Recognizing other network connections in the area

[memory]

In my desktop I have a Linksys PCI adapter that only picks up the network I am on. My cousin brought her laptop over and she picked up about 6 different connections without having to do anything.

How was she able to pick up so many where as I could only pick up the network I am connected to?

Off topic a little but on my adapter the antenna fell out and it will not stay in too good, it will stay in but it can fall out real easy. If it gets moved the wrong way, my signal strength gets weak. Has this happened to anybody else? Can this piece be glued back together?

 

[lawson_jl]

Dude you answeared your own question with the sentence that started "off topic" in your post. It's likely that on the floor your not getting a good signal from anything but your own and with a damaged antenna that certainly doesn't help. You really do need a good connection with your antenna to pick up all but the strongest signal. Also I would imagine that your friends laptop was up higher then your computer PCI slots are.

 

[memory]

Even before the antenna messed up, I only was able to pick up my network. Even with the messed up antenna, I am receiving full strength.

What do you mean by her laptop was up higher than my pci slots are? Do you mean a higher floor than where my computer is? I am currently on the top floor. The higher the better, right?

 

[dznutz]

some cards have better range than others. not sure if it's still true now but a year ago atheros was considered much better than intel for laptop wifi and consistently as it was able to get better signal strength and range.

another possibility (although unlikely) is that the people in your area configured their routers to send out certain connections only. for instance i've got mine sending g signals only. so if you only support b, g and your friend can use b, g, n then with some folks in your neighborhood using only n then you should see less connections.