WiFi cards in laptops are weak?
 

I wanted to make a wireless connection between my laptop (HP pavillion zt1290 with built in WiFi card) and my cousin's desktop (his house is next to mine) - maybe 20 feet away.

He bought a gigabyte Wireless card. We tested a Peer-to-peer (ad hoc connection between 2 computers without access point hub) and while I was in his room the signal was strong, and the transfer of 60mb zip file took 2mins and 20 seconds.

After I took the computer to my place, which is around 70-80 feet away, the connection was lost. So my question is, was the problem in his Gigabyte wireless card (which he returned to the store) or with mine built in WiFi ?

-

Thanks

did u try tweaking the location of both computers? there are a lot of sources of attenuation between 2 houses... carry the laptop slowly around the house and then toward the base station and watch the signal strength in real time.... :2 cents:

You did not go thru your wireless router?

My guess is you need a booster on it.

I use netgears 802.11g router and wireless PC card. reception and speed are MUCH better than my old Linksys 802.11b router and card.

yep the wifi cards suck I use one as well and the connection is very weak...

Uses some on my work, never had troubles with it

Does your friend live in a bombshelter? That always interferes w/ wifi :) But yeah it has a lot to do w/ attenuation, I would also make sure there are no interferences (brick and steal are always a bitch)

both houses are build from bricks - that's how we build houses around here (bricks, cement, steel strenghtened). He also has steel fence (3 large steel pipes fence on his tarrace) So, 3 brick walls between me and him and some fence. Plus we aren't on the same level, I am maybe 10 feet higher from the ground than he is.

Brick walls suck for wifi, i had that problem as well. worked fine in the house, but went out side on the patio and it died. You can get amplifiers for your unit that help, but you may not have much of a chance with it.