[TriLUG] WiFi quality monitoring

[Igor Partola]

Sorry, need to clarify some things as the terminology here is getting
unfamiliar for me:

> If it's an intermod problem, it's overloading the receiver, putting it
into non-linear operation. I expect that you'll need 10mV or so (not sure)
of received signal to do this. Changing your transmitter isn't going to
affect this.

So my laptop is overloading the router's Wi-Fi module by transmitting to
it? Or an external non-Wi-Fi signal is overloading the router's Wi-Fi
module? Or do I have that backwards? And the 10 mV of received signal is
going to put the router into overload? What's a typical voltage when
receiving the signal? Should I try putting the original antennas back on to
see if the problem goes away?

As for hams in the area, I honestly don't know if there are any. This
neighborhood could certainly contain some. There is also a rock quarry and
a few construction trucks in the area doing work on people's houses so I
wouldn't be surprised if they used walkie-talkies or CB radios. I am pretty
high up on a hill as well so I could be catching some other type of RF
signal. In my ideal world I'd love to grab a spectrum analyzer and see
what's going on over time, but unfortunately that would be an expensive
attempt.

Don't see any yagi's around, but the area is pretty wooded so I cannot see
much at all. The house was built 16 years ago and has wood siding. I cannot
say what kind of insulation it has under the siding. The router sits in a
corner where both walls are outside walls.

Thanks again!
Igor