On Wednesday 21 November 2007 07:15:24 pm DJA wrote:
> James G. Sack (jim) wrote:
> > Lan Barnes wrote:
> >> Now that Josh has suggested a way forward on my MythTV angst, I can
> >> return to my other CB HW challenge -- the wireless on Alex's new laptop.
> >>
> >> I could inundate you with all the experiments and research so far done,
> >> but it really comes down to two more steps. The machine is now in Fedora
> >> 8 ("F8"? sounds like a function key). I need to hand load the driver and
> >> see is I can get it up. If I succeed, I need to test whether it, too,
> >> sufferes from the original problem, inability to pick up a signal from
> >> the router unless it's in the same room.
> >>
> >> Any hints on testing to see signal stength received?
> >
> > What's the device name?
> >
> > /sbin/ifconfig -a
> >
> > (is it wlan0, maybe?)
> >
> > /sbin/iwlist wlan0 scan
> > If this gives
> > wlan0 No scan results
> > try
> > sudo /sbin/ifconfig wlan0 up
> > (this should make the word "UP" appear in the output of
> > /sbin/ifconfig wlan0
> >
> >
> > I'm told that the signal strengths reported by wireless devices is
> > somewhat (largely) uncalibrated -- possibly they should be only taken as
> > relative strengths, and only meaningful for _that_ particular hardware.
> >
> > Maybe others have more scoop on that?
> >
> > Anyways,
> > iwlist [device] scan
> > is the short answer.
> >
> > Regards,
> > ..jim (never a short answer)
>
> Yes. That's been a long ongoing topic on both the hostap/wpa_supplicant
> and networkmanager dev lists. How signal strength is measured,
> calculated and reported varies from chipset to chipset, with no
> consensus as to the degree of accuracy of any of them. It's seems to
> fall into the full vs. empty category: Either you get a usable signal
> our you don't. There is no empirical basis behind the meaning of bars.
> In practice, not too different from a cell phone.
>
> --
> Best Regards,
> ~DJA.
Going out on a limb here- how about hardware issue?
Having repaired any number of laptops, the built in wireless antennas are
located behind the display. you remove the rubber bumpers from the bezel
surrounding the screen, remove the exposed screws and pop off the bezel to
reveal the metal frame supporting the LCD display underneath. There are
usually 6 or 8 screws on the sides of the metal frame, 3 to 4 per side -
removing these allows you to tilt out the LCD display. Behind that is 2 thin
wires taped( !! ) to the backside of the lid's plastic case. Usually, they
are separated at 45 degree angles, starting from the bottom center pointing
out towards the top corners of the display, alternately there is only one
going from bottom corner to opposite top corner or forming a figure "S". If
one or both wires have become unstuck and fallen down behind the display,
this would seriously impact the ability of the laptop to pick up a signal.
Another place to check is at the card itself. Different brands have different
locations, but some still use the mini-pci wireless that has a cover over it
on the botom of the laptop. If so, remove the cover, unseat the card and
check the connection of the wire antenna. It's usually a simple pop in
connection relying on friction to keep it in place. Poor design but there you
go. If it came loose, that could be your problem. If you don't have the
access panel to the min-PCI card, you may have to go deeper, usually removing
the keyboard. google or check the manufacturers home page for a blow-up parts
diagram for that model.
hth
C,
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