Wierd Wireless

[Seeruk]

Well - I have 2 PC's sat next to each other - Hardware is almost identical except the gfx cards, both have been freshly installed with WinXP Pro - have identical configurations, patches and updates from MS and no significant differences. I have a Belkin wireless switch/router and the these 2 pc's connect using belkin wireless PCI nics.

The PC I am typing this on works almost flawlessley - the odd interruption in signal for a couple of seconds every few hours but nothing major. The one sat exactly 1m away is a nightmare.

It is constantly dropping its connection alllllll the time. There is more and more interruptions as time progresses and I have tried a USB adapter but the problem is the same. This usb adapter has been used with my laptop problem-free for a few weeks. When the connection is dropped no browsing or network browsing can be done and the highest signal strength this pc ever gets is about 50% where as the PC sat just 100 cm away gets 80-100% all the time???!!! It seems crazy that regardless of the adapter used and despite me moving things around all over the house the problem remains.

I cant figure it out - it cant be reception when the two machines are sat next to each other, they have identical configurations (as far as my crazed mind can tell) at the dhcp, nic, drivers, everything levels!!!

I am outta ideas - maybe I am not aware of issues with two antenna so close to each other? Or maybe I should use a different channel? Anyway here is the info I have configured in as many places as I can find it!

SSID WLAN
Channel 11
Range of 100 ip adresses set for DHCP (Nics configured for DHCP of course)
WEP Disabled on router and nics
Everything else on the nics set to automatic (things like thresholds etc)
Tried disabling Wireless Zero Configuration service too

Help a man driven mental out please

Time till institutionalisation T minus 5 hours......

 

[lobadobadingdong]

maybe their is excess noise coming from your pc that's interfering w/its signal?

 

[Seeruk]

Good thinking - but tried shutting other pc down and it doesnt affect the signal strength to the other

:/

Next!!!

 

[KarenMarie]

I posted this in my thread too.

When I was having problems, many ppl suggested that I check the Wireless zero setting in the XP services. Don't know if that will work or not, but many ppl suggested that I try to change the default setting there.


Also, what happens if you move the machines further apart? I have also read in numerous places that many things could be interfering with teh signal. Telephone, fridges, fax machines, clocks... just abot anything that is plugged in can interfere.

 

[Seeruk]

Well the problem is fixed in a good ol' techie's way ....

..... I threw more hardware at it!!!!

All the Belkin crap is going on ebay and I bought the linksys 54g and matching nic's - no problemo - reception identical for both pc's and 5x the speed to boot lmao !!

..... although I fear I may be speaking too soon - i am sure something will spring up to drive me to distraction - now I can get back to the decorating without having to come fiddle with this every 10 minutes hehe

 

[KarenMarie]

Good for you!!

I knew that Belkin made great accessories, but was not aware that they made hardware such as routers, etc.

I am a diehard Linksys fan. have been for years.

I am glad you got it sorted!!

WOOHOO!

 

[KarenMarie]

Good for you!!

I knew that Belkin made great accessories, but was not aware that they made hardware such as routers, etc.

I am a diehard Linksys fan. have been for years.

I am glad you got it sorted!!

WOOHOO!

 

[Seeruk]

I can definitely recommend the linksys - makes me realise how stupid i was saving £10 for the belkin router.............