Re: One reason why WiFi can be variable
 

It wasn't the metal case, but the metal music your router doesn't like :p

just kidding, I love OLD iron maiden albums too

Re: One reason why WiFi can be variable
 

It probably wasn't helping things. Both of my wifi routers are as high as I can get them with nothing around them. Both are on top of shelving units, one in the library, the other in the garage.

Re: One reason why WiFi can be variable
 

Oh, definitely.

Re: One reason why WiFi can be variable
 

Well, good to see some correct points being made here, others I'll chalk up to urban legend ;) .

I was involved with the IEEE 802.11 working group that develop the early incarnations of wi-fi so its near and dear to me. Of course that was the 2 Mbps version using Frequency Hopping rather then Spread Spectrum that 802.11 b/g is based. While I could get into all the gee-whiz gut wrenching physics regarding radio signals I will spare everyone :D, but I will say there are some common mistakes I see people make with wi-fi.

1) Most people tend to align the antenna incorrectly. A lot of those dipole antennas have whats called a fresnal zone right on top of them, which means none to very little radio signal is propagates out of the top of the antenna but instead propagates vertically from the sides. This usually is a problem for people who place their wi-fi routers in the basement and then point the antennas completely up and down at a vertical angle. If you're on the 1st or 2nd floor your wi-fi signal will be very weak, so if your wi-fi router is in the basement, adjust your antenna to be at a 45 degree angle and if you happen to be right above your wi-fi router then adjust your antenna to be horizontal rather then vertical.

2) Most people accept the default channel on the wi-fi router, unfortunately, as someone else mention in this thread, that increases you're noise floor with competing routers. So pick a different channel, but pick one that is 3 steps + or - from a competing channel. Unfortunately wi-fi channels overlap into other channels slightly with the non-over lapping channels being 3, 6 & 9. Being 3 steps away from another wi-fi will not cause RF interference.

Re: One reason why WiFi can be variable
 

Good points bac522.

Another little trick: people have a natural tendency to go "up the dial" when changing channels. You improve your odds of reducing interference by going down from the default.

Re: One reason why WiFi can be variable
 

Oh no, now you've gone and told everybody! I was happy with the ample room at the bottom... :)

Re: One reason why WiFi can be variable
 

ummm... d'oh?