Weak wireless signal

Whitegloves

I have a large 3 storey house and the wireless modem supplied with our Virgin broadband is fine in and around the room where it is situated but once you move to the other side of the house or upstairs to the third storey there is no available wireless signal.

I would like to make a strong signal available throughout the house, what is the best way to achieve this?

Many thanks, Ian.

macman

First thing to try is changing the wireless channel via the router's web interface.
Download and install InSSIDer to see what neighbouring networks are running on, then use something different.
But in a large house, or one with solid walls, you may find that the only cure is to use a pair of Homeplugs instead to reach the top floor.

Buzby

You don;t say what type of building this is - if a traditional build, or with thicker than normal brick or stone walls, this will reduce the signal considerably, not just from your router, but even to the mobile signal your cellular phone recieves.

The output from the router is pretty low anyway, but a good tip is always to locate this in the highest point in the house, ad this will give a greater footprint below and out into the garden etc. Alternatively a wireless or cabled repeater can often overcome these difficulties.

As macman notes, changing the channel is also worthwhile especially if adjacent WiFi units are causing interference, but if you do a scan and there are loads of SSID's recieved, this, ultimately will be your problem.

Whitegloves

The building is a traditional style build with thick stone walls and high ceilings. I need a wireless signal rather than the homeplug solution as we will connect via various tablets and handheld devices etc.

Is there some way of boosting the wireless signal through thick walls?

macman

You can buy a Homeplug that terminates in a wireless transmitter, so cable connection not necessary.
Are you already using wireless 'N'. What make/model of cable router?

Whitegloves

Not sure if it is wireless N, how would I check?

The router is a standard one supplied by virgin media it is the second one on this page.

http://shop.virginmedia.com/broadband/broadband-extras/wireless-routers.html

Sublime_2

Sometimes just changing the position slightly, or resetting does the trick.

yorkie98

If it does not turn out the be a channel issue and changing it does not help then we must assume that the construction of the building is attenuating the signal to a large degree.
There is a solution but it will require a small outlay.
You will need to start by either running a network cable or a pair of homeplugs to the area where you would like the signal improved. At the end of this link you will connect a wireless access point which basically creates a new wireless hotspot in this area which is connected to the rest of your network.
You can in theory do this as many times as you like so you can create multiple hotspts if that's what it takes.

HTH.

Timalay

What about buying a Homeplug, and using a Bridge point.

Shouldn't that work?

Also might be worth watching the bit the gadget show did about a month back (here), on how to improve your internet around the home.

peterpan567

I have the same problem, no connection in upper floors, I bought home plug, there are 2 versions - cable or wireless one, its cheap and useful thingie. my recommedation

Whitegloves

Have you got a link to a wireless homeplug?