[Basic Issue] = Connection stability (frequent dropouts) ans signal strength
[Standard Used] = 802.11 b/g
[PC/Laptop Vendor] = Acer Travelmate Laptop P453 BA50
[Drivers] = 15.7.0.3
[Router Vendor/Model] = Dlink DIR-655
[ISP] = Earthlink
Brand New laptop. Will only connect with router within 20 feet. Once connected can move up to one room away, but spurious disconnects increase. Will disconnnect when sleeping, and will not reconnect until returned to the area within 20 ft of the router. Reports anywhere between 1 and 150 Mbps - while sitting in the same spot next to the router. Also shows corresponding signal strength variations between 3-5 bars, while sitting next to the router.
My old laptop is still on, sitting acroos the house, reporting full signal strength and 300 Mbps. Atheros network card on that one.