[kwlug-disc] Tip: USB WiFi dongles

[B.S.]

Any change in behaviour of the internal Wi-Fi as a result of the channel
change?


On 08/30/2017 07:45 PM, Khalid Baheyeldin wrote:
> Got it re: antennas. Though the USB dongle is really tiny. It is the same
> size as a mouse's dongle. Not much room for an antenna, unless it is
> looped over and over.
> 
> Thanks about the hint to auto channel. Changed that, and the router
> selected a different channel, though the other conflicting router's
> signal was weak.
> 
> On 8/30/17, B.S. <bs27975.2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> You switched adapters, and therefore, by definition, antennas. (Thus Bob
>> & Charles point.)
>>
>> I get that you didn't need an additional external antenna. And not to
>> say the antenna in the dongle is all that big.
>>
>> I wonder, given Charles & Bob's points, and AFAIK electronics like
>> internal Wi-Fi chips don't degrade, they either fail or haven't yet,
>> whether the connection between your internal Wi-Fi adapter and internal
>> antenna degraded from laptop lid opens and closes over time.
>>
>> Given Bob's point, you might see if your router is set to auto-channel
>> select. I can't speak to the efficacy of such, but I have seen where the
>> number of routers and channels in the neighbourhood changes over time,
>> and years later I've had to switch to a (now) less congested channel
>> than the least congested channel I choose at time of installation.
>>
>> Mayhap a bit of Velcro on the dongle to the top of the laptop near the
>> hinge would improve reception while tucking the 'tail' out of the way.
>>
>>
>> On 08/30/2017 01:33 PM, Khalid Baheyeldin wrote:
>>> On 8/30/17, Charles M <chaslinux at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Khalid we've noticed this with different laptops on the same shelf -
>>>> some
>>>> get a stronger signal than others. Whether it's how they implement the
>>>> antenna (usually around the screen) or the wireless chip itself, we
>>>> haven't
>>>> investigated yet. As you've pointed out we've had better success with
>>>> external Wi-Fi+an antenna.
>>>
>>> I did not need an antenna at all.
>>>
>>> Just the $2.20 USB dongle and things are back to good speeds and good
>>> range.
>>>
>>> Only drawback is that you have to wait for a month to get it.
>>>
>>> And nothing outside the ordinary to fiddle with.
>>>
>>> Just go into the Network Manager icon and disable the built in adapter,
>>> and then configure the USB one (which SSID to connect to, password,
>>> then make it the default). That is it. No drivers, no settings, ...etc.