Increasing wireless coverage

DazedAndConfuzed

Hi all,

I've got a standard Sky router in the lounge connected to my main pc and giving out a wireless signal to most of the house. I've also got a 2nd pc that sits in the spare room connected to the router via ethernet cable.

My bedroom is above the spare room but doesn't get any wi-fi signal so I'm looking at how best to get a second piece of kit (wireless AP I guess?) to cover the black spots in the house.

Any and all suggestions appreciated!

Cheers

:beer:

TonyMMM

You could use a "wireless repeater", which can be bought as a specific device, or if you have a spare router you can use that (can be tricky to set up). Or you can use Homeplugs (power line adapters) which use your exisiting electicity cabling as a network cable.

I'd go with the homeplugs everytime.... very easy.

DazedAndConfuzed

Hi, thanks for your reply. My understanding of Homeplugs are they are great if the 2 PC's are plugged into the same electrical ring (i.e. on the same floor) but not if they are separate floors or need wireless?
Am thinking that a wireless repeater is the way forward?

GunJack

a wifi access point would be the answer, but before you do download inSSider and see if a change of wifi channel to a less congested one may help. Run this on the pc in the room thats giving you problems. It shows which routers are broadcasting on what channels. It may be that your router's wifi is just getting blatted out by a neighbour's

http://www.metageek.net/get_inssider_today/

nicka99

I installed one of these in repeater mode. works a treat.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002YETVVE

gonzo127

you can actually now get homeplug - wireless adaptors http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-Link-DHP-W307AV-PowerLine-Homeplug-Wireless/dp/B004KPLKO6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318933241&sr=8-1

DazedAndConfuzed

Hi nicka99, that's excellent, thanks. If I plug the ethernet cable into the device I wouldn't be able to connect my (non-wifi) pc in the spare room onto the network though, any ideas?

googler

DazedAndConfuzed wrote: »

Hi nicka99, that's excellent, thanks. If I plug the ethernet cable into the device I wouldn't be able to connect my (non-wifi) pc in the spare room onto the network though, any ideas?

Network port splitter or ethernet hub. Both on Amazon

DazedAndConfuzed

Excellent, thanks all

nicka99

DazedAndConfuzed wrote: »

Hi nicka99, that's excellent, thanks. If I plug the ethernet cable into the device I wouldn't be able to connect my (non-wifi) pc in the spare room onto the network though, any ideas?

the network socket on this unit is for using it in 'access point' mode rather than repeater mode. in 'repeater' mode, you dont plug it in to your existing wireless router so you can keep that connected to your non-wifi pc. you put the repeater halfway between where the wireless router currently sits and the part of the house where you have no (or poor) signal. the repeater simply boosts the signal between your existing wirless router and the device its wirlessly connecting to (laptop/ipad etc).

it does require configuring before use however as needs to know the security details/ssid etc of your existing wireless kit.

nicka99

nicka99 wrote: »

it does require configuring before use however as needs to know the security details/ssid etc of your existing wireless kit.

in the 'reviews' section of the aforementioned product on amazon is someone who also has a sky router and set it up in 'universal repeater mode' and some other details that may be useful for your scenario.