[Paco500]

I have an AirPort Express to witch I am connecting with a PowerBook 15" alu, a PowerMac G4 733 and a Dell X300 laptop (it's my wife's- so sue me).

The G4 is a floor away but usually gets 4 or 5 bars. The Dell get uniformly good reception, except for a few dead spots. The PowerBook? It sucks. I can be 5 feet away in the same room and get only 2 or 3 bars at the most. When I am streaming audio from the Dell- it's golden. The PowerBook drops out pretty consistently, unless I am in the same room. Now I know the PB's are known for lousy reception, but this seems over the top.

Is there anything that can be done to improve the signal from either the base or the PB? I'd prefer not to go to an external card on the PB.

How about environmental problems? We do have 3 2.4 GHz phones, and sometimes reception completely dies when were on a phone near a computer (though not always). Is simply having them causing a problem?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

[ghporter]

Since there's only one computer with coverage issues, I don't think the problem is your AirPort Express or its coverage range. I think there's a problem with your PowerBook's AirPort card. Specifically, I think that the antenna cable isn't all the way into the connector. This is a fairly common occurrence, and it pretty easy to fix. Here's a knowledge base article specifically on poor AirPort performance in a G4 PowerBook, and one on installing the card in a G4 PowerBook.

[Paco500]

Thanks for the tip- unfortunately, it didn't help. I suppose I'll take a trip to Apple store and have them take a look at it.

[ghporter]

Originally posted by Paco500:
Thanks for the tip- unfortunately, it didn't help. I suppose I'll take a trip to Apple store and have them take a look at it.

Good plan. Not everyone has an Apple Store close by to do this; the closest one to me is about 90 miles away... Take advantage!

[Randman]

Is the AirPort close to a wall? I found it helps considerably to raise it higher than eye level and to keep it a foot or so away from the wall. Maybe the electrical wires in the wall cause some interference which the PB is more sensitive to with the casing.
I keep my AirPort station atop one of the CD towers in the corner of the living room and can get god signal, even out by the pool (I'm on the second floor).

[Paco500]

Better placement would be so much easier if it wasn't for my damn wife insisting the living room look nice. I'll try your suggestion, and then work on a plan for making it visually appealing.

Thanks.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

I would try unplugging ALL 3 phones. My 2.4GHz phone messed up my airport rather badly, I got a 5.4 GHz phone and it helped a ton. Also try changing stations on the base station of the router.

[absolut78]

I am having problems in Europe and some of this information has helped me. I am sitting about 15 feet away from the wireless base station (not apple) and have 2 to 3 bars, and then when I go into the hotel bar it just drops. I am living in a hotel right now in Germany - all the other guests have perfect reception on their Non-PB's and me... nothing. I can't remember if the phones here would mess with this signal. I will try looking at my connections inside.

Joe

[absolut78]

Well, I failed in my mission. I downloaded the guide for the Airport Card it seems that my newer 1.5 Ghz doesnt have that same slot inside the battery compartment. I have looked everywhere for the proper instructions, any ideas?

Joe

[masmas]

i wold think its because the powerbooks generally have worse reseption than other computers as t is madein aluminium which sheilds the antena cable. we have a iBook in plastic and that one recives a much higher signal than my powerbook in alu when they are placed in the same spot