HELP

[Tommy Trussell]

On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 11:10 AM, John Humphrey <johnbhumphrey at gmail.com> wrote:
> I have an IBM Thinkcentre Desktop and have recently installed Ubuntu 10.10
> on it. Here is the setup I'm using:
> Main router is Sagemcom 1704
> Repeater is Linksys wrt54g v6 with ww-drt firmware converting it to a
> repeater
> Wireless adapter is Netgear WG111v2
> At first, it worked fairly well. I didn't use any drivers, just plugged it
> in and it worked. As time passed, the connection became slower and slower.
> My questions are:
> 1. Do I need to install the Netgear drivers?

I don't have any direct experience with your wireless dongle, but
unless there has been a significant update, I don't think getting the
Netgear drivers would be worth the hassle. You would have to learn how
to extract them and use ndiswrapper, which I presume has either
already been done in the package you are using OR someone has
developed an open-source driver.

> 2. Do I need to use another configuration on the router and/or repeater
> beside the default?

I don't know your exact situation but the FIRST think I would do is
try removing the repeater and moving the system with the dongle closer
to the router and see if your situation changes. You also MUST do a
site survey and see if maybe you and a neighbor are battling over a
particular channel. Use the router's "site survey" took and be sure
you pick a channel at least three higher or lower than the strongest
signal nearby if at all possible. Your router MAY try to do this
automatically, but do it yourself to see if it helps. Finally, of
course, look for obstructions or sources of interference, such as a
metal cabinet or a cordless phone.

> 3. How do I raise the wattage going to the Wireless adapter via usb? The
> adapter requires 200 -300 mW but only receiving 71 mW.

How did you measure this number? Did you insert a milliammeter into
the USB connection, or are you reading a power reading from the
software? If it's the latter I suspect you are confusing the input
power and the output power. Those numbers sound right to me so I
suspect the problem is elsewhere, unless you hacked a meter onto your
dongle. (That sounds harsh!)