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Wifi Signal Strength

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by natcolley, 2010/07/07.

  1. 2010/07/07
    natcolley

    natcolley Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I have two questions.

    1. Why is that upon refreshing the view of available wireless networks, (Windows XP sp3 Pro) the networks shown fluctuate so wildly? One minute there is only one, the next there are five or more, the next only two. What is going on here? Why is this happening?.

    2. How do I go about boosting reception of wifi on my machine? I have googled and found lots of how tos about boosting the signal an access point puts out, but nothing on boosting the ability of the wireless card on my machine to receive. Is this possible?

    Thx.
     
    natcolley,
    #1
  2. 2010/07/07
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    1. Windows Wireless Zero Config refreshes the list of detected wifi networks by using the adapter and its driver. Windows may also cache earlier detections to try to speed things up, but the refreshed list is not always accurate. Updating the drivers may improve detection accuracy.

    2. The only ways to boost the adapter's signal reception is to modify the existing antenna, add a better antenna or change the location of the comp. Updating the drivers may improve.
     
    TonyT,
    #2


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  4. 2010/07/07
    natcolley

    natcolley Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks Tony.
    1. I never found much of anything Bill Gates intuitive. It makes no sense to cache something if it isn't really there and available, just as it makes no sense to not show something that is. But that's just me......

    2. The plot thickens. Turns out my card says it is a linksys wpc54g, but my dell laptop thinks it is a dell 1300 Truemobile. I found someone with a similar problem from 6 years ago (maybe i should just update everything!) http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/network-internet-wireless/f/3324/p/4872425/4996921.aspx I am trying to manually install the linksys drivers. Do you have any other ideas, suggestions, updates?
     
    natcolley,
    #3
  5. 2010/07/07
    natcolley

    natcolley Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    update
    The download for the zip of the driver update is "corrupt or damaged ", and I'm not even sure it's really an update :-(
     
    natcolley,
    #4
  6. 2010/07/07
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Are you saying thyat you have 2 wifi adapters, an onboard mini-pci Dell 1300 and a pcmcia Linksys? What model & version Linksys?
     
    TonyT,
    #5
  7. 2010/07/07
    natcolley

    natcolley Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I do have 2 wifi adapters, but that was not what I was saying. The internal dell is a 1350. The external/removable linksys is the wpc54g. I can see that the linksys reads as a dell 1300 by watching device manager when I plug it in or take it out. Maybe these were intended to be the same card with different names, sort of like the Chrysler Laser and the Mitsubishi Eclipse?
     
    natcolley,
    #6
  8. 2010/07/07
    Scott Smith

    Scott Smith Inactive Alumni

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    both adapters probably use the same chip set.
     
    Scott Smith,
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  9. 2010/07/07
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Even if the adapters use the same chipset, if Device Mgr shows it as a Dell, then Windows must be auto-loading a Dell driver. The names that get displayed in Device Manager are written in an inf file somewhere. Download the Linksys driver and update the driver via Device Manager.

    Don't run the exe installation because it will install a Linksys wifi connection utility, which is unnecesary if have Windows manage the wifi.

    FYI, the Dell 1300s have a Broadcom chipset, as do several versions of that Linksys card.
     
    TonyT,
    #8
  10. 2010/07/07
    ewlawrence

    ewlawrence Inactive

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    cell data strength

    how do I increase data cell strength
     
    ewlawrence,
    #9
  11. 2010/07/14
    natcolley

    natcolley Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    There is an old saying, be careful what you wish for, you might get it. It would seem that after correcting the drivers, the card actually is weaker, not stronger. (heavy sigh). Just thought you'd like to know. I'll probably roll back soon. Thanks.
     
    natcolley,
    #10

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