Riddle me this... 802.11 issue

[Venner]

Right. So I went from Windows XP Home Edition w/ SP1 to Windows XP Pro w/ SP2 on my laptop. That's basically the only change. 99% of my drivers, etc were up to date.

The problem:
My wireless signal is consistantly weaker, using the laptop in the same places I always had. Whereas I usually had a good 11mpbs (router is only 802.11b), it of is dropped down a speed or two and says "signal: low"
Any ideas what might be causing it? I disabled the &*#@% XP SP2 firewall, etc.
Really aggrevating, since streaming video stutters like crazy below 11mbps.

Specs: Dell Inspiron 5150 w/ Dell Trumobile 1300 802.11b/g miniPCI card.
Router is 2wire home gateway, via SBC.

Nothing else (phones, etc) is around to interfere with the signal.

 

[JeffMD]

nothing that YOU have. Maybe someone else baught a new wireless phone? This is clearly a signal problem, and so either something is creating interference, or one of your devices is dieing and the reduced signal is a sign of it.

 

[Goosemaster]

Google "network Stumbler" and download/isntall it. Use it to see what channelsare being occupied and use something else.

 

[howdyduty]

Likely you have other wireless networks now in your area. Set the client to infrastructure mode with no adhoc mode. Also, use the XP wireless config to restrict the client to only connect to your SSID and not others it detects.