wifi unreliable, what can i do

Singular1ty · 12 Oct 2009 at 23:35

Well, we have our Wireless router (Belkin N1, can't remember what exactly) upstairs, as we have no connection downstairs. My pc and laptop are about 10-15m away, through walls and floors, and can connect. Often, the connection will just drop, or it will think it's connected but really it isn't.
So I bought some cables to move my WiFi, a Linksys Usb device, closer, which didn't really help. I bring my laptop upstairs, connects fine, sometimes disconnects from programs and games while staying connected to the internet.
I am considering just buying a massive ethernet to go from the router to my pc, if I can't get WiFi to work. I have looked through all the settings and properties I can think of to find help.
Any help on the matter would be greatly appretiated, as I'm getting quite annoyed at this. If anyone needs more detail I'll happily do my best.
Thanks.

Rroff · 12 Oct 2009 at 23:45

Grab a copy of this: http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider

See if any other wireless networks overlap yours and if so change the channel... IIRC 1, 6 and 11 are the optimal channels.

Singular1ty · 12 Oct 2009 at 23:52

Thanks, I downloaded and ran it, no other networks are on the same channel.

Rroff · 12 Oct 2009 at 23:55

Taking it somewhat to extremes you could always google "wokfi" tho thats more for out doors than indoors.

Just seen you have the Belkin N1 - when I was interested in getting one googling showed it had hideous problems with dropped wirless connections so I dropped that idea. If you have an old wifi router around you could connect it up via ethernet disable wireless on the N1 and configure wireless (but no DHCP/DNS) on the old router.

Singular1ty · 13 Oct 2009 at 00:12

I'll give that a try when I can.
I'm thinking of installing a connection down here, as technically we are in separate flats and I'm allowed to use his. So we would have a router much closer, costly but I'd be willing to do that if that's what it takes.