Wireless speed fluctuates

[Steve]

I built a PC for my mother for Christmas, and I made sure to include a wireless card since that's what her old computer needed. Her setup is downstairs while the Netgear wireless gateway (from Comcast) is upstairs.

Once in a while the connection will be lost, then redetected and connected again. While connected, the speed will be reported usually as 2MB/s or 5.5, though I have seen 11, 24 and 36 and as low as 1 (just before connection dies). Is this normal behavior?

I've never worked with wireless before. Is this normal? Is there something I can do to keep the connection live? Signal strength is either Very Good or Excellent. I set up this PC on my wired connection and simply used the driver from Windows Update (yes, I know people hate those drivers, but I usually have good luck with them). This PC also uses a cordless mouse, does that hurt anything?

 

[Steve]

Just installed the driver from the website, speed is hovering between 18 and 24. So far, so good 😎

 

[JackMDS]

These fluctuations are usually induced by noise in the environment.

Try different channels.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: Steve
Just installed the driver from the website, speed is hovering between 18 and 24. So far, so good 😎

I take it back, I came back to it and it was down in low speeds and signal strength Low. Came up again though. Maybe I ought to abandon the wireless mouse, or try another? There's also a metal file cabinet next to the PC with a printer on top of it, would it help to move those?

How do I try different channels, is that a config in the wireless gateway?

 

[JackMDS]

Yeah, the Wireless Router (or Access Point) should have a menu that you select the channel.

Try all of them and stick with the one that yields the best results (usually 1 or 11).

 

[Steve]

Thanks, I'm heading back over this weekend so I'll post back with results.