my wireless router too weak for my Acer notebook?

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NEILPH

1 post

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 13449 10-May-2007 14:37

I've just bought a new Acer Aspire 9425WSMi notebook, a fairly powerful machine. The wireless signal it picks up from my router\firewall is poor. I asked Acer support and they said I might need a new router, but they couldn't find the specs as its such a new model. I'm not confident of their suggestion so I'd like a second opinion from this forum.

With the Acer sitting next to my router, the Acer says I'm getting 60% reception, which MS Vista calls "good'. Rarely, it peaks to "excellent". With the Acer placed 6 metres away from my router, the Acer can drop to what Vista calls "Fair" or even lose the connection.

Also, when I start up the Acer, Vista says "Access: limited connectivity". The Vista control panel says "IPv6 connectivity is limited".

My router is a Zyxel 650H-31 80211b 54Mbps with a ZyAir B-100 802.11b 11Mbps wireless card in it.

On the front of the Acer it says it is for a 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN.

Acer support suggested [if I understood them correctly] that I should get a new router that is 802.11a with 36-54 Mbps that's above 52 gig band. It should support IPv6 and have Mac security to be more secure.

Do I need a new router? What kind? Someone on the forum suggested checking www.ascent.co.nz for a Belkin, Netgear or Cnet.

Thanks

Gollam

22 posts

Geek

Reply # 70838 15-May-2007 22:04

You could try setting the connection option in the wireless cards properties panel to only connect at 802.11b - might help

Cheers

Gollam

freitasm

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Reply # 70840 15-May-2007 22:13

You don't need to have "Excellent"... But here are something to try:

- change channels. You do this in the router and this may improve temporary conditions such as interference with other routers, cordless phones, microwave ovens;

- On Windows Vista open the Power Control and Change Plan Settings. Then click i Advanced options and . Change the Wireless settings from Power Save to Maximum Performance. This will change the radio power:

As for IPv6 support, don't worry about it. And for 802.11a - well it is really only if you want to transfer large files inside your LAN, otherwise 802.11b will be ok for Internet use. And MAC security, all routers provide this feature these days and won't influence the quality of wireless signal.

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