Wireless networking - the range stinks!

[nautskye]

Greetings:

I recently purchased a vpr Matrix 200A5 laptop which has built in wireless networking (Ambit miniPCI wireless card). I am experiencing really groggy wireless performance, especially the range. Sometimes the laptop will actually be connected to the wireless network before the laptop actually says that it is connected (i.e. it will display a network univalible baloon from the systray, but I can still browse the web. Eventually, it will tell me I have a connection established, it has about a 2 minute sync time for the system tray icon to say that a connection has been established, and what I can *actually* do like browse the windows network or surf the web. Odd? Heh. And I do not get coverage everywhere in the house... but here's the kicker...

My friend brought over his tibook, equipped with an airport card, I set him up to use my wireless router, and the tibook has full coverage all around the house, where I am always hopping on and off the network, due to a "very low" signal.

Any ideas??

I checked my drivers and it looks like im running drivers for 2000, whereas I am running XP Home. Ambit isn't very helpful, I can't get any drivers off of their site. I'm *hoping* that it's just a poorly written driver, and not defective hardware. Any of you guys have problems like this with your miniPCI wireless nics?

Thanks for reading.

 

[CrazyHelloDeli]

Im sure if you got a better high quality card, it would work alot better. Linksys, Netgear, or D-Link. Not all cards are created equal.

 

[tgillitzr]

i have similar problems. I have a sohoware wireless card. I have my access point in the basement. On the main floor, i get 40-60% signal. Second floor, 20-50%.

My roomates iBook gets 100% no matter where he is. I think I need to buy a Orinoco Gold Card

 

[Ime]

If you got integrated wireless, did it come with an antenna? That could be the problem.

 

[JackMDS]

A lot of Wireless build in Laptops were build with the idea that it is used in business envioroment were the Access Point is close and strong. Such a Laptop is not good for ?Running? around the house.

If you can disable the Internal Wireless Card, and plug an Orinoco Gold it probably will be much better.

 

[nautskye]

Hmmm so the majority of you think that the miniPCI card is junk.... I seeeee. Is this orinoco a pcmcia or a miniPCI? I *do* have antennas built into my laptop, they are on the left and right of the chassis (like the tibook). I would really like to keep my pcmcia slot open, because I have one of those compact flash adaptors that frequently gets put in, and I only have one pcmcia slot (the laptop is only 1.2" thick). Does orinoco make miniPCI wireless adaptors? What about that truemobile thing from Dell, I know you can get that in miniPCI on the 8200's. *shrug* I was really hoping that I could take advantage of having an internal card without taking up my one and only pcmcia.


Thanks for reading and your suggestions.

 

[Kaervak]

The MiniPCI from Dell is an Orinoco card. Just in case, take a look at the PCI card and see if the antennas are connected to it. Never hurts.

 

[nautskye]

Looks like the antenna is connected, there are two wires (one black, one gray) going from the card into the chassis... I'm going to call vpr Matrix this afternoon and see if I can get anywhere with them. If not, I guess ill get that orinoco miniPCI from dell.. does anyone use a dell that has that wireless card? If possible, I would like to know before I spend the money on it.


-- I called vpr (best buy) and they said that they were aware of the problem, and they are going to re write the drivers, but they dont know when they will have them. *sigh* --

Thanks