[Keymaker]

Placement of your router is crucial. Do you live in a two story house or tri-level where you might have possible obstructions? Sometimes other signals can degrade performance too, for example; Cordless 2.4 GHz phones or wireless electronic equipment that commonly use the 2.4 GHz band.

There are many other factors that may be attributed to your signal loss. You may be able to remedy the situation by merely adjusting your software and/or hardware. Have you tried changing channels in your laptop and the router? Channel 11 is a slightly higher frequency, it may work better to cut through obstructions. However higher frequencies bounce off metal in all directions. You are not in a metal structure?