Weak wireless signal on laptop

Question

I have an Inspiron E1705 that gets a very weak and sporatic signal. By the way, I have a year old IBM T40 from work that gets a strong signal in exactly the same place. Is it possible to plug a high power antenna to the built in card, or do I need to buy a USB or PC card wireless adapter so I can use a high power antenna? Hawking makes a few different antennae that seem to fit the bill.   Alternatively, is there some other way to boost the receptivity of the unit without adding an exteral device?

smi4motion · Answer

If your router has antennas try moving them around........not kidding seen it work. Also some router have adjustments for the signal strength.

smi4motion · Answer

BTW the IBM ThinkPads are exceptional mach's

dbaxter · Answer

Thanks, but I tried that. It appears to be a design flaw in the E1705 with the antenna. Perhaps it does not direct enough power it, or there is some kind of signal conflict. I have an old IBM T40 that gets a strong signal. It seems strange that a big pretty new Dell can not hold a candle (connection) to a little old IBM.

smi4motion · Answer

Is that computer new or did this just crop up... Ive bought a a few dell laptops over the years and typicaly the built in wireless work great with exclent range.

lacigrissett · Answer

what type of wireless card do you have?? if you have an Intel card you can go into the advance properties and change some settings

dbaxter · Answer

It is the Intel unit that is included with the 1705. I believe the model number is 3945.

lacigrissett · Answer

Right click on my computer
left click on properites
click on the hardware tab
click on device manager
click the + sign next to network adapters
right click on your Intel wireless mini-pci card
left click on properties
click on advanced
- depending on the type of card you have you may not have some of these options
- left click to select:
Throughput enchancement - uncheck "use default value box", use drop box to select enable

Power management- uncheck "use default value box", make sure slider is to the highest point

Preamble mode - uncheck "use default value box", use drop down to select long

Transmit Power - uncheck "use default value box", make sure slider is to the highest point

click OK, close device manager
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I'd go into the router interface and make sure the router was on channel 6 or 11, these channels have the least amount of interference
- if you need help call router manufacturer, if ur gonna call em' make sure you have the latest firmware for the router as well !
- good luck

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Weak wireless signal on laptop

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