Hey, I'm back home now for three weeks until the next semester. I just recently bought a D-Link 2.4GHz 802.11g wireless router and a corresponding D-Link PCI Wireless Network Card. I set it up earlier tonight, but things aren't exactly working.
Currently, the router is downstairs with my parents computer. Their PC is connected to one of the LAN ports. My beast is upstairs and can apparently connect to the network, but it has no signal strength. From what I know, both the card and the router are on the same channel, SSID and whatnot. I haven't put any encryption yet, because I don't want to screw things up even worse if I don't know what I'm doing lol.
Any ideas?
Wireless Network Issues
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Undead_Mercenary
- Posts: 2914
- Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2002 10:01 am
- Location: Barrie, Ontario
RE: Wireless Network Issues
Well Merc, there's alot that can cause poor signal strength inside a home. Wall cavities, ultra-thick cement blah blah.
Wireless is handy, but still not a silver bullet. A nice long network cable running upstairs is by far you best bet for games and a solid connection.
Nevertheless, I copied and pasted some tips from D-Link :
1. Keep the number of walls and ceilings to a minimum - Each wall or ceiling can rob your D-Link Air Wireless product of 3-90 ft. of range. Position your Access Points, Residential Gateways, and computers so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized.
2. Be aware of the direct line between Access Points, Residential Gateways, and Computers - A wall that is 1.5 feet thick, at a 45 degree angle, appears to be almost 3 feet thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet thick! Try to make sure that the Access Point and Adapters are positioned so that the signal will travel straight through a wall or ceiling for better reception.
3. Building Materials make a difference - A solid metal door or aluminum studs may have a negative effect on range. Try to position Access Points, Residential Gateways, and Computers so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.
4. Make sure that the antenna is positioned for best reception by using the software signal strength tools included with your product.
5. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet) from electrical devices that generate RF noise, like microwaves, Monitors, electric motors, etc.
6. If you are using 2.4GHz cordless phones or X-10 (wireless products such as ceiling fans, lights, and home security systems), your wireless connection will degrade dramatically or drop completely.
Good luck man!
Wireless is handy, but still not a silver bullet. A nice long network cable running upstairs is by far you best bet for games and a solid connection.
Nevertheless, I copied and pasted some tips from D-Link :
1. Keep the number of walls and ceilings to a minimum - Each wall or ceiling can rob your D-Link Air Wireless product of 3-90 ft. of range. Position your Access Points, Residential Gateways, and computers so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized.
2. Be aware of the direct line between Access Points, Residential Gateways, and Computers - A wall that is 1.5 feet thick, at a 45 degree angle, appears to be almost 3 feet thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks over 42 feet thick! Try to make sure that the Access Point and Adapters are positioned so that the signal will travel straight through a wall or ceiling for better reception.
3. Building Materials make a difference - A solid metal door or aluminum studs may have a negative effect on range. Try to position Access Points, Residential Gateways, and Computers so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.
4. Make sure that the antenna is positioned for best reception by using the software signal strength tools included with your product.
5. Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet) from electrical devices that generate RF noise, like microwaves, Monitors, electric motors, etc.
6. If you are using 2.4GHz cordless phones or X-10 (wireless products such as ceiling fans, lights, and home security systems), your wireless connection will degrade dramatically or drop completely.
Good luck man!
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midnightservice
- Posts: 1483
- Joined: Wed May 21, 2003 10:16 pm
- Location: Missouri
- Contact:
RE: Wireless Network Issues
now the 2 cents worth from mid.............
1. i hate d-link, shitty reception and piss poor internal programming on the http side.
2. D-Link sucks
3. took my D-Link back after 45 mins and went with Linksys and was up and running and had a continuos 54mbps connection with in any whole in my house in under 15 mins.
so to conclude D-Link sucks balls.
Good luck Merc
1. i hate d-link, shitty reception and piss poor internal programming on the http side.
2. D-Link sucks
3. took my D-Link back after 45 mins and went with Linksys and was up and running and had a continuos 54mbps connection with in any whole in my house in under 15 mins.
so to conclude D-Link sucks balls.
Good luck Merc
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Undead_Mercenary
- Posts: 2914
- Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2002 10:01 am
- Location: Barrie, Ontario
RE: Wireless Network Issues
After messing around for awhile, I finally have a connection, although the signal strength is pretty low. Still haven't experienced any lag, and I can download at about 1/4 of my connections potential.
Actually Xor, those exact tips came on the routers CD. Tried to do as many as possible, but looks like I'm stuck with what I have. Maybe once the basement get's cleared up, I'll bring my system downstairs and use the extra long network I brought from res.
To be honest, I wasn't expecting the greatest out of this router / card. I tried to find something that had a rebate, the router had like a 60$ rebate. As long as my connection is stable, I can live with what I have now. Still better than the college's connection.
Actually Xor, those exact tips came on the routers CD. Tried to do as many as possible, but looks like I'm stuck with what I have. Maybe once the basement get's cleared up, I'll bring my system downstairs and use the extra long network I brought from res.
To be honest, I wasn't expecting the greatest out of this router / card. I tried to find something that had a rebate, the router had like a 60$ rebate. As long as my connection is stable, I can live with what I have now. Still better than the college's connection.
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Archangelus
- Posts: 4286
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2002 9:01 pm
- Contact:
RE: Wireless Network Issues
I have a Dlink and I can echo a lot of what Mid says. Actually - to be honest - once they acknowledged they had an issue and provided a firmware upgrade, it works quite well.
So - i'd also say make sure that you are running on the latest firmware for the router.
So - i'd also say make sure that you are running on the latest firmware for the router.
RE: Wireless Network Issues
heh around here we call D-Link D-stink, for good reason.
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Undead_Mercenary
- Posts: 2914
- Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2002 10:01 am
- Location: Barrie, Ontario
RE: Wireless Network Issues
The funny thing is that I am currently downloading 2 different files at around 200kb each, yet my signal strength is very low... haha, I can definetly live with is.
Just in case it could improve, I'll take your advice Arch and check out those firmware upgrades.
Just in case it could improve, I'll take your advice Arch and check out those firmware upgrades.
Açieeed! style by 
