question about improving my Wireless 802.11b signal?

[QueBert]

I have a D-link 802.11b USB adapter. And it drops the signal often. The signal strength stays "good" almost always. I've noticed when I bring up the screen to refresh it, the "signal" icon has went back to without the blue circle around it. And generally I'll see one of my neighbors networks pop up. First question, when new networks pop up in your range does this cause yours to drop off? I can't find any setting to not scan outside of my local network. my Neighbors networks, come and go from my list though. My "perfered" network list I'm always on the top, but I'd like to disable it even checking outside of that, because when a new outside network comes in range it almost always causes my connection to poop out. Some days I can stay connected with no problems for 12 hours on end, others I have to refresh every 8 minutes. The strength will stay good even when I have to refresh. My cordless phone is 900mhz.

I was looking at a Belkin Wireless USB adapter which has 2 antenas, which are both bigger then my D-Link's single one. Would this help increase the strength at all? I tend to think bigger = better and 2 would have to give me moew power, but I could be wrong. The idiot as Best Buy told me this:
"you always have to refresh every so often with the USB ones, that is just how they work. I honestly suggest you go with a PCI 802.11b card" That got me thinking are the PCI cards any better at picking up/keeping a signal? I can't find much info on the web about which is the best route to go. But, I am sick of this D-Link and if replacing it with a Belkin USB or a PCI card will fix my problem I'm all ears!

thanks

 

[WayneTeK]

Originally posted by: QueBert
I have a D-link 802.11b USB adapter. And it drops the signal often. The signal strength stays "good" almost always. I've noticed when I bring up the screen to refresh it, the "signal" icon has went back to without the blue circle around it. And generally I'll see one of my neighbors networks pop up. First question, when new networks pop up in your range does this cause yours to drop off? I can't find any setting to not scan outside of my local network. my Neighbors networks, come and go from my list though. My "perfered" network list I'm always on the top, but I'd like to disable it even checking outside of that, because when a new outside network comes in range it almost always causes my connection to poop out. Some days I can stay connected with no problems for 12 hours on end, others I have to refresh every 8 minutes. The strength will stay good even when I have to refresh. My cordless phone is 900mhz.

I was looking at a Belkin Wireless USB adapter which has 2 antenas, which are both bigger then my D-Link's single one. Would this help increase the strength at all? I tend to think bigger = better and 2 would have to give me moew power, but I could be wrong. The idiot as Best Buy told me this:
"you always have to refresh every so often with the USB ones, that is just how they work. I honestly suggest you go with a PCI 802.11b card" That got me thinking are the PCI cards any better at picking up/keeping a signal? I can't find much info on the web about which is the best route to go. But, I am sick of this D-Link and if replacing it with a Belkin USB or a PCI card will fix my problem I'm all ears!

thanks

Solutions:
1. D-link Range Extender
2. Get a bigger antenna for your WiFi router


Hope this helps?

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: WayneTeK

Originally posted by: QueBert
I have a D-link 802.11b USB adapter. And it drops the signal often. The signal strength stays "good" almost always. I've noticed when I bring up the screen to refresh it, the "signal" icon has went back to without the blue circle around it. And generally I'll see one of my neighbors networks pop up. First question, when new networks pop up in your range does this cause yours to drop off? I can't find any setting to not scan outside of my local network. my Neighbors networks, come and go from my list though. My "perfered" network list I'm always on the top, but I'd like to disable it even checking outside of that, because when a new outside network comes in range it almost always causes my connection to poop out. Some days I can stay connected with no problems for 12 hours on end, others I have to refresh every 8 minutes. The strength will stay good even when I have to refresh. My cordless phone is 900mhz.

I was looking at a Belkin Wireless USB adapter which has 2 antenas, which are both bigger then my D-Link's single one. Would this help increase the strength at all? I tend to think bigger = better and 2 would have to give me moew power, but I could be wrong. The idiot as Best Buy told me this:
"you always have to refresh every so often with the USB ones, that is just how they work. I honestly suggest you go with a PCI 802.11b card" That got me thinking are the PCI cards any better at picking up/keeping a signal? I can't find much info on the web about which is the best route to go. But, I am sick of this D-Link and if replacing it with a Belkin USB or a PCI card will fix my problem I'm all ears!

thanks

Solutions:
1. D-link Range Extender
2. Get a bigger antenna for your WiFi router


Hope this helps?

thank you! I was under the impression that extenders only worked with certain routers? I think my roomate has a Linksys. I will definatly look into this, it cost the same as my USB adapter did.

Now I just have to figure out how to keep it from constantly scanning and picking up new networks. That seems to be where it's dropping the signal when it detects a new wirelss network.