[tlug] Setting up a Reliable Local WiFi Network

["Stephen J. Turnbull" <stephen@example.com>]

CL writes:

 > ROUTER AND WLAN:  First off, the Net connection is FLETs ADSL 40.  

I gather you have a separate ADSL modem, which connects to the router
by ethernet?

 > Router is a Buffalo WHR-G300N.

 > Signal strength within both floors of this building ranges from a
 > high of 99% to a low of 85% ... and on to zero last evening.

If you're getting signal strength of zero that sounds like hardware
issues, probably with the router.  It could be a foreign hardware
issue, too.  Maybe the KCIA is beaming microwaves at your house, or
you just have a neighbor who's hacked her WLAN power into the kilowatt
range so she can have a nice tan year-round.

 > WHAT PREDATED THE RECENT PROBLEM:  Our house has a 1DK apartment on the 
 > second floor and the main purpose of the wlan is to allow the tenant 
 > Internet access.  Last night , we fired up one of the Kubuntu ThinkPads 
 > in the apartment,

Was that the first time you did this?  If not, I really have to
suspect hardware issues with the router.

 > 2.  Rebooting the router.
 > 
 > 3.  Rebooting the modem.

If there's a configuration or hardware issue, rebooting probably is
not going to help.  You should try firing up the config utility for
the router, and the modem if it has one (unfortunately the FLETS
modems usually come as black boxes painted white; there's a POST and
that's all you get).  It probably has a self-test mode as well as a
other diagnostic utilities.