Horrible Signal
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Horrible Signal
I have a really long house, and we have 2 computers. I have the one connected to the modem and router, and my moms computer is connected with her wireless card. We have a REALLY bad signal and we have gotten like a good router like couple years ago or something. Linksys WRT54G, and back at the townhouse, it worked fine. But of course it was alot closer. But not we have gotten both the computers as close as we can but the signal strength still sucks. It goes offline sometimes and totaly disconnects. Is there any tricks/tips on how to get the better? And we have tried the better antenna, we actually have this whole satellite looking thing and its only getting half the bars.
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Was the better antenna rated at something like 5dBi or 6dBi? Standard antennas are usually 2.5dBi so the uprated ones normally make quite a difference. Even in standard form, though, the signal from the WRT54G is pretty good from what I have seen of them.
Getting a bigger antenna is usually the solution that works. If you're looking for other ideas, I would suggest:
a) See if you can get the wireless PC in the 'line of sight' of the router.
b) Make sure that the router is placed somewhere where the signal can spread out of the antennas easily without obstructions, i.e. hiding it in a cupboard or under a desk isn't ideal.
c) Avoid trying to get the signal through walls as much as possible (see comment a!). Load-bearing walls, the structural kind that hold your whole house up, are the biggest culprits of all for signal loss.
d) See if you can buy an extension lead for the antenna (many router / antenna manufacturers do have these available). An extension lead may help you to get the antenna in a more optimal position ... or just closer to the other PC.
Let us know if any of that helps 
