Ralink Technology Corp. Wireless Problems

[Ikranoid]

(sorry in advance if I have not provided correct information/used the wrong forum section/been an idiot and missed something obvious)

Hi, I've just moved my computer from downstairs (closer to my router) to upstairs (further from my router). The computer is a custom build and when I had it built I was planning on using it with an Ethernet connection (as it would be downstairs close to the router) - therefore I did not pay much attention to my wireless card: I added a cheap one just in case. Having moved the computer to a location with one plug socket and nothing else, I have had to use my wireless card. This is where the problem occurs - I am getting a connection that ranges vastly and frequently from 0.5 Mb/s to 10 Mb/s. This is extremely bad when compared to the connection experienced by phones placed in the same location as the computer, which get a solid connection of 20 Mb/s.

I am using a Ralink Technology Corp. 802.11n Wireless LAN Card.

I have updated the drivers, however from my research on the internet it appears that this may simply be an awfully low quality card. I am planning on sending my PC off for some upgrades and maintenance in March, however I would really appreciate some advice on how to increase the performance of the card and/or the best fixes I could make in the short term (e.g. USB antennae, replacement antennae for the card etc.).

Thanks in advance for any help and sorry again for my lack of experience with these forums.

EDIT: When looking for solutions I came across the Alfa AC1200 (couldn't get link to work, easy to find on Amazon) - I was wondering whether this or something similar would be a good option or whether (seeing as my card allows you to screw on antennae) I should be looking for new antennae to screw directly onto the existing hardware.

 

[bill001g]

If you have a internal card you have to be careful not to have the antenna blocked. Turning the computer in different direction may help. The metal of the case blocks the signal very well from one direction. If you stuffed it under a desk against a wall you are blocking the signal from almost all directions.

The ability to easily extend the wireless away from the computer with a cheap USB cable tends to be the advanage of USB devices. The only issue with USB devices is many are designed to run on laptops and run at low power to avoid running the battery down.

 

[Ikranoid]

If you have a internal card you have to be careful not to have the antenna blocked. Turning the computer in different direction may help. The metal of the case blocks the signal very well from one direction. If you stuffed it under a desk against a wall you are blocking the signal from almost all directions.

The ability to easily extend the wireless away from the computer with a cheap USB cable tends to be the advanage of USB devices. The only issue with USB devices is many are designed to run on laptops and run at low power to avoid running the battery down.

Hi, thanks for the advice
I had assumed that it wasn't the case etc. blocking the signal due to phones placed in the same location working fine, however that may have been a bad judgement call. Either way I have gone ahead and ordered a USB device to try and solve the problem without me having to put the computer in a weird position (as I am quite limited with space). If that doesn't work I'll go ahead and try the computer at all angles and if that fails I'll simply have to find a way to move it closer to the router.

Thanks again