Crap Wireless Connection - HELP Please

mercman1969

What is the best option value for money wise?
What is a home plug, and how do they work?

GunJack

I think in your situation, adding an access point halfway between the two would be your best/most cost-effective option....no routing cables anywhere, just needs to be near a mains socket.

homeplugs work by using your mains electric wiring to send data around your house. Plug one in by your router, connet to your router with ethernet cable, and same at the other end into your pc. Doesn't always work, depends on how the house is wired. And cost more that an access point.

mercman1969

What is an access point and how do they work - are they secured with WEP?
Does it require a phone socket to work

GunJack

A wireless access point is a wireless sender and reciever. It recieves the wifi signals from your router and any wifi laptops/pc's and re-transmits them, thus extending the "natural" range of your wireless network. The only thing they need is a power connection to plug in the power supply, no phone sockets needed. So you can then position them wherever they are most effective to suit your house. Normally, about halfway between the router and the furthest wifi device, but you may find best results with it positioned slightly closer or slightly further away from the router. Once you've set them up, you're free to position them wherever suits best.

mercman1969

What is the best model to go for and where would be best place to buy from

debitcardmayhem

mercman1969 wrote: »

What is an access point and how do they work - are they secured with WEP?
Does it require a phone socket to work

I would opt for WPA not WEP for security. My earlier post shows an option of a wireless / homeplug combo (here about £50 thanks fifer) . Cheapest option is Ethernet (cat5/5e) wired to go upstairs (not expensive probably £5 max assuming the pc you have upstairs has an IP card ...most do if also wireless)

mercman1969

As far as I know neither computer has a wireless card
The netgear dongle thing is plugged into a USB port

debitcardmayhem

Access points can be had for about £20 , but they could cut down on the speed, but not in your case that is only important if you have 20+Mbps you only have 3 so not a prob there.

debitcardmayhem

mercman1969 wrote: »

As far as I know neither computer has a wireless card
The netgear dongle thing is plugged into a USB port

I think you got confused a bit there (prob my fault) I meant a wired ethernet port on the pcs, if you aren't sure let us know what the pcs are.

Savvy_Spender_South

For a true MSE option, a £5 cable from box to PC would provide best speed/cost/security but it does mean a"cable" in this modern cable free world we live in. Very Retro!