HP Pavilion DV WI-FI range issue

Hi Guys! I have an issue with an HP Pavilion DV1688 US. It has an Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG . I have a good wireless router in my home, and my brother has a toshiba laptop. Hi's wi-fi range is way better than my HP. Does anyone knows why my HP dv1688 has so limited connection over the wi-fi network?

If I put the HP besides my brother's Toshiba, while the Toshiba has a very good connection, the HP points that the strengh of the connection is low.

Thanks in advance!

 

Better antennas in the Toshiba?

 

Hey WackyT, thanks a lot for reply so fast. There's a chance of the internal antenna being disconnected or something like this?

And if not, is it possible to upgrade the antenna to a better one?

Thanks a lot mate!

 

Checking the antenna connection should be the first thing to do.

Installing new antennas are a possibility. I know the HP in my signature only has 2 small circuit board antennas in the LCD hinge area. If you ran antennas into the LCD housing, like Dell does, it might increase range a bit.

 

Hi again WackyT, thanks for replying.

I was looking my hp and I didn't find out a bay door to open and check out the antenna connection, like there's a bay for the memory and a bay for the HD and so on. Do you know if the wi fi antenna is easy to reach or not? How could I check out if the antenna is connected ok?

Thanks a lot pal!

 

WackyT, man, I have just founded out what's the bay for the mini-pci wireless card and I founded that what I think it's the antenna is connected to the card. But I don't think that the antenna goes around over the LCD.

Do you have any advice?

Thanks in advance!

 

If you're using Windows, go to Device Manager, bring up the properties of the wifi card, click on Advanced panel. See if there's an option for you to choose which antenna to use (main or aux). Sometimes choosing one and not running both seems to give better reception. Worth a try.

 

If your HP is like my old one, if you pop off the cover over the hinges you'll see 2 small circuit board, one on each hinge, that are the wireless antennas. What you could try is to desolder the boards, connect the shield to the laptop frame, and run a wire connected to the middle wire up into the LCD housing. Just make sure not to short it to any metal in the housing.

 

You will probably find the sensitivity is not as good as your toshiba. Your antennas could have a play if they failed to connect them. My bet is the radio (AP) is not as good and/or has less power. May check all of your settings and make sure it is running on full power. A lot of drivers are powered down or run on less power if on battery.

I have a Raylink 2500 in my Averatec, it is junk, want hardly reach 10'.

 

Thank you guysm I really appreciate the attention of you all.

I will study yours advices and I come back with some positive or negative new.. hehe

Best regards to you all!