Mouse and keyboard sit on a wide, stone table. Receiver is about ten feet away horizontally, and about four feet higher (it connects to the computer via a USB extension cable). It is sitting on top of a widescreen rear projection television.
Does it matter if it’s facing us edge-on? Or should it be orthogonal to the mouse/keyboard? If so, does flat or on its own edge make a difference? Vertical? Or from ten feet away should it receive more than enough signal?
We’ve had intermittent connectivity issues in the past, but that was when the receiver was below the plane of the table. If that shouldn’t have made a difference, could it be due to a crappy receiver? It was a low-end solution that’s been pressed into wider service. Would a better model make a difference?
The orientation can definitely matter, as can the environment of the wireless devices (e.g., next to a metal cabinet versus on a wooden shelf).
For you particular device, who knows what orientation is ideal? Experimentation is probably your best bet.
The sheer existence of the bulk object (TV) may have an effect, but I doubt the TV’s emissions would be a problem. Bandpass filters are wonderful things.
Especially when the signal’s polarization is reversed and then routed through the deflector shields!
I mentioned that it was a rear-projection TV in the arbitrary hope that it didn’t monkey with the wireless signal like a CRT would.
The receiver is connected via a 6’ USB cable. I can move it within a few constraints (i.e., can’t just stick it in the middle of th wall, it’s got to fit in subtly). I assume if the TV is producing too much noise, speaker wire/speaker will too, so no putting it in the corner of the room. But other than keeping away from electronics, should a ten foot or so distance alone make a difference?
The connectivity is a bit intermittent, so trial and error experimentation may be a bit unproductive. It’s currently face-on, though, and working. Now that I know orientation may be a factor, if it winks in and out I can change position and see if that makes a difference.
If I take the two halves apart and look inside, will the antenna be visible? If it is, will that tell me optimal placement? What if I hold it wrong; will Steve Jobs chide me?
I’ve never had problems with my wireless keyboard and mouse used on the computer hooked up to my TV. And it’s usually plugged in in the back.
It really depends more on qualities of the actual device. The frequencies. encoding, filters. and antennas it uses are all mitigating factors. Still, mine was a dirt cheap $30 set with a 30 ft range, and I only used it within 15 feet.
So far so good. It’s face on, as in the USB plug points towards the back of the television. It’s almost** line of site, save the top edge of the television.
