Upgrade wireless network with router and/or network card?

I set up my home wireless network about a month ago but the signal strength is always very low, file transfer is VERY slow (transferring large files is important to me) and streaming media files are often interrupted. I have AT%26amp;T DSL and my 2WIRE modem is also my wireless router. My laptop is equipped w/the factory g wireless card. I want to upgrade my hardware to improve the signal and capabilities so I'm thinking of getting G+ MIMO or N hardware.





I want the least expensive but effective solution. Will upgrading the router but not network card but keeping the same router make any significant difference in performance? How about just upgrading the router? Or both? What is the approximate performance improvement of each of these options? Are there potential problems w/hooking up a separate router to a modem/router combo (even w/disabling wireless on the 2WIRE)?





I'm learning as I go with networking....not as savvy as I'd like to be so I appreciate the help!!

Upgrade wireless network with router and/or network card?
Wireless on these modems is always poor. Replace it with a combined router/modem, anything will give better wireless performance. Just make sure you mount the router as high as possible and clear of obstructions. Since the inbuilt card is limited to G do not go mad on getting a very expensive router, it will have no advantage.
Reply:First off, make sure you are connecting to YOUR modem. My son had a similar problem, and it turns out he just connected to the first thing he saw in the connect window. It was the neighbor's system, not ours.





Another thought, are you sure that your modem has wireless capability? I have AT%26amp;T, and got the cheap $49 modem because I already have a Linksys Wireless-G router that I got for Junior while he was away at school. The cheap modem does not have a wireless output, just the ethernet port.
Reply:What kind of wireless band are you using? ABor G? A has a limited range of distance and transfer rate. B-has at least 11mbps with and G-has a 54mbps. Make sure you have both G wireless band from router and your wireless divice.

cosmetic