[fatdragonincp]

I always put my Streak next to my notebook in the office. The notebook can always detect good signal from the wifi but the streak has no signal at all.
Is there anyway to strengthen the receiving signal of the Streak?

[fester61]

Originally Posted by fatdragonincp

I always put my Streak next to my notebook in the office. The notebook can always detect good signal from the wifi but the streak has no signal at all.
Is there anyway to strengthen the receiving signal of the Streak?

Yep, get it away from the laptop, computers generate strong magnetic fields that interfere with radio waves. Test the signal strength after you've switched the laptop off and moved it out of the way.

Be realistic about the abilities of a device with a very small aerial (no puns or physical comparisons, please). They are remarkable devices but they are a compromise on just about everything.

[popatim]

is the laptop getting a class N wireless signal? The steak is b/g and cannot even see a class N which might explain the 'No Bars'.

[fatdragonincp]

Thanks. So is there any apps that can strengthen the receiving power of the Dell.

[WyndStryke]

What channel is the laptop sending on, and which class is it? B/G/N?

[fester61]

Originally Posted by fatdragonincp

Thanks. So is there any apps that can strengthen the receiving power of the Dell.

Install wifi analyzer from the market it will show you what channels you should use, but bear in mind thats no good if the access point isn't yours. If there are a lot of wifi access points nearby you will have signal issues.

It will also show you the strength of the signal the streak is receiving. The strength of the signal being received is not a software function so there isn't an app that will increase the signal strength.

[WyndStryke]

The channel is also significant - some channels are not permitted in some geographies*, and as a result some versions of android will not look at these channels. So if the laptop is transmitting on an 'illegal' channel, the streak may not even be scanning it.

It's a pity that fatdragon didn't respond to popatim's question, because that is equally likely to be causing an issue.

Wifi Analyser is an extremely useful app, good suggestion from Fester there.


* Channel 14 is only permitted in Japan, and 11 & 12 I think are not permitted in the USA.

[fester61]

Originally Posted by WyndStryke

The channel is also significant - some channels are not permitted in some geographies*, and as a result some versions of android will not look at these channels. So if the laptop is transmitting on an 'illegal' channel, the streak may not even be scanning it.

It's a pity that fatdragon didn't respond to popatim's question, because that is equally likely to be causing an issue.

Wifi Analyser is an extremely useful app, good suggestion from Fester there.


* Channel 14 is only permitted in Japan, and 11 & 12 I think are not permitted in the USA.

Trouble is most access points will support b/g and n, as long as the access point is not set to n only, unlikely but not impossible, the streak shouldn't have a problem.

Is the laptop a works machine? It's also possible that the access point is configured for known MAC addresses only. If the streak's MAC address hasn't been added to the access point then it'll never connect.

Go sit under the access point and see what happens, no signal would mean the access point is either:

set to n only
filters for MAC addresses
is in adhoc mode (the streak doesn't natively show adhoc networks)

[fatdragonincp]

Thanks all.
I used to receive the Wifi signal before but since the signal is too weak so I cannot receive the signal most of the time.
Is there anyway instead of upgrading the router but to strengten the dell receiver?

[fester61]

Originally Posted by fatdragonincp

Thanks all.
I used to receive the Wifi signal before but since the signal is too weak so I cannot receive the signal most of the time.
Is there anyway instead of upgrading the router but to strengten the dell receiver?

Simply put, no. A hardware solution would be complex and probably cost quite a bit.

If you got it before then something has changed, have you moved desks or has the office had a move round? Filing cabinets, vending machines, photocopiers will all affect the signal or worse a microwave oven.

Can you connect if you take your streak closer to the router?
If the router is against a wall you could construct a reflector that concentrates the signal in a single direction have a look here:

YouTube - Free Wi-Fi Booster

YouTube - Free Wi-Fi Booster

looks daft but it does work. This could also work at the streak end but really would look daft. A more acceptable solution might be to replace the routers aerial with a more efficient one.
Final quick and dirty with a very small chance of success, reboot the router.