Well NielsBohr, switching to channel 1 seems to have solved my problem. Packet loss is now down to around 2%, so I can live with that as little as I use wireless. It sure beats the heck out of 60% loss! I'm sure I will hear a "I told you so" from Hubrisnxs, who felt it was a noise (or interference) problem all along. I guess I was lead in the wrong direction by NetStumbler, indicating channels 6 & 11 were low on noise. I guess you can't believe everything you see 
Thank you both for your help.
