Q: I have a D-Link wireless router in my office on the second floor of my house and a computer in the basement. The signal I get is very weak and sometimes I don't get it at all. Is there some way to boost the signal?
Rolando Trujillo
A: There are a number of ways to extend the range of a wireless signal. There are devices, for instance, that serve as a relay point between your main wireless router and the computer. These gadgets pick up the signal from your router and rebroadcast it.
My guess is the easy fix for your problem would be to add a wireless access point somewhere between the basement computer and your wireless router. Here's a Web page that goes into great detail about options for extending the range of a wireless system: http://tinyurl.com/4hhn3jt.
Q: I loved reading about Internet-based TV content in one of your recent columns. You said you were connecting your HDTV to the Internet to get movies and TV shows. How well does that work? Would a wired connection be better than a wireless one?
Stacey Moore
A: I stream video to my home television using a DVD player that has built-in wireless connectivity. And at times I use a Boxee gadget (http://www.boxee.tv/buy) that lets me connect the TV to the Internet. Both work flawlessly with a wireless connection. But a wired connection would be even better. In fact, the manual that came with the Boxee unit recommends a wired connection.
A wired connection just isn't convenient for me and, since the picture I get is perfect with no freezes or glitches, I haven't bothered. In my home, my wireless router is no more than 25 feet from the TV. So I get a dependable strong signal. In homes where the router is at a great distance, a wired connection may be required.
Q: I'm running Windows XP on a desktop PC. The PC sometimes doesn't shut down using the command to turn it off. I sometimes have to use the power button. Do you have any ideas about what could be wrong?
Joe LaRocco
A: Joe, it could be a number of things -- a conflict with software, a hardware conflict, something wrong with your Windows installation, a bad device driver (drivers are tiny programs that control devices such as printers, video cards, etc.).
Check out this Web page: http://tinyurl.com/6mvn. It covers the problem in detail and may help you diagnose and fix your problem.
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Please send questions to Bill Husted at tecbud@bellsouth.net. Although he reads every e-mail, not all are answered. E-mails are selected for publication based on the likelihood the answers will be of general interest.
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