ibook has better wireless than powerbook?

[seans9]

So im on my powerbook which i get an OK connection, but then with my friend's ibook, he has full bars. Something HAS to be wrong with my powerbook, or is this normal?

My other friend had a powerbook and it got a connection where the ibook did as well...and mine got none.

If this is normal, that really sucks...and how can i increase my signal?

Thanks.

 

[Eniregnat]

My 12" PB seems to get better signal than my friends iBooks. Try orientating the PB differently.- Perhaps this is just me. For every reason it makes sense that the iBook would have better reception, it's antennas are not near mettle casings, unlike the PB.

Run KisMac, perhaps on both machines, to see what the actual signal strength is. Also iStumbler (has a cool top floating ghost window) and MacStumbler are simpler wireless utilities, but they have their place. Uses of these programs to get a less subjective/more substatiative view of the diffrence.

If you get really advanced, and you want to mod the battery pack on a PB (where the card plugs in) you can drill out part of the lip and connect a Pringles can antenna (they work, even better when incorporated with a yaggi antenna) . This is more trouble than it’s worth and I wouldn’t void my warranty or AppleCare plan. Pringles Can mods (really just 1/5 wave tubler reflectors with 1/4 or 1/2 wave antena) work best if both the base station and the computer have been modified. I don’t think you will find too much written about moding your PB for better reception online. Base station mods are all over the place (it's easy if your wireless router or Airport has an external antenna out.www.Airshare.org

Lasty, and perhaps most importantly, for better wireless reception, build a AFDB. Also good against certain high level surveillance methods used by the U.S. Government and by alien entities.

 

[mad jew]

Check and [URL=https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/118710/[/URL] out.

 

[mkrishnan]

If this is normal, that really sucks...and how can i increase my signal?

This *is* such a FAQ, as Mad Jew pointed out, but I'll just add that if you're not running Tiger yet, Tiger (at least for me, but I have an iBook and YMMV) has substantially improved wireless reception over every version of Panther I ever used (starting around 10.3.4 or 10.3.5).

 

[Eniregnat]

This *is* such a FAQ, as Mad Jew pointed out, but I'll just add that if you're not running Tiger yet, Tiger (at least for me, but I have an iBook and YMMV) has substantially improved wireless reception over every version of Panther I ever used (starting around 10.3.4 or 10.3.5).

I agree, it is always hard to search the forums first, though it should be SOP for all of us. Point noted.

I know the homebrew chip container solutions help a lot (also can be used for line of sight connections to distant cell towers using Motorola V series phones- same lucent connector). I don't know about the AFDB, but at least it is fashionable.

 

[mkrishnan]

I agree, it is always hard to search the forums first, though it should be SOP for all of us. Point noted.

Meh, when even wdlove can fall prey to it... But this is one that has come up on a biweekly basis for basically the whole time I've had my iBook. But your stuff about the battery area mod is something new to me...I've never heard of that stuff before. Although, if you don't see me reaching for a drill, try not to act surprised!

 

[PlaceofDis]

it does make sense that iBooks have better reception, and this has been discussed a length... if you think your book is having a larger issue take it in to an apple store