Card is PCI stuck behind the Metal Case and the wall, it might be a Transmission problem.

Try to move the Server close to the Router.

 

[Jobu]

In it's normal position, the computer is kind of tucked away into a corner, with the network card antenna pinned between the case and the wall. Last night I tried pulling it out a bit farther into an open area of the room, but that didn't seem to help. I'll drag it into the same room as the router and see if that helps at all.

 

[DaCurryman]

I'm having a similar issue with my DLink equipment. My laptop is in the next room and gets a connection strength of "poor". I just upgraded everything from my 802.11b Microsoft products, where I would get an excellent strength downstairs and behind walls. The 520 in my room (2 rooms over) sometimes wont even connect. It had an excellent once I installed it, but now that I have the laptop card as well as upgraded the drivers for the desktop card, it's extremely flaky. I could roll back the drivers, but then I wont have 108mbps support. It's like a lose/lose situation.

 

[Kanalua]

I'm using a DLink 614+ router and DWL-650 card and I get perfect (excellent) reception with my laptop, no matter where in the house I go...much better reception that with my old Linksys PC Card...