Better reception with a different card?

[njem]

I have a dell laptop with their internal 1390 wireless g card. I'm in
an office where free wireless is provided by the building, but it's a
mid-strength signal that I sometimes loose. So I can't change router
position or type or any of that because they provide it. It's G type.
I already have the laptop in the best place for signal. I could get
some external adapter, maybe one of the USB or slide in cards that has
an extended antenna that can be pointed in the best direction. But if
it would help I would rather replace the internal card with one that
pulls better. I know an N card is better or MIMO is better but only if
the router is doing the same? Right? So is getting a different kind of
internal card (N, MIMO, or?) going to help any? I'm thinking not but
not positive.

Thanks

Originally posted in network_web

 

[smlunatick]

I have a dell laptop with their internal 1390 wireless g card. I'm in
an office where free wireless is provided by the building, but it's a
mid-strength signal that I sometimes loose. So I can't change router
position or type or any of that because they provide it. It's G type.
I already have the laptop in the best place for signal. I could get
some external adapter, maybe one of the USB or slide in cards that has
an extended antenna that can be pointed in the best direction. But if
it would help I would rather replace the internal card with one that
pulls better. I know an N card is better or MIMO is better but only if
the router is doing the same? Right? So is getting a different kind of
internal card (N, MIMO, or?) going to help any? I'm thinking not but
not positive.

Thanks

Originally posted in network_web

It would be easier to install a USB adapter than replacing the interl
mini-PCI 1390 adapter. The internal adapter was "designed" for the
laptop and Del might not have a different model to replace it with.

Most any USB adapter that resembles a "flash" drive should work.
Also, you could also consider a Draft N adapter as the 802.11n (Draft
N) adapter also can connect to 802.11A (B) and 802.11G (G) networks.
Also, if you select a "dual-band" Draft N adapter, the adapter should
also connect to a 802.11A (A) networks.

 

[njem]

It would be easier to install a USB adapter than replacing the interl
mini-PCI 1390 adapter.  The internal adapter was "designed" for the
laptop and Del might not have a different model to replace it with.

Most any USB adapter that resembles a "flash" drive should work.
Also, you could also consider a Draft N adapter as the 802.11n (Draft
N) adapter also can connect to 802.11A (B) and  802.11G (G) networks.
Also, if you select a "dual-band" Draft N adapter, the adapter should
also connect to a 802.11A (A) networks.

I know what Dell has, and I know how to replace it with a third party
card, I just don't know if that will help. Yes I could put an N card
in, and if I'm connecting to an N network that would be better. But as
I said this is a G network. My question is, do you know if there is
any particular type of card (N, MIMO, etc) that will pull a standard G
signal better. I know some may simply be MADE better than others but
I'm not going to sort all that out. I'd prefer not to have some PCMCIA
or usb thing sticking out the side of my laptop, so I'll replace the
internal one if it will help. Do you know if it will help?

 

[Mark Adams]

I have a dell laptop with their internal 1390 wireless g card. I'm in
an office where free wireless is provided by the building, but it's a
mid-strength signal that I sometimes loose. So I can't change router
position or type or any of that because they provide it. It's G type.
I already have the laptop in the best place for signal. I could get
some external adapter, maybe one of the USB or slide in cards that has
an extended antenna that can be pointed in the best direction. But if
it would help I would rather replace the internal card with one that
pulls better. I know an N card is better or MIMO is better but only if
the router is doing the same? Right? So is getting a different kind of
internal card (N, MIMO, or?) going to help any? I'm thinking not but
not positive.

Thanks

Originally posted in network_web

There are some USB adapters with a directional antenna on a cable. Aim the
antenna in the direction of the highest signal strength as reported by the
software utility. Airlink101 has one of these, I have seen other brands as
well. Google for wireless adapters and just start looking at what's available.

 

[njem]

There are some USB adapters with a directional antenna on a cable. Aim the
antenna in the direction of the highest signal strength as reported by the
software utility. Airlink101 has one of these, I have seen other brands as
well. Google for wireless adapters and just start looking at what's available.

I know I can do that. But before I do that I would prefer to use an
internal card that will do a better job of picking up the signal if
there is such a card. So my question is, do you know if there is such
a card?

 

[smlunatick]

I know what Dell has, and I know how to replace it with a third party
card, I just don't know if that will help. Yes I could put an N card
in, and if I'm connecting to an N network that would be better. But as
I said this is a G network. My question is, do you know if there is
any particular type of card (N, MIMO, etc) that will pull a standard G
signal better. I know some may simply be MADE better than others but
I'm not going to sort all that out. I'd prefer not to have some PCMCIA
or usb thing sticking out the side of my laptop, so I'll replace the
internal one if it will help. Do you know if it will help?

N adapter tend to come with MIMO antennae and will let you connect to
more router "grades" (11B, 11G and 11N.) However, to completely take
advantage of the MIMO signals, the router need to also be MIMO.

 

[Mark Adams]

We are dealing with a two-way radio here. Radios either "push" a signal, or
receive a signal that has been pushed by another radio. They do not "pull" a
signal any more than a piston in an engine "sucks" in air on the intake
stroke. The atmosphere "pushes" in to fill the space created by the decending
piston. I think the only ways to increase the signal strength are to increase
the transmitting power, decrease the distance between radios, remove
obstacles between the radios, reduce RF interference, and use directional
antennas.

I am sure the FCC regulates transmitting power, so that ain't gonna happen.
Decreasing the distance and removing obstacles between your laptop and the
wireless router may or may not be practical. Reducing interference might be
possible, talk to your IT people. This leaves the directional antenna.

On a side note, I have a USB wireless adapter that frequently dropped the
connection on large downloads. I attributed this to heat, or buggy driver, or
poor design, or whatever. Signal strength was excellent- when it worked. A
different model from the same maker didn't suffer that problem. Not because
the signal strength was better, but because the hardware and driver were
different.

Also, N doesn't increase the transmitting power, it increases the data
transmission rate because the frequency is different, but the FCC still
regulates the power. You might be able to find a card that is less prone to
dropping out, lack of signal strength is probably not the issue.


I know an N card is better or MIMO is better but only if