"snarlydwarf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Just a general FYI, with 802.11 devices, 'Strength' is sort of a > meaningless number. It's slightly useful in if it's "very low" that is > a problem, but the real number that matters (which most devices won't > really record) is 'signal quality'. > > Microwaves, cordless phones, wireless alarm systems, neighbors on close > channels, all contribute to noise, lowering the quality of the signal, > but not the strength.
I not only concur, but I will add that there's a bunch of other things that can cause problems. For example, metal surfaces nearby causing reflection or refraction, or the ever popular "multipath". I pretty much did everything for a certificate in wireless networking (CWNA) except take the test, and notwithstanding that, I gave up and wired my Squeezebox because of dropouts. Didn't have them bad at first, but got worse over time, to the point where I just couldn't take it anymore. And like the OP, I had good signal strength, and my wireless bridge that the SB was connected to was a foot or two from the ceiling of the 1st floor, and almost directly above it, 3-4 feet off the carpet on the 2nd floor sits my wireless router/AP. I would definitely suggest changing channels, as it may be a strong signal from one of your neighbors. In the U.S., much equipment defaults to channel 6. Try Channel 1 or Channel 11, as those have the least overlap with 6 (they are the "farthest away", so to speak). Try moving antennas around, and bear in mind that the signal radiates outward from the long side; i.e., in theory, antennae that are "parallel" to each other should talk better than ones whose ends are "pointed" at each other. Avoid large flat pieces of metal (amp cabinets, maybe?) nearby if at all possible. Of course, it may indeed be a problem with the Squeezebox itself. I have a SB1 not a 3 at the moment, but IIRC the 3's have the dual antenna? Perhaps check that both are enabled... Ed [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
