Wireless network problem

[Ed]

I have a PC at home with internet connection sharing set
up on XP pro. I have installed a PCI wireless LAN adapter
(802.11b). I have also a laptop also running XP pro, and
I have installed a wireless PCMCIA card (802.11b). The 2
talk on an ad-hoc basis.

The problem I have is that even within the same room the
signal fluctuates between 5 bars and no signal
constantly. While this doesn't seem to be a problem i
nterms of web browsing while within say 15 feet of each
other, when I move to the kitchen (about 25 feet away as
the crow flies, downstairs and through 2 doors) the
signal still fluctuates, but web browsing is
intermittent. I thought 802.11b was supposed to have a
range of 30 metres indoors?

2 thoughts I have:

1 - we live next door to a small electricity substation
(the sort that is in most neighbourhoods, a box about 5'
X 4') - will the electromagnetic radiation from this
affect the radio signal? It doesn't seem to affect normal
TV or radio.

2 - Can it be a problem with my configuration, in that
say, the packet length is too long so that it has to
resend too much over a fluctuating signal if there is
packet loss and it just falls over?

Any ideas?

Thanks

Ed

 

[Supertech]

Good evening,

Make sure that you do not have any wireless phones. The newer ones 1ghz
and 2ghz will
interfere with the "wireless net".
Unless there is something seriously wrong in the external electrical box
it should not be a problem the 60hz frequency does not radiate very far.

The 30m range is line of site / under best conditions. Dry wall will
kill a signal
quickly. My specs for a small rf xmitter here at the house is glass=2
feet, solid wall
is 4 feet. Try looking up the mfg site or your wireless docs for a hint
on the drop
off. With 30m = approx 95 feet you can kill off 15-20 feet with just a
couple of walls
and floors assuming no other electrical interference. The wide
variations in the same
room maybe giving you the hint that the product is weak or you have EMI
problems.

I would not think that the default packet size would be an issue as
there are lots of
folks out there that have no idea how the thing works they just plug it
in and go.
However packet size and EMI do work against each other.

Good Luck,
Supertech