wireless signal booster

Boo77

New to forums, so please move if in wrong place.

We have a computor in the office connected to broadband, and 2 laptops upstairs using wireless. We live in a really old cottage with big thick walls and the laptops are struggling to get anything more than low or very low signals in the bedrooms. We cant move the BT 1800HG thing from the office.

What options have we got to increase the signal strength on the 2 laptops upstairs?

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks x

Browntoa

you can get a wireless access point

read here

http://www.netgear.co.uk/business_newnetwork_wirelessaccesspoints.php

If you work in a small office, a single wireless router (or wireless access point connected to a wired router) will probably provide more than ample wireless coverage to all your network users. This does depend on each environment though and cannot be guaranteed.
However if you work in a larger building, the wireless signal from a single wireless device may not reach all the rooms and floors. In this situation the positioning of one or more wireless access points will boost the signal around the building to ensure complete coverage, resulting in good network performance, to all networked users

espresso

Try changing the orientation of the aerial on the "BT 1800HG thing" so that it is horizontal rather than vertical or maybe at 45 degrees. The propagation will be highest in the direction at right angles to the aerial. Your walls may be thicker but the ceilings/floors should be similar to other properties.

Boo77

Thanks for your help. It doesnt seem to have an aerial unless I am just being dumb, it is just a black box.

It is called a:BT ADSL Wireless Router 1800HG for BT Broadband and can be found in the BT shop still.

As you can probably tell I am not very good with the technical side of computing! :mad:

GreenNotM

Can you mount the thingy higher up, on top of a book shelf closer to the ceiling ? Or more under where the laptops are upstairs ?

Ensure the thingy is not near any other wireless kit such as DECT phones microwaves etc..

espresso

Most wireless routers have an external aerial like the one shown on the BT Voyager 2110 Wireless ADSL Router below on the BT Shop site. You could still try changing the orientation of the black box as it will have an internal aerial.

Boo77

Not very easily, they laptops are the other end of the house (not that it is a big house) to the office with the computor and BT 1800HG.

guy999

Ive got a BT1800HG also.

Was actually thinking of buying new router as signal downstairs from the opposite side of house is poor.

But to be honest wasnt sure if spending money would be a waste since havent used another one before, so might not cure problem

Instead opted to upgrade from a belkin usb to a linsys card on special in Staples and works 100% better

Shaun_d123

I have a set of Devolo plug adapters which transfer data through your electrical sockets.

Excellent product and ive never had any problems.

Various similar devices available here
http://www.transparentcommunications.com/acatalog/HomePlugStarterKits.html

dc

The aerial will most likely be up the inside of one of the edges of the 1800hg, and that is why the box stands vertically.

The strongest signals will radiate horizontally, i.e. at 90 deg. from the vertical sides of the box, like ripples from a stone thrown into a pond, and will therefore be strongest downstairs. You could try lying the box on its side, or at an angle, so the signal points towards your upstairs laptops. Experiment.
Alternatively is it possible to move it upstairs? phone socket and cable to desktop maybe a problem.

Do you use USB or Ethernet from the desktop, the latter is usually recommended.

HTHs dc