Situation: Two laptops and two buildings
Laptops (Dell): Inspiron 6000 with Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG card and Inspiron E1405 with Dell Wireless 1500 Draft 802.11n WLAN card.
Buildings: ipTIME G504 wireless router in Office--sandwich board construction (Styrofoam between sheet metal)
laptops in Home, steel container, next door.
The E1405 picks up wireless signal with no problem but the 6000 more frequently does not. Right now I have the 6000 in the office near the router and get an excellent signal. Sometimes I get the signal at Home but more often than not of late I don't.
Can the wireless card deteriorate over time? Is the Intel inherently weaker than the Dell? Is there anything I can do to assure better pickup for the 6000 at Home?
Some wireless cards are better than others at picking up weaker signals.
The problem with any wireless transmissions is that radio signals cannot pass through metallic surfaces.
You should position your wireless router away from metallic surfaces/walls and position your laptop so it can receive the radio signals without it passing through any metallic walls. If possible place the wireless router higher than at desk level.
SOURCE: Dell Inspiron 6000 not picking up wireless signal
There are lots of problems of using wireless LANs in metal buildings, especially if you are trying to go outside the building and into another building. What I have had to do where I work is put an external antenna on the wireless router and use that to transmit the signal beyond the metal shell of the building.
If that still does not yeild satisfactory results, you can set up another wireless router in the "home" location with an external antenna to act as a recieving point for the other router in the office ... essentially this is setting up a site to site network. With both routers working together you should resolve the wireless drop out issue.
Bestbuy also sells a Wireless Booster, this works the same way as I explained with using two routers however if you go that route be sure you have the option to either add an antenna or you can place it near a window (glass cuts down on your signal than steel).
If this fails look at replacing the wireless card; this setup will still provide benefical even if you need to replace the card as it will provide stronger signals in stormy weather as well.
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