Re: Wireless network range..
LinkSys… DLink…SMC… are all decent brands when it comes to homeRF equipment, but yes there always are those three of every one million design elements that are flawed (if the company is 6 sigma compliant 
) and PA might have been the unlucky customer.
I’ve used all three brands at different instances and have been satisfied. Right now I have a LinkSys PCMCIA with an SMC Barrigade and it works like a charm… at my folks place, they had NetGear wireless Router even b4 wireless became mainstream and it worked fine wven with that.