[merrie]

I'm going crazy trying to figure out what is causing my airport express to lose connection to my MacBook. I never really had the problem before. I'm just taking my computer from the office into the living room. There aren't even any full walls between the rooms.

So, I'm figuring that something new is causing the interference? Has anyone had any experience with Tube Amps? We recently got a tube amp for our stereo system. That's the only thing that I can think of that has changed in the house. Could this possibly be the problem?

When I walk around with the computer, there is a definite place in the house that the connections drops out. Is this a clue to the problem?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

[ghporter]

A number of things could cause either interference or signal blocking. I'll cover them separately.

Interference can come from another, equally strong or stronger, wireless network. If your Airport icon (in the top menu bar) shows you a network other than your own, especially if it shows this in places where you lose YOUR network, that could be it. It could also be because you have your system set for a channel that is "heavily used." Most manufacturers send their products out the door set on channel 6 or 7 for G wireless, and that seems to be where 90% of customers leave it... The best way to deal with this is to select a different channel, like 1 or 11 (far away from the heavily used ones). Another way to deal with this is to alter the orientation of your base station, which should change the coverage pattern it generates. Rotate it around while someone else watches how many bars the Airport icon gives you and leave it in the position that gives you the most bars in your trouble-area. It's also a good idea to raise the base higher off the floor, at least in single story structures.

Another source of interference is other sources of RF radiation around 2.4GHz. This could be old microwave ovens, 2.4GHz cordless phones, or other "wireless" devices in the 2.4GHz range.

Structural parts of your building, including wiring and pipes can cause problems too, though you say there aren't "full walls" between your base and your problem area. This is one place I STRONGLY recommend raising your base much farther above the floor.

Hope that helps, at least some...

[merrie]

Thanks for your response. To touch on some of your suggestions: my airport express is about 3 feet off the floor as it is. I changed the channel to one and to ten and it didn't make a difference, still can't connect.

The weird thing is that I did not have this problem before. It always worked fine in the other room.

If there is an exact place in the house where the connection drops off, is that any indication of where the interference is coming in? I just don't get what is going on. It's frustrating!

[ibook_steve]

If you think the amps are the problem, why don't you try unplugging them to see if they are the cause?

Also, try bringing the AE into the living room and see if you can get a signal. Something new is obviously causing interference, so it's just a matter of figuring out what it is.

Steve

[merrie]

I thought about moving the AE in the other room, but I guess that I would have to get an extremely long ethernet cable. I use Comcast for my internet provider and the gargantuan box that I have can't go anywhere else in the house. It is truly a pain.

I'll unplugged the amp and see if that makes a difference. Thanks!

Meredith

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by merrie 

I thought about moving the AE in the other room, but I guess that I would have to get an extremely long ethernet cable. I use Comcast for my internet provider and the gargantuan box that I have can't go anywhere else in the house. It is truly a pain.

I'll unplugged the amp and see if that makes a difference. Thanks!

Meredith

I'm talking about just testing first. Don't worry about the ethernet connection yet. Just see if you can get wireless to work at all in the living room.

Steve