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KeriVit · Jul 3, 2003, 06:58 PM

Forgive me if this has been covered...

But, my 17" PB has airport range that is pathetic. My iBook - 500MHz G3 works great everywhere, but I'm limited with the 17". Has anyone else noticed this or is there a thread I should check? The biggest thing is I can't connect from my porch (most comfortable spot) but the iBook is fine. The iBook has regular airport card, the 17" has Airport Extreme. Doesthis make a difference? Shouldn't it be better not worse?

Settings I need to change? I'm talking about 50' from the (regular) base station. Any thoughts?

TIA

djjava · Jul 3, 2003, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by KeriVit:
Forgive me if this has been covered...

But, my 17" PB has airport range that is pathetic. My iBook - 500MHz G3 works great everywhere, but I'm limited with the 17". Has anyone else noticed this or is there a thread I should check? The biggest thing is I can't connect from my porch (most comfortable spot) but the iBook is fine. The iBook has regular airport card, the 17" has Airport Extreme. Doesthis make a difference? Shouldn't it be better not worse?

Settings I need to change? I'm talking about 50' from the (regular) base station. Any thoughts?

TIA

hmm.... got any cordless phones? that could be interfering with the 802.11g.

hldan · Jul 3, 2003, 11:37 PM

Originally posted by djjava:
hmm.... got any cordless phones? that could be interfering with the 802.11g.

My iBook and my 17"PB have the same range. Both get about 100+ feet away from the base station. Something must blocking your reception.

SwitchnSOON · Jul 4, 2003, 05:51 AM

I am using a 17 inch PB, and Airport Extreme. I have not found anywhere in the house, the from porch, or the breezeway on the side of the house from which I do not get an excellent signal.

The cordless phone, microwave, nor cell phone have created any interference.

The difference could be the house I live in. It was built in the 1920's and the walls are not too thick.

Perhaps I am just lucky?

urrl5201 · Jul 4, 2003, 06:24 AM

Since he says his iBook gets excellent range I am led to believe a problem exists with his powerbook. Perhaps his Airport card antenna is not seated properly or it is a pinched antenna, or the antenna is not secure in its port as some others have posted.

SEkker · Jul 4, 2003, 10:37 AM

My PB17 airport range blows away my TiPB.

Not sure if it's as good as an iBook, tho.

I would check the PB antenna

Karim · Jul 4, 2003, 03:11 PM

Use Airport Admin and change the operating channel for the basestation. Start at 1 and increment by 3 each time until you get the farthest reach.

My 17" works great 100'+ with AE basestation and regular basestations. Range is about equal for either type and I have the AE set to AE only, not mixed.

neutrino23 · Jul 4, 2003, 06:53 PM

Originally posted by urrl5201:
Since he says his iBook gets excellent range I am led to believe a problem exists with his powerbook. Perhaps his Airport card antenna is not seated properly or it is a pinched antenna, or the antenna is not secure in its port as some others have posted.

Definite possibility. GigaHertz signals are not easy to diagnose. Double check the connection to the AE card. If it is still a problem and you have one near take it to an Apple store and ask them about it. You should be able to do a direct comparison with another 17 PB. If there is a poor connection to the antenna or if the antenna is touching the frame that could cause problems. I don't know how you would confirm that without disassembling the PB. Another thing you could try is to swap out the AE card. Maybe something in the card is not perfect.

KeriVit · Jul 8, 2003, 01:31 PM

Thanks for the replies, I was gone for a few days, but will try the suggestions tonight. I really feel it is something with the PB. If it is the microwave or phone, I think the iBook would be the same...