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General discussion

? signal strength

May 25, 2010 6:35PM PDT

Hello everyone,
I have W 7. When I had XP prof. the indicator for the signal strength (?Bandwidth?) coming into the computer was shown in mb. With W7, it is shown as a Bar-graph with five bars in ascending height.
I have recently been having problems with the internet (Wireless modem) connection which keeps failing.
Is it posible to change the bar graph into one that gives the mb strength, or is this a fixed item and unchangeable?
If I can alter it, I would be grateful for an indication of the method.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Colinito

Discussion is locked

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I'm going with unlikely.
May 25, 2010 9:49PM PDT

Why I'm writing that is I'm authoring some Bluetooth app and the RSS number is missing from some stacks so I can't show it. The 5 bars is what you get instead and it's a pure guess.

But here's my question. Why would changing this display help or fix a low signal drop out issue? I don't get the connection.

And if you want to pursue this, you'll want to talk to the author of the wifi driver.
Bob

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? signal strength - I'm going with unlikely.
May 26, 2010 5:32AM PDT

Hello Bob,
Thank you for the reply.
I asked so that I could check the actual signal strength that is coming into the computer - as the five bar graph suddenly reduces and leaves me with no internet connection and I have to restart and then I usually get the signal back on about 1 or 2 bars.
Now - I have my wireless modem and internet connection from Ya.com here in Spain. They 'guarantee' 10 mb. I am asking because if the signal strength is shown rather than an indeterminate bar graph, I might be able to make an educated guess as to whether the internet failure was due to too low a signal or a possible problem in the computer - (goodness knows what!)
We have discussed matters appertaining to computers before, and you might recall that I am not very knowledgable on technical matters, so I thought that a check on the incoming signal would be the best way forward for me!
never mind, it was just a thought.
Thanks anyway.
Regards,
Colinito

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Tipping my hat so to write.
May 26, 2010 5:43AM PDT

Way back when in a place far away our band of engineers made "radiometers" for various wavelengths. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiometry for example.

This was all very interesting but what I learned was that one radiometer would read one thing and the next would differ. All well and good and since neither radiometer could occupy the same space time location we knew such things could never give the same answer twice.

Back to your laptop. Even if it read out in some numeric value no one would use that for any sort of scientific or calibrated reading. The 5 bars works very well for consumer gear.

The sudden reductions can be caused by a long list of things from a change in humidity to interfering sources. A microwave oven is still a fine interference source.
Bob

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? signal strength - Tipping my hat so to write.
May 26, 2010 6:01AM PDT

HelloBob,
Thanks again!
OK, looks like I have all I could hope for, I shall continue with the frequent re-starts!
For reference, I have a tower situated under a desk on the patio, and a long usb with a LAN head to pick up the signal from the modem in the siting room. It is a meter short of line-of-sight of the modem and I am going to buy a longer usb cable to enable line-of-sight, in case that will help.
Regarding the matter of different readings if I had the read-out. I wonder if it would always be the same in my computer and read the same details for the same effects. (rather like my tyre guage - and the bathroom scales. I always use them for their respective use and never anything else, ergo, I feel that the tyres and my weight will be acurate according to the item reading the value! Probably not at all! But I live in hope!)
Regards
Colinito

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Now that's odd.
May 26, 2010 6:10AM PDT

The usual wifi router I have covers the entire house just fine with not a single drop out. BUT and this is a big one, we use the Cnet Networking Forum settings. For example some continue to disable SSID broadcast or use WEP or less security.

Those that do that usually report troubles. Which the response is usually "Try it per the Cnet Networking Forum sticky."

Bob

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Now that's odd.
May 26, 2010 6:56PM PDT

Hello Bob,

If you think that this Cnet Networking Forum might be advantageous for me, I would be grateful for any details (for dummies!) that I could apply to try it. I don't wish to reduce my security though, and if it involves dropping the levels of that (windows Firewall etc) I would likely not try. (I am on 2 bars - fluctuating down to 1 this morning!)
Thanks again,
Colinito

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The settings
May 26, 2010 9:00PM PDT

That the Cnet Forum proposes is simple. Router at latest firmware, default router settings then use WPA. Many do odd things like disable the SSID then complain about drops. Not much to do but wait for them to get tired of the drops.
Bob

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Low wireless signal
Jun 11, 2010 11:50AM PDT

I'm assuming your getting lower wireless signal? I was wondering if you have added any new appliances such as phones, microwaves and such. Or anyone close by could be hindering the signal? There is a free tool that is helpful to visualize the networks as well as yours in the area to see what's what and where. The last thing is to make sure your wireless router is not set to "open" (unprotected)WEP is crackable in minutes but sure beats nothing. The URL for the tool is:

http://download.cnet.com/inSSIDer/3000-2085_4-10848357.html


The program name is InSSIDer the download link is here at CNET. Grab a pen or pencil when you run it to jot down the information given from the results and post it here. This may not be the solution but will rule some factors in and out.

John

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try
Jun 11, 2010 11:10AM PDT

Try 2 things:

1. change your wireless channels to something else than 6, prefer 1 or 11.
2. make sure you have nothing that is blocking the wireless signal, esp metal. try to move your access point as close to your computer as you can.

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Look in GADGETS
Jun 11, 2010 4:12PM PDT

Do search for gadgets online and there is a gadget that will monitor wifi strength, HOPE I HELPED

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? signal strength
Jun 11, 2010 7:48PM PDT

Hi
Just a few little things I have noticed with my system. I have a Desktop, a Laptop, my husbands Desktop, a Nintendo Wii, and often our sons laptop all on my Wireless Gateway, and these are some of the issues we have had: 1) As each individual computer is turned on the speed will go down by half. 2) My desktop is in another room than my husband. My desktop is the server and connected to my Ethernet card. My husband is connected by a USB 'dongle'. When I am at my computer and have a pedestal fan on in the doorway, my husbands' connection is just not there, whether the fan is running or not. The fan interferes with his wi-fi connection. 3) At various times on either of our Desktops, or my laptop, I have checked to see why I can barely get a signal only to find that I am connected to an 'alien' provider. Disconnecting from this 'alien' provider has allowed reconnection to the carrier that I am with and giving me access at a far greater rate. 4) If you have used your download allowance you may find that your connection has been slowed. 5) The longer - and the quality - of any cords that you have connected from the modem to the physical internet connection are, then you need to expect some line resistance - so the signal will degrade. The older the cable can also affect the quality. 6) If someone is hacking into your wireless connection you will loose your speed. Check your Internet Connections frequently and disconnect any Rogue systems that have stolen your connectivity. Remember that these connections are not all malign. Your neighbour may be tearing his hair out, just like you, because he has a Rogue connection - and it turns out to be you! That is an inherent problem with Wi-Fi connections, regardles of what computer or operating system you have. I hope this is of some help to you.