Slightly OT, wireless innternet question

Please note, I'm no expert in wireless networking.
I have a main computer running XT that has a Siemens wireless router/high
speed modem that is supplied by Bell, I have another computer in my kids
room that is only about 10 feet away with a wireless card. The compute r in
the kids room is plagued with sudden disconnects from the wireless internet,
and frequently cannot even find the network. I have tried several wireless
cards, both internal, and external USB, and have even tried external
amplified antennas. Several months later, and about 100 calls to various
tech support, still no connection.
NOW HERE COMES THE INTERESTING PART:
I recently acquired a HP laptop, that has a built-in wireless card, and it
immediately connects to the network, without hesitation. I can be in the
kids room or half way down the block, and it still works.
So, considering the fact that I've tried many different types of wireless
cards, both internal, external, using both the internal "slots" and external
USB, would it be logical to assume that the problem must be in the kids
computer????. If so, where should I look?
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Kim
"the man with a girls name, and Frankenstein's body"

 

PS-
Kids computer is XP as well, and whenever I run the diagnosis for whatever
wireless card is in there, diagnosis says all is ok.
Kim

 

I had a similar problem and I removed every last vestige of Zone Alarm
even thogh it did not appear to be running and was not started in
startup or anything.
The problem went away and I cannot otherwise explain why Ii now have no
trouble like that.

 

In XP go to the control panel and turn off the firewall.
Tom

 

Check the below newsgroup for more than you probably want to know
about wifi.

alt.internet.wireless

 

A friend had a laptop (compaq, iitr) that simply did not work with a
particular type of wireless USB dongle. Her son in the next room had a
flawless wireless connection to the router, which was in her bedroom. The
problem turned out to be that the laptop wasn't supplying enough power for
the particular type of USB device. So, I suspect that WiFi requires lots
of momentary power to transmit. Perhaps the computer's power supply is
overloaded?

Is the router near your kitchen? Microwaves use the same frequencies to
cook with. An old microwave might be interfering somehow. Also, 2.4G
phones interfere with WiFi 802.11b. You may not notice it with the
laptop simply by chance. Changing the configured channel might help.

Since the room is only 10' away, one surefire way to fix it is to run some
cat5 cable, and use Fast Ethernet.

--
Regards,
Bob Monsen

At any rate, I am convinced that He [God] does not play dice.
Albert Einstein, In a letter to Max Born, 1926