*USB adapter instead of built in wireless
in [Wireless]
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From: Nicdig on 6 Feb 2010 13:37 Hi, Have a pretty basic question. My laptop has built in wireless. But, I have been having issues with the connection dropping. Happens no matter what browser i use, on and off throughout the day; it has become inconsistant at times. I did some trouble shooting and I cant determine what the problem is. I am thinking getting a linksys wireless USB adapter so that I can see how the connection works when used on my laptop. If while trying the USB adapter, the connection is up 100%, then I will assume that my wireless card is going bad on my LT. If I am still havin issues, then its back to looking within the laptop files itself. My questions are in regard to the initial set up of the USB adapter: Is it simply a matter of manually turning OFF my wireless button, then installing the linksys software and letting it wireless configure my laptop (so that windows does not)??? Is that all that is to it? I already use a linksys usb adapter on a desktop (in my home) that never came with wireless. (There is no issues with the desktop. The qwest modem works perfectly.) But I was wondering if this is the way to do it on a machine that already came with wireless installed. Thanks in advance
From: Lem on 6 Feb 2010 14:32 Nicdig wrote: > Hi, Have a pretty basic question. My laptop has built in wireless. But, I > have been having issues with the connection dropping. > Happens no matter what browser i use, on and off throughout the day; it has > become inconsistant at times. > I did some trouble shooting and I cant determine what the problem is. I am > thinking getting a linksys wireless USB adapter so that I can see how the > connection works when used on my laptop. > > If while trying the USB adapter, the connection is up 100%, then I will > assume that my wireless card is going bad on my LT. If I am still havin > issues, then its back to looking within the laptop files itself. > > My questions are in regard to the initial set up of the USB adapter: > > Is it simply a matter of manually turning OFF my wireless button, then > installing the linksys software and letting it wireless configure my laptop > (so that windows does not)??? Is that all that is to it? > > I already use a linksys usb adapter on a desktop (in my home) that never > came with wireless. (There is no issues with the desktop. The qwest modem > works perfectly.) But I was wondering if this is the way to do it on a > machine that already came with wireless installed. > Thanks in advance > > > Although you certainly can do what you want, it seems like it's starting with the most expensive solution to your problem first. Before you buy the new adapter, you might try a few no-cost solutions: - Do you have the problem no matter where you are physically using the laptop? Try using it in a different room and/or turning it in different orientations (the antenna generally is in the lid surrounding the screen). Consider that the USB adapter you're using with your other computer may have a better antenna than the laptop, so just because the other computer has no problems in a particular location doesn't mean that the laptop similarly should work well in that location. - Do you have any sources of RF interference near where you generally use the laptop, e.g., cordless telephones, microwave ovens, baby monitors, other wireless devices? See if your drop-outs correlate with usage of any of these. - Do you live in an area where you have nearby neighbors who may have their own wireless networks? Try changing the channel --> do this on the *router* You should use channel 1, 6, or 11. If you currently are using channel 1, try 11 (and vice-versa); if you're using 6, try 1 or 11. You should disable the built-in wireless, either with the "wireless button" or by going to Device Manager and disabling it there. You can use either the Linksys software *or* Windows to configure the USB adapter -- but not both at the same time. -- Lem Apollo 11 - 40 years ago: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html
From: Frankster on 6 Feb 2010 16:59 I've done this without any problems. For the same reason. It did solve my problem. I just disabled the internal wireless adapter from "Network Connections". I never messed with the "switch". -Frank "Nicdig" <Nic(a)nic.com> wrote in message news:uBe9ot1pKHA.2076(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > Hi, Have a pretty basic question. My laptop has built in wireless. But, I > have been having issues with the connection dropping. > Happens no matter what browser i use, on and off throughout the day; it > has become inconsistant at times. > I did some trouble shooting and I cant determine what the problem is. I am > thinking getting a linksys wireless USB adapter so that I can see how the > connection works when used on my laptop. > > If while trying the USB adapter, the connection is up 100%, then I will > assume that my wireless card is going bad on my LT. If I am still havin > issues, then its back to looking within the laptop files itself. > > My questions are in regard to the initial set up of the USB adapter: > > Is it simply a matter of manually turning OFF my wireless button, then > installing the linksys software and letting it wireless configure my > laptop (so that windows does not)??? Is that all that is to it? > > I already use a linksys usb adapter on a desktop (in my home) that never > came with wireless. (There is no issues with the desktop. The qwest modem > works perfectly.) But I was wondering if this is the way to do it on a > machine that already came with wireless installed. > Thanks in advance > > >
From: Jack [MVP-Networking] on 6 Feb 2010 19:36 Hi In general the installed Wireless adapters are better on laptops then an Ad-On USB. May be if you give some technical data (like what type of Wireless is on the laptop, how it is configured, the type of OS, etc.) someone can come up with another solution. Unstable Wireless connection can occur as a result of, two Wireless utilities running at the same time, as well as the Power saving configuration of the Wireless card, and other factors. Jack (MS, MVP-Networking). "Nicdig" <Nic(a)nic.com> wrote in message news:uBe9ot1pKHA.2076(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > Hi, Have a pretty basic question. My laptop has built in wireless. But, I > have been having issues with the connection dropping. > Happens no matter what browser i use, on and off throughout the day; it > has become inconsistant at times. > I did some trouble shooting and I cant determine what the problem is. I am > thinking getting a linksys wireless USB adapter so that I can see how the > connection works when used on my laptop. > > If while trying the USB adapter, the connection is up 100%, then I will > assume that my wireless card is going bad on my LT. If I am still havin > issues, then its back to looking within the laptop files itself. > > My questions are in regard to the initial set up of the USB adapter: > > Is it simply a matter of manually turning OFF my wireless button, then > installing the linksys software and letting it wireless configure my > laptop (so that windows does not)??? Is that all that is to it? > > I already use a linksys usb adapter on a desktop (in my home) that never > came with wireless. (There is no issues with the desktop. The qwest modem > works perfectly.) But I was wondering if this is the way to do it on a > machine that already came with wireless installed. > Thanks in advance > > >
From: Nicdig on 7 Feb 2010 12:04
I thank all that replied. I think though, Lem, that you mentioned something that I did not even consider. Is the antennae ON the screen itself?? If that is so, then maybe that is the problem. On the bottom right corner of my HP laptop, the screen is broken somewhat. It's like the hinge broke and the screen in that area only, dangles. So long as I keep the LT in an open position, then the screen does not 'open'up too much in that area. But if I jiggle the screen is to try to get it flushed and stay put on the hinge (where main part of the laptop is), I can see that eventually screen will break away from that corner & will need to be replaced. The screen size is 17". I will out rule interferrence of other appliances and such because this LT is pretty stationed in the same spot for months and months. Never had a problem until I got lots of malware that took forever to clear up. Ironically, 6 weeks ago when the LT cleaned up, the wireless problem started. I have thought that maybe the virus thing had something to do with it. Have been rescanning and posting log files to reputable sites for help, but they cant seem to find anything still regarding the wireless issue. The screen being broken, I think, happened a weeks before the virus prob.. My LT channel is set to channel 9. And so is my desktop using the linksys adapter. Should I change them to be different? BTW, the majority of networks in range and in my neighborhood have secured connections. So, my laptop wouldnt be able to 'use' their connection; which means even if they have channel 9, it wouldnt interefere...right?. thanks again, Windows XP home edition sp2 using firefox or IE8 "Lem" <lemp40(a)unknownhost> wrote in message news:uY6DrM2pKHA.4336(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > Nicdig wrote: >> Hi, Have a pretty basic question. My laptop has built in wireless. But, I >> have been having issues with the connection dropping. >> Happens no matter what browser i use, on and off throughout the day; it >> has become inconsistant at times. >> I did some trouble shooting and I cant determine what the problem is. I >> am thinking getting a linksys wireless USB adapter so that I can see how >> the connection works when used on my laptop. >> >> If while trying the USB adapter, the connection is up 100%, then I will >> assume that my wireless card is going bad on my LT. If I am still havin >> issues, then its back to looking within the laptop files itself. >> >> My questions are in regard to the initial set up of the USB adapter: >> >> Is it simply a matter of manually turning OFF my wireless button, then >> installing the linksys software and letting it wireless configure my >> laptop (so that windows does not)??? Is that all that is to it? >> >> I already use a linksys usb adapter on a desktop (in my home) that never >> came with wireless. (There is no issues with the desktop. The qwest modem >> works perfectly.) But I was wondering if this is the way to do it on a >> machine that already came with wireless installed. >> Thanks in advance >> >> >> > > Although you certainly can do what you want, it seems like it's starting > with the most expensive solution to your problem first. Before you buy > the new adapter, you might try a few no-cost solutions: > > - Do you have the problem no matter where you are physically using the > laptop? Try using it in a different room and/or turning it in different > orientations (the antenna generally is in the lid surrounding the screen). > Consider that the USB adapter you're using with your other computer may > have a better antenna than the laptop, so just because the other computer > has no problems in a particular location doesn't mean that the laptop > similarly should work well in that location. > > - Do you have any sources of RF interference near where you generally use > the laptop, e.g., cordless telephones, microwave ovens, baby monitors, > other wireless devices? See if your drop-outs correlate with usage of any > of these. > > - Do you live in an area where you have nearby neighbors who may have > their own wireless networks? Try changing the channel --> do this on the > *router* You should use channel 1, 6, or 11. If you currently are using > channel 1, try 11 (and vice-versa); if you're using 6, try 1 or 11. > > You should disable the built-in wireless, either with the "wireless > button" or by going to Device Manager and disabling it there. > > You can use either the Linksys software *or* Windows to configure the USB > adapter -- but not both at the same time. > > -- > Lem > > Apollo 11 - 40 years ago: > http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html |