Wireless laptop connection weak

I was given an old Dell laptop by a friend which worked pretty well on my
wireless network until recently. The signal was generally strong but is now
very weak unless I move the laptop close to the router. I've tried pulling
the WPC54G card from the computer and reinstalling it and found that the
exposed plastic top is broken and can be removed from the card exposing the
metal frame below. The plastic top was broken before I received the laptop.

What could be the reason for the sudden drop in signal strength? Could it
be a software problem or is is more likely to be related to the broken
plastic top?

"Bob L" <nospam@nospam.com> hath wroth:

>I was given an old Dell laptop by a friend which worked pretty well on my
>wireless network until recently. The signal was generally strong but is now
>very weak unless I move the laptop close to the router. I've tried pulling
>the WPC54G card from the computer and reinstalling it and found that the
>exposed plastic top is broken and can be removed from the card exposing the
>metal frame below. The plastic top was broken before I received the laptop.

Any particular model Dell laptop?

Well, the WPC54G card is probably broken inside. Might as well try
removing what's left of the plastic cover and looking for anything
obvious. I doubt that you'll find anything that's repairable,
especially if the circuit board has been flexed sufficiently to break
an internal trace. However, if it still works, there might be
something obvious in the antenna area that can be re-soldered. Look
for cracked solder connections at the edges of components.

>What could be the reason for the sudden drop in signal strength?

Broken antenna.

>Could it
>be a software problem or is is more likely to be related to the broken
>plastic top?

Sure it could be a software problem. However, I don't know of any
softare problem that is induced by mechanical damage, so I think you
should probably concentrate on the hardware damage.


--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

"Jeff Liebermann" <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote in message
news:i3v783h2uiiq0kj5ouvdkb9dov5cqr829p@4ax.com...
> "Bob L" <nospam@nospam.com> hath wroth:
>
>>I was given an old Dell laptop by a friend which worked pretty well on my
>>wireless network until recently. The signal was generally strong but is
>>now
>>very weak unless I move the laptop close to the router. I've tried
>>pulling
>>the WPC54G card from the computer and reinstalling it and found that the
>>exposed plastic top is broken and can be removed from the card exposing
>>the
>>metal frame below. The plastic top was broken before I received the
>>laptop.
>
> Any particular model Dell laptop?
>
Inspiron 4000

> Well, the WPC54G card is probably broken inside. Might as well try
> removing what's left of the plastic cover and looking for anything
> obvious. I doubt that you'll find anything that's repairable,
> especially if the circuit board has been flexed sufficiently to break
> an internal trace. However, if it still works, there might be
> something obvious in the antenna area that can be re-soldered. Look
> for cracked solder connections at the edges of components.
>
>>What could be the reason for the sudden drop in signal strength?
>
> Broken antenna.
>
>>Could it
>>be a software problem or is is more likely to be related to the broken
>>plastic top?
>
> Sure it could be a software problem. However, I don't know of any
> softare problem that is induced by mechanical damage, so I think you
> should probably concentrate on the hardware damage.
>

I usually connect the laptop to a Linksys router which worked well until I
tried to connect to a Siemens 6520 modem/router. I couldn't get a reliable
connection so I tried some changes to some advance wireless card settings
such IBSS Channel Number, etc. At some point I removed the wireless card
and noticed the plastic cover was broken. Somewhere during this period
(changing settings and removing the card) I noticed a sharp dropoff in
signal strength. When I tried to reconnect to the Linksys router the signal
strength low where it had been very strong in the past.

In looking closely at the card with the cover removed, I don't see any
broken connections or area where the card is damaged but I suppose I would
need microscope to tell for sure.

Thanks for your help.