LOL

I don’t think the issues you described are unique to you.

The DIR-825 I just set up, a Sony VAIO PC (touchscreen all-in-one) less than 20 feet away shows 60% signal strength.  That’s on the 5GHz AFAIK.   An HP laptop with a G radio perhaps 10 feet away showed 80% signal strength, that’s in the 2.4GHz band for sure.

Well, as I said, it was “OK” on speed and range – as in, it works OK for the 20x40 office it has to serve.

-Adam