Wireless Router ????'s

[shannonmac]

Ok I have a Mac G4 laptop with a built in airport card. We just got a netgear wireless router. Both the laptop and the wireless router are in the same room. We also got the best one they had that was supposed to have the strongest signal.
The signal is showing up really weak...and like I said they are both in the same room.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do or what I may be doing wrong?
We also have cox internet cable...if that helps..
thanks!
:rolleyes:

[corwyyn]

Check the signal output in the router setup - there should be a section on setting it and it may be on its lowest setting? What model netgear router did you get?

[shannonmac]

i think i have this one...i'm at work right now...but my boyfriend said it was acting up again....

http://www.netgear.com/Products/RoutersandGateways/RangeMaxNEXTWirelessRoutersandGateways.aspx

[Cave Gimp]

It also depends on where you have it located. If the router antenna is "hidden" by a desk or something that could cause a weak signal. Also TVs, cordless phones, microwaves, and the like can interfer with the signal, but sounds more like the router is set to a low setting. Also make sure you are reading yoru router, not your neighbors.

[k7mto]

A few other things you might consider to secure your wireless network, especially if you use it to connect into your employers internal network (or any private network you don't want compromised)...


Change your routers admin password so the neighbors teenage hacker-wannabe doesn't change it for you and lock you out of your own router (factory reset will get you back in).

Change the default router hostname to something other than "netgear" or whatever to something where you'l know it's yours versus your neighbors. Also, don't name it such that your neighbors will know whose it is (privacy is never bad).

Change the default ip address from 192.168.1.1 to say 192.168.19.1 or something. Doesn't matter as long as you stay within range determined by your netmask and you assign your PC IP's using the same subnet (192.168.19.x).

Enable encryption. There are a few options. Use the strongest encryption your "airport card" can handle.

Enable MAC filtering. Each wireless card has a unique MAC (hardware) address. Setup your router to ONLY allow connections from listed MAC addresses and enter all those for any computer you want to be able to connect.

[John_P]

Change the default router hostname to something other than "netgear"

Great point...Mine is: NOTYOURS :D

[k7mto]

Great point...Mine is: NOTYOURS :D

Perfect example. You know it's yours and neighbors only know it's not theirs :D

[SavageSun4x4]

Ok I have a Mac G4 laptop with a built in airport card. We just got a netgear wireless router. Both the laptop and the wireless router are in the same room. We also got the best one they had that was supposed to have the strongest signal.
The signal is showing up really weak...and like I said they are both in the same room.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do or what I may be doing wrong?
We also have cox internet cable...if that helps..
thanks!
:rolleyes:
The G4 IMO has never handled wireless as well as some of the other models. I have set up a LOT of G4s and it has always been a struggle to get them to effectively talk to non-Mac base stations/routers. Even Apple recommends the Apple base station as the most favored means of connections. That said:

You wireless card, how old is it? Did it come with the G4? Some of the early units only supported the early protocols whereas your new router appears to support both b/g and the draft 802.11n. It is however "backwards compatible" a common industry term that may or may not mean anything. However I doubt your issue is with Netgear, but rather the card in your Mac.

What Mac OS version are you running?

I haven't owned a G4 in sometime as I am running a G5 and most likely we are running different OS versions. Let me know the previous info and I will look to see if there are any notes over in the developers section. I especially need to know how old your board is.

[door3]

funny this should come up...
We just moved to NC (miss the AZ wheeling!) and got DSL and wireless.
I have found that 2.4ghz cordless phones disconnect the router when a call comes in and, believe it or not, my MS wireless mouse f's up my wireless too!

Check those out and good luck, because it burnt my butt for 3 weeks until I figured it out!!!!