11b Signal dropping

[ggarman]

Hey all, I'm new to the wireless scene, but not to networks. I've installed a Netgear MR814 AP and I'm having a problem where one of my laptops, Dell C810 using a Intel 2100 MiniPCI running W2K, will be sitting on a table, not moving, and will just loose it's connection. It can still see the network, it just think that it has no signal. It will go up and down like this several times an hour.
My wife and I were sitting 6 feet from eachother and both about 15 feet from the AP and hers kept dropping the connection and mine was rock solid.

Background, my other laptop, Dell D800 with a Cisco Aironet MiniPCI running XP Pro, connects and never drops the connection. I've removed all 2.4GHz phones from the house.

Please, any hints/tips/tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Greg

[lwheeler]

Sounds like interference. Microwave, 2.4Ghz phone, camera, etc etc. maybe from a neighbor. The Cisco NIC has the highest output at 100mW, what is the wife's NIC?
Larry

[ggarman]

She has an Intel 2100, her and I are the only ones in the house when this happens and the only thing on is the TV. I don't think any of my neighbors have wireless let alone computers. :)

I found another post talking about disabling 'Wireless Zero Configuration', I'm going to give that a try and see what happens.

Any other suggestions???

Thanks,
Greg

[lwheeler]

Use the Cisco site survey utility to try an determine if it is an interfence issue.

[wifi_passion]

You may be experiencing high error rate due to multi-path or other interferences.

Try taking the laptop closer to the AP (3-4 feet) and see whether you get solid connection. If it behaves the same old way, then the problem could be your wireless card.

Try ex-changing the wireless cards between the laptops, just to make sure it is not your laptop which is causing the interference.

-WP