Something interfering with wi-fi?

Would a router's wi-fi signal be compromised by its physical closeness to a monitor or a hard-wired computer or an audio speaker?

My desktop computer, my DSL modem, a Linksys router and my CRT monitor are on a desk in a downstairs room near an outide corner wall. My wife's laptop is in an upstairs room more in the center of the house. The laptop's wi-fi signal strength is normally at "Very Good," although that's an admittedly crude measurement. I leave my desktop and the modem and router on all the time unless we'll both be away all day or longer. I shut the monitor off overnight. The problem: At times my wife's laptop loses its on-line connection even though my desktop doesn't. We're discovering that the problem arises only when I'm at my computer, which means the monitor is on.

I'm wondering if the physical arrangement of the components down here might be the problem. My monitor, my computer and an audio speaker are all close to the router and physically between it and my wife's laptop. Would any of them produce some radiation or anything that would degrade the wi-fi signal enough to cause her laptop to lose its on-line connection? She's getting more and more exasperated, and we sure don't want that, do we.

 

I can confirm one source of interfernce - the cordless phone.

My neighbors get knocked off line everytime their phone rings.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks to both of you for replying.

Shortly after submitting my post yesterday I moved the router up on top of my computer, giving it a much more unobstructed shot at my wife's laptop upstairs. Since then, no problems. It's not an elegant solution, because the router is sort of teetery up there, but we'll see how things go today. If the disconnects return, I'll work on your other suggestions.