Wireless Networking Nightmare

I recently moved to a new university where I am forced to live in a dorm that must predate the great depression. Unfortunately, it seems that their "wireless neworking" hardware is from around the same era. I can only imagine that it is made with vacuum tubes and copper wiring.

I have been having serious problems with this, to say the least. Im a hardcore gamer, comp sci major, with some serious hardware (dual p4, Xp home edition, Running the default wireless connection tool with XP...) I do not know what router they are using, or what the specs are for any of their hardware for that matter. They keep it under lock and key, will not even let me look at the piece of junk.

I know its an unsecured wireless network, open network authentication, disabled data encryption. I connect to it using the Belkin 54g USB wireless network adapter that they provided me with when I moved in.

The problems that I have been having include difficulty connecting (oddly enough I can only connect most of the time after rebooting, and allowing my computer to make the connection automatically). I can rarely connect manually.

The bandwidth, when I can connect, is actually quite decent. Although the signal strength is always very low or low (1 or 2 bars) the connection often goes back and forth between 12 and 18 mbps. The download speeds are very solid, averaging about 100-150kbps.

The main problem that I have with this connection is its amazing unreliability, im prone to disconnects, extreme lag, and other problems. When I try to play a FPS or a game like WC3 or WOW i will often have periods where there is little or no lag/response delay. Then for no apparent reason, I will get 1-5 second lag spikes(sometimes longer). These lag spikes may continue, every few seconds or minutes, for hours at a time. Sometimes I cannot even connect to these games due to the horrid connectivity I am receiving. Other times I can remain connected often for periods of 24hrs+, with only minor/moderate problems.

My question is this. I can only assume that it is a hardware problem on their part. Is there any wireless network adapter or other hardware that i can buy which will improve my connectivity, and or reduce/eliminate these problems? Im willing to drop $500 or so, if it will mean a dramatic improvement in these issues. Im totally new to the "wonderful world of wireless networking" and have little/no idea about what kind of hardware I should be looking into.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

I forgot to mention, Im pretty confident that the problem has nothing to do with my computer being infected with spyware, or any other related Issue. I run just about every antispyware program known to man, and im extremely vigilant about trojans, browser hijack attempts, and other malware. The programs I use regulary include Ad-Aware SE, Spyboy S&D, Windows Defender, Spywareblaster, AVG Antispyware, CA Associates Antivirus, as well as regular HJT scans, and other misc. antispyware/antitrojan tools.

 

so you drop out while playing your games? Why dont you get your own internet , and let the people doing home work waste the schools bandwidth. GEEZE

 

Im required to live on campus, as im a first year student. I cant get any other Internet access in my dorm. If it was as simple as calling my local phone company and ordering DSL it would have been done long ago.