Daniel, the answer to the dilemma of your wireless connection issue, is go the way of an Airport Extreme or Express Base station for your Macbook Pro. In other words, Apple-to-Apple.
You cannot mix well, an Apple with an Orange. The reason is simple.
Most routers, considered as 3rd party (not "3rd class") devices in working with Apple hardware products like your Macbook Pro, are known to not work as well with Macs. Even Macs with the Intel processors like yours.
This is not to say that there are some 3rd party routers, that do work well with Macs, because there are. In fact Linksys, Netgear, D-Link and Belkin all make some decent Mac-compatible routers, but none, in my technical experience and opinion, compare to Apple's own Airport Extreme 802.11n and Express 802.11n Base Station series. They really are that good.
The issue you may be experience may be one of compatibility and functionality with your Macbook Pro and the wireless router you are currently using.
I too have been in such a situation, with my Intel Macs and 3rd party router (Linksys) before I had to switch to an Airport Extreme 802.11g Base Station myself for my own mixed Mac/PC network and have had no wireless connectivity or poor signal issues since.
Not only are the Airport 802.11n base stations easy to setup, they are robust in their connectivity, signal strength and reliability. Now like all high tech routers, they are not without their issues either. This is high tech after all. But because Apple is so pro-active, in putting out firmware updates in good consistent time frames, you will have a more reliable router designed to work with your Macbook Pro with the Airport Base Station.
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Now if you already have an Airport Base Station of either model series, and are experiencing the poor signal issue as a result, you will more than likely need to do several things to improve connectivity:
* Make sure you have updated your Mac OS X system to its most current version.
* Update to the latest firmware for your Airport base station (Using Software Updates in Mac OS X will get your Airport firmware updates or simply visit http://www.apple.com/support/airport/ (if Software Updates does not provide the necessary firmware update.)
* Make sure your Airport is also not set near any other electronic component or device, which could cause EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) and can adversely affect signal strength and connectivity of the AP base station.
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One final benefit (although there are more) I would like to point out to you about the Airport Extreme and Express Base stations, is that with the 802.11n MIMO (Multiple Input/Multiple Output) standard, the range of your signal and speeds is 4-5 times better than that of the 802.11g Airport base stations and 3rd party routers of that same standard.
What's more if you wish to extend that range you can combine base stations making one the Access point and the other the extender (in order to repeat or extend the existing signal). Plus, AP Base stations also work fairly well in conjunction with other routers in native or mixed networks.
So, maybe you may need to consider investing in an Airport Extreme or Express 802.11n base station for your Macbook Pro and use it as the main Access Point, while using your existing router as the extender for that wireless network. Just a thought.
For more information about Airport 802.11n Base Stations, here is the link to the Apple Store:
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/mac_accessories/airport_wireless?n=wifi&mco=MTM3NDk4MzE&s=topSellers
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And for the previous commenter on "using a sledge hammer on a Macbook Pro": I am a 12+ year PC veteran technician as well as 10 + year Sr. Mac Support Specialist, and at first I was like you too in regards to Macs; PC Savvy but maybe a bit Mac-immature.
Therefore, unless you really know the power and benefits of the Macbook Pro and all it can do, ignorance is certainly not bliss. Dell although good, does not replace the ever-evolving, versatile and ubiquitous popularity of the Macbook Pro.
After all, Apple's notebooks (including the Macbook Pro series) did not just achieve the 2010 Consumer Report's best notebook class, as top finisher, with a score of 86 points (compared to Dell who finished 4th with 56 points in same category), just by chance.
(View link: http://www.tuaw.com/2010/03/11/apple-tops-consumer-reports-tech-support-survey-second-place-n/) So not a potshot at ya Dark Phobos, but "don't Knock it, until you've tried it" (Pardon the pun:) ).
Best Regards,
-Mactechtrainer
"Need Quality Mac Technical Support & Training?"
Just ask the Mactechtrainer at: http://www.crossloop.com/Mactechtrainer