either my computer goes or i do! wireless heartache

hiya major geek and colleagues~
my husband and i have comcast dsl w/ a linksys router.
his computer is a 3 year old gateway laptop w/ a wireless card. mine is fairly new hpze4900 wireless already.
our wireless shows up as linksys.
he never has trouble connecting, and i always do.
he connects through linksys, while i connect through someone else's wireless out there in the stratosphere because i can never get a consistent connection, or one below "low" signal strength.
the router is 2-3 feet from me and about 10 from my husband.
sometimes it goes in and out on connecting to anyone's wireless anywhere out there as well, and is so frustrating, especially when it causes me to lose work.
while i'm at it....
we also bought a wireless hp printer when we bought my laptop. my husband can connect to it through wireless and print, but i can't. it won't let me, even if we remove him completely from the printer and turn his computer off, it won't let me connect wirelessly. i have to plug in.

wireless hates me!

it is getting desperate.... i am starting to miss my desktop.

can you help???

thanks~
chad-roscoe

 

Hi chad-roscoe,
A couple of things you can try.
Have you tried changing channels on the router and comps?
Also, on your wireless connection properties, have you set it to automatically connect if in range?

If your network is identified as linksys, have you not changed any of the default settings or put any security on your network? If not, your connection is wide open for someone else to use.

 

hiya & thanks for the reply. asked hubby, we do not know what changing channels on the router or comps is. can you explain?
i am set to automatically connect to linksys if in range, but often i choose another network because linksys reliability is so awful for me.
we don't mind sharing. we know our neighbors use it and that's cool as they loan us their car (we are a 1 car family) if we need it.
thanks for your help!
chadster:

 

If you want to change channels, get into the router set up, and depending on your model of router, there should be a page that allows you to switch channels (or frequencies). Make sure you change the card properties on each comp to reflect this if you do. If you do change channels, this might affect your neighbor's reception of signal if that is a consideration
You might also change the position of the router or the positioning of the antennas on the router to see if you can get a better signal.

 

hiya again computer friend~
my husband couldn't find any way to change our channel in settings. do you know how to do it?
is there a position for routers that's generally considered best? e.g. high? low?
any thoughts on getting the printer to work wirlessly for me?
thanks~
chaddie

 

Hi chaddie,
Could you change the channel in the router and not the wireless cards?
Depending on the card it should be in the configuration settings.
In XP, right click your wireless connection icon in the tray, open network connections, right click your wireless connection and select properties. On the general tab, select configure on your card. Should be a listing for channel number in the scroll down menu, highlight and the options for channel appear in the box to the right.

As to the positioning, wireless acts as weak radio signals. If you can move your router around or your laptop or reposition the antennas, the reception strength can change. If you are trying to receive signals through walls or there are metal studs in your walls, that can weaken the signal. Electrical lines, flourescent lights, brick or stone fireplaces, metal duct work could all be interfering with the signal. (I've got my router on top of the highest shelf on our computer desk so it is not enclosed or on the floor.)

On your printer connection, did you set up a home network on the first comp?If you did, you might have to set your comp to join that network. Or do you have a firewall program?

Here are a couple of links for reference on wireless set up -
http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Config.html
http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
They give basic guidelines to use.
Post back if you have more questions.