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[michaelc]

Since about 2 weeks I own a 100Mbit Internet connection and since then I have been having problems with my wireless connection. But before I begin complaining and to be fair: At the point, where I got my new internet connection I owned a Netgear WNR3500. In my room, that is about 20 feet away where the router (line of sight, no walls), I got like 12 Mbit per second or less with every laptop I tried. I was lazy, so I bought the new Netgear router WNDR3700, which I thought would do the job. However, with the new Netgear router, I got like 9 Mbit per second at most in my room. While sitting next to the router, it sometimes went up to 60 Mbit /s, while dropping down to 1 Mbit /s or even below frequently. I called the Netgear support and with their help, I tried every possible option, to get a stable connection, but failed... So, there MUST be some interference in my place, that seems to be a problem.
Now, I bought the DIR-855 having heard MANY positive reviews stating, that the Netgear router of the newest generation do have a problem with wireless range, while the DIR-855 seems to work like a charm. I installed the router today. When everything was in place and configured, I started reviewing the speed, while sitting next to it. Wireless speed while sitting next to the DIR-855 was like 70Mbit, dropping to 20Mbit occasionally. I was impressed and happy UNTIL I went to my room (20 feet away, line of sight, no walls) and I could not connect to my new D-Link router. I could not believe it, so I tried every possible option (turning off 5Ghz, changing MTU, security changes, no security, changing channels, NAT off, port forwarding, static routing...). Nothing helped! If I step away more than 15 feet from this piece of crap (I just spent like 6 hours with this stupid piece of technology), the wireless speed drops to about 10Mbit. If i step away more than 18 feet, connection is not available anymore.

Am I too stupid setting up the DIR-855 or is the interference too heavy OR is the DIR-855 just the most expensive useless wireless device EVER?

[lizzi555]

...Am I too stupid setting up the DIR-855 or is the interference too heavy OR is the DIR-855 just the most expensive useless wireless device EVER?

Not exactly in this order.

First check for interferences:
- other wireless LAN with a tool like inSSIDer or netstumbler/vistumbler
- check for cordless phones near router or client
- check for bluetooth devices
- check all other wireless devices like babyphones, surveillance cameras, video transmitters and so on.

As all your routers show the same behavior it seems to be something in or around your house.
We had for example a surveillance video system from a company around 300 ft from our wireless which made it impossible to use 2.4 Ghz band. They killed everything with their strong signal.

Your client is also 5 GHz capable ? If yes, is it the same result ?

Move your router to another location (only temporarly in order to determine changes).
11N routers are no wonder machines regarding the range but 20 feet with line of site is nothing.

[DIR855 :-|]

I am not sure why at the moment but it appears that many of the Dual Band Routers (no matter the brand) seem to be suffering from poor wireless range and signal stability when compared to the G products (you can read about it on smallnetbuilder as they are experiencing this).

So you might want to try going down a step instead of up a step, ie instead of going from the 3500 to the 3700 and then DIR-855 </rolls eyes on this one>, try going backwards to an older router that only has wireless G.

[michaelc]

ok, I have got an update on the situation. Today I used the inSSIDer and got these results (btw, I used the inSSIDer in a place, where I NORMALLY have no wireless):

http://rapidshare.com/files/295141378/WirelessSignals.jpg.html

Does not look, like there is any interference. However, now to the interesting part: I deactivated the "Mixed 802.11n and 802.11g" and went to the option "Mixed 802.11g and 802.11b" (in the router setup). What happened? Now I got wireless in every corner of the house with best signal! YAY!!!!

BUT with every computer/notebook (all got an N-card) and I tried it with apple AND windows (vista and XP), I only get like 12MBit... Soooooo, what is going on right now?

[Lycan]

Since the B/G signal is only relying on the single signal (unlike the 802.11N which is 3 connections) it's easier for the B/G to offer expanded coverage. It's less impacted by wireless interference.

[DIR855 :-|]

I think (and rightfully so) people thought that N was going to be better in all aspects than G as it was a new generation standard.

I still think this is true but where this is all falling over is in the implementation of the new standard. No one can produce a wireless NIC that actually matches the stability of the G equivalents.

Interference will always exist no matter whether you are using N or G but the N nic's do not do enough at the moment to recover the original signal.

What is really frustrating for us customers is that [insert manufacture] push how N is much faster, comes with more anttenas, more wireless nics and Blah Blah, but when you take one of these products home and plug it in, you find that there are so many ifs and buts about these products that you wounder why on earth did you upgrade for.

Oh and by the way, under no circumstance, do an upgrade on the firmware, DLink have had two goes at releasing firmware for the DIR855 (1.20, 1.21), both will make your router unstable and you will not be able to flash back to the original.

[Syaoran]

Another problem with the N range is the finalized standard.  With the STUPID good neighbor policy crap in the final standard.  The N range has been limited purposely so it doesn't extend into places it's not wanted and to prevent interference with other networks.  Who ever thought up this good neighbor policy crap much live out on a far miles away from anything and everything.  I live in an apartment building with 9 other networks that all flood into my apartment.  My routers output on the 1.12 easily pushes then back but I couldn't even get enough range on N out of the DGL-4500 I had before it on the 1.2x firmware to get an N signal in my bedroom.  The good neighbor policy should be implemented as an option that can be turned on or off instead of being forced upon the general public.