Wireless signal

si_man_2

Wireless signal

I have a problem with the signal strength from my wireless router.

I have a standard Netgear wireless router attached to my PC in an extension at one end of the house (upstairs). !I would like to be able to use the wireless features on a laptop/ipod/psp etc... in the living room, about 50 meters away (downstairs).

The problem is the signal strength. !There are four walls in between the two points and if I have all the doors open and sit in a certain place, I get a reasonable signal. !I would like to close the doors and be able to sit anywhere downstairs.

I've been looking at solutions but have got a bit stuck.

I don't think I can use the powerline sort of thing because the extension is not on the same circuit as the rest of the house (which I understand is what it needs).

Should I just buy one of the "max" routers that offer better coverage? !I've seen info on bridges and extenders but I'm not sure I fully understand how they work. !Would a new antenna on my existing router do any good?

If anyone has a spare few minutes to advise what they would recommend, what equipment to use and how it all plugs together, I would be very grateful.

My aim is to be able to access wifi in a room where there is no computer or phone line, some distance from the router.
Cheers!

DCFC79

You could buy a max router but then whnat if it doesnt work and you then have an expensive doorstop, not sure what other options there are, is the problem you get a signal but its poor or can you nto get a signal

[Deleted User]

Dare I suggest buying something like the following and returning it within 30 days if it doesn't solve your problem?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-DGN2000-Wireless-N-Router-Built/dp/B001E1UGOE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Reviews look good for signal strength issues...

DCFC79

Deleted_User wrote: »

Dare I suggest buying something like the following and returning it within 30 days if it doesn't solve your problem?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-DGN2000-Wireless-N-Router-Built/dp/B001E1UGOE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Reviews look good for signal strength issues...

didnt think you could open something like that and return it if it wasnt faulty but clearly im wrong

kwikbreaks

It is possible to run a wireless access point as a range extender. I've never tried this personally though.

http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=wireless+extender&hl=en

Leopard

It's always difficult to advise people on solutions without knowing the layout and characteristics of the property but, from how you describe these, I think it's likely that you would be able to use powerline adaptors. Call Solwise and discuss it with them; I always found them very friendly and helpful to deal with. Their number is at the bottom of the web page.

If powerline adaptors would work for you, what you'd need is one of these (or these) in your extension, close to the router, and one of these) in your living room (or sited strategically to give you wireless in the area that includes your living room).

But you'd always get a better result if you can run Cat5e or Cat6 cable from your extension to the living room – moving your wireless router to the living room.

elvch01

I use a "homeplug" wireless access point which connects to my "main" wireless router and extends the network over the house mains wiring to a 2nd wireless access point which I can plug-in to the mains anywhere in the house to extend the wireless coverage to that part of the house

si_man_2

Thanks for all of your comments. I like Leopard's recommendation of the Solwise website, I'll give them a call. I'll also check out the returns policy of several retailers to see if a new "max" router would also do the job. Cheers.

macman

Have you tried just changing the wireless channel on the router? I don't hold out any great hopes that this would increase signal strength, but it would cost you nothing but a few minutes to try it.

si_man_2

Cheers Macman, yes I've tried that but without any significant effect. Thanks for the tip.

fiendishlyclever

Not a solution to the problem but you realise that using an ADSL modem on the end of an extension will often result in a lower connection speed.

I found a significant difference between using my ADSL modem in the master test socket and various extensions around the house. Perhaps moving your router would be the best option and give you a better connection rate.