Wireless router is giving me some problems

New User

I need some tips on how to improve the connection.

- Computer sits about 35 feet away from the router
- There are two walls in between it and the router...wood and dry wall
- No metallic devices of consequence sit between router and computer
- Router sits on the second floor of home and computer on first floor.
- Computer is using belkin NIC 802.11g
- Router is belkin 802.11g 54Mbps

Not sure what else to include.

Oh, when it does connect, I get anywhere from 1Mbps - 35Mbps
Average unfortunately would probably be around 3Mbps

I don't so much mind the transfer rates as I do the fact that it sometimes doesn't connect.

Help
Any tips are welcome

mynameisboring

place the router and/or computer beside a window. That's always helped.
Place the router and/or computer away from a microwave or wireless phone (2.4ghz)
and if you're daring enough....build a cantenna. Search google for cantenna and you'll see how to build an antenna for your router and wireless card. I've never done this but lots of sites have pics and instructions.

also change your wireless channel to 1 or 13. If your neighbors have left their wireless router at their default channel you'll have a router broadcasting at ch 6, which is your default too.

New User

Thanks...exactly the kind of response I was looking for.

I'm glad you mentioned that stuff about the cantenna. I was wondering if there was some way to improve on my antenna's reception. I'll look into that.

Really helpful and informative.
Thanks again.

Webmaster

www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

Also check out the O'reilly book "Wireless Hacks" at http://hacks.ora.com
they have several sample 'hacks' online which include building the pringles cantenna.

You can also buy them pre-fabricated at e-bay for example.