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How do I extend the range of my Router?

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Comments

  • John_Gray
    John_Gray Posts: 5,845 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    An alternative to WiFi is the "Homeplug" mechanism, where you use your electrical wiring to transfer ethernet signals from one point to another. Works at around 70 Mbps (YMMV) for the 'turbo' variants (no, I have no idea why they have such an irrelevant/stupid name). Costs rather over £70 for two connectors.

    See if you can understand the diagrams here.

    My wifi router -> PC 'line of sight' was through the most complicated junction of floors/walls/water storage tank possible, and kept dropping out. Bin job. Homeplugs solved the problem reliably! (advt).

    John
  • sco0ter
    sco0ter Posts: 2,476 Forumite
    keithwales wrote:
    Morning all,

    I currently have a Netgear DG834G v2.

    As my house is old, the walls are two feet thick at some points, and the wireless signal does not extend to the furthest room where I hope to set up an office have broadband access there.

    QUOTE]

    What are you using in the recieving computers????

    If I use the inbuilt wireless on my laptop I only get 23% signal strength and speeds of 11MBps. If I use my Netgear PCMCIA card (108Mbps) I get 68%signal strength and speeds of aroung 64MBps.
  • keithwales
    keithwales Posts: 106 Forumite
    Hi scooter,
    Currently we run two pc's via a cable connection to the router. Don't know why but the wireless signal to this pc was unreliable, lost it completely on occasion. My wife runs her laptop through a wireless connection, this has been fine.
    Only drawback is that the wifi range is limited.
    Also, forgot to mention that my son has recently bought himself a wifi connection for his Xbox, this works well from the bedroom immediately above the room where our router lives (only floorboards to go through!).
  • albertross_2
    albertross_2 Posts: 8,932 Forumite
    This may or may not help, but if your router isn't running the latest firmware (3.01.25), it might be a good idea to update it. Also, if you have any neighbours using the same or nearby channels, that could cause interference on your selected channel.

    http://kbserver.netgear.com/release_notes/D102765.asp

    You can use netstumbler to see what channels are being used in your area.

    http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

    Try and choose a channel 5 channels away from your neighbours.

    Cordless phones and video senders can also cause interference if they are using the same 2.4Ghz channel

    Failing that, some of the latest netgear mimo routers have a much better range.

    http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WPN824.php
    Ever get the feeling you are wasting your time? :rolleyes:
  • nearlyrich
    nearlyrich Posts: 13,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Hung up my suit!
    I have just added an access point to my network because I had the same probs as the OP.

    I use Belkin wireless products and I have cabled the access point to the router because of the positions of various " features" around the house.

    I am now able to access the network at full strength from all around the house and even today the garden.
    Free impartial debt advice from: National Debtline or Stepchange[/CENTER]
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