Using Home Hub as range extender

orlwaysbroke

I have a friend who has BT Total bband, using the Home Hub.

He lives in a bungalow.

The wireless coverage seems to be confined to the lounge (where the phone point and hub are) and the rooms which are in the immediately vicinity.

In other words, the wifi appears not to be able to pass through more than one wall!!

He doesn't want powerline or similar, he wants wireless ability over the whole home, and doesn't want to spend big cash on a network.

He has an old Belkin 54g router which is in good working order.

(Sorry for the ramble!!)

What options does he have??

How easy (and how do I find instructions!?!?) is it for us to use the Belkin and the Home Hub together to create better reception.
I'm sure I read that the Hub won't transmit to the Belkin, but can we use the Belkin as the modem and then use the Home Hub as a range extender??

OR has anyone placed their modem/router in the loft space in a bungalow to increase the range (plasterboard ceilings being thinner than thermalite).


Any coments gratefully received as we are getting greyer hair every evening!!!

macman

Where does he actually want to extend the range to, i.e. where is the PC/laptop positioned? In another downstairs room, in a bedroom, a shed at bottom of the garden?
Are the walls of unusually heavy construction?
I would try experimenting with the hub's position, try raising it up clear of other objects. What are you trying to connect to at the other end? If it is a USB wireless adapter plugged into the back of a PC or laptop, you could try using an extender on this to move it clear and improve the signal.

orlwaysbroke

The desktop PC he wants to connect is around 20 feet away from the hub, through 3 walls .

The hope was to utilise one of the router/modems as a range extender.

macman

Are we talking 20 feet away on another floor?
Distance is not so relevant, in clear space any wireless router should give much greater distance than that, but what is more relevant is what it's got to pass through on the way. Obviously solid walls are more resistant than plasterboard partition walls.
My own set up is probably 25 feet, but diagonally up one floor, and while it works, the signal is appreciably lower than it is anywhere on the same floor. Why not try walking round with a wireless laptop and seeing what signal strength you can get in various locations?
No doubt someone will be along shortly who can advise on the range extender.

bluboy

Sorry - not sure of the answer to this but there's some useful info here -
http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/homehubfaq.html

Or you may get more joy posting your question here -
http://www.filesaveas.co.uk/cgi-bin/forum/YaBB.pl?board=homehub

tomsutton529

I know you said he doesnt want to use powerlines, but I would. and this is how i would have it set up.

powerline into the room you want (eg the room with PC) then plug the powerline into the spare router (disable DHCP, same wireless name and key) this will give the PC a 100Mbs conection to the internet and then 54Mbps on the wireless that has just been extended as the new router is now like an access point so he will get more coverage.

other option include a bigger antenna for the main router or move it. but i would seriously got for the powerline option. I use it to get the network into my office and i have wireless there too (i did what i mention above), the wireless now cover the whole house, and i get a good connection in the atic.