[mccrae28]

Is there anyway to test your Airport in a PowerBook G4?

I had a Belkin Wireless G Modem/Router and was getting no signal through one wall and very low through some others... So I upgraded to Belkin G+ Mimo Wireless Modem/Router and the same this has happened with the signal.

Below is a link to a layout of my house and the problem area(s).



There are no cordless phones or microwave ovens in the house - so they can't be causing the problem, and the walls aren't that thick.

So...
Is it the make/model of the router that's just not working with my PowerBook?
OR
Is there something wrong with the Airport inside my laptop? And is there a way to test it?

THANKS

[Sherman Homan]

You have eliminated the router as a problem. The walls can be a problem, even if they aren't "thick". Metal stud construction can soak up a wireless signal. As far as testing the card, go to Starbucks, Panera, someplace with free wifi and walk around. If your signal is no good from the start or if it drops off real fast with distance, then it is your card.
How's that for scientific?!

[mccrae28]

Originally Posted by Sherman Homan 

You have eliminated the router as a problem. The walls can be a problem, even if they aren't "thick". Metal stud construction can soak up a wireless signal. As far as testing the card, go to Starbucks, Panera, someplace with free wifi and walk around. If your signal is no good from the start or if it drops off real fast with distance, then it is your card.
How's that for scientific?!

Eliminated the router - that's according to Belkin and called Apple and they checked all the settings on the PowerBook and don't think its the card.
As for testing it... my nearest Starbucks is 3hours drive away, and there's no place in my town that has wifi. I don't even know anyone else who has an Apple laptop to see if its ok on theirs.
I think it could be the walls.

THANKS for you reply.

[ghporter]

There are lots of places you can check your laptop's card, just search for "free wifi" and focus in on where you are. (I'm still trying to get over "the nearest Starbucks is a 3 hour drive away", by the way; they're pretty ubiquitous around here.) Many bookstores provide free wireless, and even some McDonalds' restaurants too.

Depending on the construction of those two "no signal" rooms, I'm thinking it's the walls. Bricks, poured concrete (especially when it's reinforced concrete full of rebar) and even concrete block construction can stop a wireless signal dead in its tracks.

I'd also look into how solidly the antenna connections on the AirPort card in your PB are. Look up the AirPort card installation procedure for YOUR SPECIFIC PB model in Apple's knowledgebase to see how to get at it and check that before you go driving around to find a free WiFi place.