This topic contains 9 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by 
Todd300 15 years, 4 months ago.
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The wi-fi signal on my wireless router keeps dropping. I know it is not my laptop wi-fi card because it’s fine at other wi-fi spots.
The router is good enough for light browsing and downloading e-mail, but I’m unable to view youtube videos for example because the signal won’t hold enough for the video to download. The router’s wired ports work excellent though as both of my desktops are connected to it via wires.
I have a Linkys router. Not sure of the model, but I paid $50 and change for it on sale at Best Buy.
I want to upgrade to a better router, one that will maintain the wireless connection even for long downloads and viewing videos. But I am not sure what to get. I’m afraid the next router I get will just do the same thing as the current one.
I know many of the top routers are like $100 to $200. The high end ones are more suited for areas that will have a lot of computers connected to it such as a public wi-fi spot. At most, my house will have 2 to 3 units connected to it (laptop, game console and eventually a DVD player with internet capability for Netflix streaming).
Given my planned uses, what are some good wireless routers that won’t break my wallet too much?
Thanks in advance.
Hey Todd
First Nice meeting you in escanaba!
I use a Linksys WTR54G, and I demand A lot from it! I have 4 things plugged right into it ( 2 computers 2 xbox 360s) and at least 3 things have wireless access to it ( phone, laptop, zune) And it is 2 years old. Everything is networked together in a home network with Windows 7. The short of it is I have no issues with Youtube, or streaming video or Audio wirelessly, and It is only a G connection.
If your Laptop has N wireless card then I would recommend the Linksys N routers. I think almost all new routers are N because that is the new standard.
One thing you may want to check first before you spend any money is your settings on your current router. You have to find out what model it is, and the also find the IP of it. If you type the IP into a browser window you should be able access it ( if you set a username/password you will need to enter that ) The Default Ip is 192.168.1.1 and the default username/password is Admin/Admin. Play around in there and see if there are any settings that limit wireless bandwidth.
Again G should be enough to stream standard def. videos and audio ( hi-def will be an issue)
Hope this helps!!
It almost sounds like an interference problem to me. You might want to try to move the router and see if things improve.
This may sound dumb, but are you sure you are connecting to your network? A couple of weeks ago, my laptop logged onto a nearby network instead of mine. It’s never done that before, but I just had to switch it back. I never made mine the default, it just always chose it. Now it is the default. Just a thought.
I personally use an Apple Airport Extreme as my router, and a few other routers / switches in my network. I never had issues with my Airport Extreme, good router.
Do you have a wireless phone in your house in the 2ghz range? That would interfere with wireless G and B (I think). If this is the problem, even moving the router will not help much.
as long as your laptop supports wireless N, get wireless N. Better bandwidth, less prone to interference. Linksys is a brand that I use and am comfortable with but can be more difficult to setup if you’re not of the teckie persuasion. Netgear, airports, all good.
Glorkar makes a good point – even weaker signals – if they have the priority (new connections sometimes get the priority – thank you microsoft) will connect even when a stronger signal is available.
I use a linksys G and am satisfied with it – I have noticed that the quality of the receiver has ALOT to do with my connection. Using different receivers on the same computer in the same location in the house has yeilded very different results. The best result I get on the laptop is with a Linksys PCMCIA (yeah, old I know) and a PCI card on the desktop. Using these receivers, the wireless phone no longer interferes.
You can also change the channel on the router which might help with interference.
But I agree with neonride. G should be sufficient for what you’re trying to do. I can stream video on one computer and surf on another without any lag.
Even though your laptop receives a good signal in other wifi spots, there may be something in your house (other than your router) that is always going to give you grief with G. If tweaking the router settings and location doesn’t help, go with N. But also consider a better card for the laptiop. Some of the internal receivers are not very good quality.
PS – you can make a very good directional antennae with a pringles can and a USB receiver. Not kidding.
http://binarywolf.com/249/To go along with the signal strength talk, signals that are too strong can also cause havoc. Some wap’s have a setting to in/decrease power output, might be a cheap fix.
Funny as this may sound, watch where you put your hands and position your body, my 7+ yr old dell wireless does not like it if I’m on the far side of the house and I swivel the chair one certain way. It also doesn’t like it if I adjust the monitor at all, seems my hand is enough to block the antenna for a second or two and I see the connection drop.
I have a linksys G as well, I’m kinda “meh” on it. The linksys stuff has generally been good for me but I’m a anti-wireless type, cable me up and give me my full gig to my 512k internet connection 😛
@rsplash40 wrote:
I’m a anti-wireless type, cable me up and give me my full gig to my 512k internet connection 😛
Ha Aint that the truth!! I too have a full gigabit connection to my 2 mb service! someday we will have gigabit service…. o man I better stop thinking about that before i get too excited and fall off my chair.
I have not been home yet today other than to paint my containers for cache placement. I posted my original message of this thread when I was at Perkins and was amazed at their wi-fi connection. So that’s why I made the post.
Currently I’m at a local library because it’s quiet (I live on a busy highway) and can do my write ups for the caches that I placed this morning.
When I get home, I’ll check the specific model of my router and I know about accessing the 192.xxx.xxx address to change my settings so I’ll look through that once more.
I’ll get back to y’all later.
Neon, I’m on Twitter if ya wanna add me. I already added you.
Actually, I’m holding off on the routers. Gonna drop internet at home to save some money for the summer. I’m not a heavy internet user anyways. E-mail and light web browsing is all I do anyways and there is a lot of wi-fi spots in my area that I can take my laptop to.
But eventually, I’ll get internet back and will upgrade the router then.
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