Wireless PCI interferes with sound

[EOD]

I went to a wireless network so I could access the internet with my laptop and desktop at the same time. I chose a US Robotics 22 Mbs PCI card for my desktop. The network works great but whenever I am online with the desktop I get serious distortion with sound. It cracks, pops, and distorts whenever I try to listen to internet radio or watch movie clips. I am using Creative 5.1 speakers. Here is the brake-down of my desktop:

-Win XP Home with all updates
-Gigabyte GA-8IXHP motherboard (850E chipset)
-3.06 Pentium 4 (I have the HT enabled)
-1 Gig 1066 Kingston RDRAM (ECC not enabled)
-2 80 Gig WD Hard Drives
-Leadtek Ti4600 Ultra Video Card
-Audigy MP3+ sound card
-USB 2.0 PCI card (The only USB 2 card that will work with my canoscan scanner)
-US Robotics 22 Mbs PCI wireless adapter

I am not using the integrated promise RAID anymore. I have the audigy card as far away as possible from the wireless adapter. The wireless pci card is at the bottom PCI slot.

Can anyone offer some help?
Thank you

[pickel]

You only have this problem online. The sound is normal other wise?? Does your laptop , when online, exhibit the same problem ??

[excuzzzeme]

how close to your speakers is your AP?

[EOD]

When I am online I can listen to a CD and the sound is fine, its just when I try to listen to internet radio or when I try to watch videos (basicaly when the sound is coming from the internet). I only noticed it a few weeks ago after I set up the wireless and tried to watch the trailer for a movie, it just sounded terrible! I have a wireless ADSL modem/router (D-Link DSL-604+) and it is located approx. 15 FT away across the hall in another room. I only have the problem when I am online with the desktop. I do not have the problem with my laptop.


Thanks for the replies already!
Robert

[DanU]

There could be some interference between the wireless card and your sound card. Try moving the cards to different PCI slots so they are physically located as far apart as possible.

[EOD]

I considered that as well. I decided to move them as far apart as possible. I have the Audigy card as high up as possible, and the wireless PCI card at the bottom slot. It still did not help. I've tried everything I can think of, I've even written in to both Creative Labs and US Robotics. I have not heard from them yet.

Thanks for the reply!

[Ruahrc]

Does it apply when you're downloading something too? Like say you're downloading a file and playing an online game or watching a movie.

My logic is that I've heard the Audigy is very sensitive to PCI bus overload (or some technical term derivitave thereof) so maybe your wireless card (when very busy) is flooding the PCI Bus and causing the pops and clicks.

I am pretty sure the solution was to increase the PCI latency by a little. I think the default is 32, try values like 64 or 128, 256, etc.

Just a thought

Ruahrc

[EOD]

I am somewhat computer literate. I can build them and set up/load OS's and BIOS. I tend to stick with the recommended defaults but I am a little unclear about changing the PCI latency. Is this done through the BIOS or the device manager?

Thanks Ruahrc, I really appreciate your reply!

[MTAtech]

Personally, I do not think it is related to the wireless. The signals are digital, so either you get a connection or you do not. It will not distort the transmission the way an analog radio will. Otherwise, the video and downloads will be corrupted too. If that isn't happening it is something other than the network wireless connection.

[EOD]

It is strange because it happens every time I access the internet. My PC conects to the wireless modem as soon as I turnthe PC on. I even tried to play music on media player 9, then while it was playing I opened up Internet Explorer. I then went to microsoft and downloaded something. During the download my music started to crackle and pop. Basically it seems to happen whenever The wireless PCI card receives a signal.
????
I just cant seem to figure this one out.