Problems with mini-pci card

[king13ear]

Hi I just put together a new laptop. To make a long story relatively short, I'm experiencing some wireless problems. I'm using an Intel Pro Wireless 2100 card and it's giving me headaches. Microsoft is giving me a reading of "low" signal, while Intel's own software is giving me a "very good" signal. While I do get a signal at least that is not the problem. The problem is that the internet connection would go in and out, and when it's available, it performs worse than a 56k modem. I'm currently using my desktop to access the internet in the same room. It uses a usb wireless adaptor and also gets a low signal, but the connection is quite speedy.

What I wanted to know is if this mini-pci wireless adaptor is not up to par with other mini-pci adaptors. If there are better, can somebody suggest one? Maybe Dell Truemobile?

I've used a DLink pc card before with my previous laptop in the same room and the same Microsoft router, and I've gotten great signal strength. I thought the built in antenna for in the laptop should be better than the pc card. Am I wrong?

Oh and there is only 1 antenna cable that runs to the main. There is no cable to run to the auxiliary connection. Could that be the problem? I have a Uniwill N223II0 and this model only comes with 1 antenna.

Help would be greatly appreciated! :)

[spiderbite]

first check and see if you ever get a good signal.

Those little meter's are garbage but thats what we get stuck with.

So, first see if it is ever any good by standing right next to it. Move further and further away until it doesn't work.

Back off of that a bit and call that your effective range. If you need more coverage you need more AP's.

Sort of a mini site survey.....

[king13ear]

Yeah I get good reception when move into another room which is closer to the router. The room that the desktop and laptop are being used in is the farthest I can get from the router without going outside. That said, I don't know why the internal pci card is doing worse than the pc card solution I had previously.