All,   A Dell Technician arrived yesterday and replaced the wireless card. The wire going to the card uses a screw for the connection and the screw was loose.   They mentioned that the reason for the intemittent connection was when appling a little pressure to the bottom of the laptop the wire would make enough of a connection to function.However, it probably wasn't the card at all.   After replacing the card, I still could not connect.  I mentioned that I had performed numerous configuration changes that had been suggested before calling the Dell help desk and had observed the changes made by the help desk and had mentally noted that they had turned off an item that had never been mentioned in any of the communications on this forum.   The Tech suggested we enable it and see what happens.  We enabled and it is up and running.  In fact it has a better connection than my old computer--go figure, the old computer is a 2005 vintage Inspiron 9300.  The problem has been resolved.   Thanks for everyones help
My new computer was delivered December 21, 2012.  Imagine my surprise that I can't connect to my wireless connection unless I am less than 10 feet away from the AT& T wireless router.  There are 3 computers 1 floor up and 30 feet away that can connect, so I know it isn't that the signal isn't strong enough.  Please help me fix this so I don't have to send this computer back.  My Inspiron 9300 that I have had since 2005 can connect and I am using it right now.  Here's my specifics. 17r SE 7720 Windows 8 1 T hard drive 8 G RAM 32 G SATA Drive Inter N-2230 AT&T internet wireless router. The new computer will hook up when extremely close to the router but it does lose the signal occasionally even though I am only 10 feet away.
17R SE 7720 Windows 8 n2230 drops wireless signal