Is there such a thing as a wi fi booster?

Equaliser123

Hi. Again an apology for a hijack.

I've got a (Talktalk) Huwaei Echolife 520b router. Its wireless range isn't great at all - probably not helped by the fact that it doesn't have an external antennae.

I've tried 'extending' the range with a Tenda W311R+ router but haven't been able to succeed.

Does anyone know if I would be better off with a TP-Link TL-WA730RE extender or am I better off buying a new ADSL router to replace the Huwaei and trying to get a same-brand extender? I should add that I am looking for real ease of setup!

Many thanks

Lifeforms

When you get them free, they generally aren't so good, and you often don't even get the choice of different routers you can get instead of. The only thing that makes them useful, is they often come "pre-configured" with your username/password/wifi password etc. However configuring one from scratch honestly isn't so scary, and with masses of guides, and even the router manuals can show you how to do it.

It is worth going and buying a decent router outside of what your isp throws at you for free *(or free with P&P).
I'd hedge a guess that a repeater is going to be a non-starter and an access point will only transmit a dismal signal.

A poor signal isn't just down to the router itself. It could even be down to the fact that walls are too thick (my problem in my current place), if the signal next to the router/in same room is fine, then taking it further away means it degrades to unusable levels, then an access point would be a good idea (remember there will have to be a long cable to where ever you situate the Access point from the router). If the signal (from a couple of wifi enabled items, laptop, mob phone etc) is awful next to the router, it's the router almost certainly, then the option there is to replace the router. (This isn't to say you wont need an access point in addition to new router, if you can't test how good your signal is far away)

espresso

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Hi. Again an apology for a hijack.

I've got a (Talktalk) Huwaei Echolife 520b router. Its wireless range isn't great at all - probably not helped by the fact that it doesn't have an external antennae.

I've tried 'extending' the range with a Tenda W311R+ router but haven't been able to succeed.

Does anyone know if I would be better off with a TP-Link TL-WA730RE extender or am I better off buying a new ADSL router to replace the Huwaei and trying to get a same-brand extender? I should add that I am looking for real ease of setup!

Many thanks

It would be far better to understand why you did not succeed before buying any more equipment. You will need to describe exactly what you did, before anyone can give you assistance.

Did you connect the Tenda W311R+ to your Huwaei Echolife 520b via Ethernet cable or try to use it in repeater mode? If the former, did you disable DHCP on the Tenda W311R+?

The Tenda W311R+ is 802.11n but if the devices connecting to it are only 802.11g then you will not get the benefits of 802.11n.

I really don't understand why you think that buying another similar device e.g. a TP-Link will help you succeed.

Equaliser123

espresso wrote: »

It would be far better to understand why you did not succeed before buying any more equipment. You will need to describe exactly what you did, before anyone can give you assistance.

Did you connect the Tenda W311R+ to your Huwaei Echolife 520b via Ethernet cable or try to use it in repeater mode? If the former, did you disable DHCP on the Tenda W311R+?

The Tenda W311R+ is 802.11n but if the devices connecting to it are only 802.11g then you will not get the benefits of 802.11n.

I really don't understand why you think that buying another similar device e.g. a TP-Link will help you succeed.

Connected the Tenda to the Echolife. Unfortunately, I have found out that the Echolife has quite limited compatibility.

I found the Tenda manual extremely difficult. I understand that the TP-Link has a self-setup facility. Which appeals. Greatly!

espresso

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Connected the Tenda to the Echolife. Unfortunately, I have found out that the Echolife has quite limited compatibility.

I found the Tenda manual extremely difficult. I understand that the TP-Link has a self-setup facility. Which appeals. Greatly!

Not enough info. If you mean that you connected the Tenda to the Echolife using an Ethernet cable, then compatibility is not the problem, as this is an industry standard interface!

There is no magic wand solution - the devices need to be correctly configured to work together.

Equaliser123

espresso wrote: »

Not enough info. If you mean that you connected the Tenda to the Echolife using an Ethernet cable, then compatibility is not the problem, as this is an industry standard interface!

There is no magic wand solution - the devices need to be correctly configured to work together.

No. It works whilst the ethernet cable is attached. It doesn't work as a bridge wireless to wireless.

Agreed - of course they need to be correctly configured. Trouble is, I don't know how!

espresso

Equaliser123 wrote: »

No. It works whilst the ethernet cable is attached. It doesn't work as a bridge wireless to wireless.

Agreed - of course they need to be correctly configured. Trouble is, I don't know how!

You have not said what you have configured but it sounds like you have not configured any of the Tenda WDS settings? e.g. Mode, MAC address, SSID, bandwidth, channel number and encryption options. Both routers should be configured with the same bandwidth, channel number, and security settings to extend your coverage.

baby_frogmella

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Hi. Again an apology for a hijack.

I've got a (Talktalk) Huwaei Echolife 520b router. Its wireless range isn't great at all - probably not helped by the fact that it doesn't have an external antennae.

I've tried 'extending' the range with a Tenda W311R+ router but haven't been able to succeed.

Does anyone know if I would be better off with a TP-Link TL-WA730RE extender or am I better off buying a new ADSL router to replace the Huwaei and trying to get a same-brand extender? I should add that I am looking for real ease of setup!

Many thanks

I agree the Echolife routers Talktalk send out are absolute junk. I'm using the Billion 7800N on my talktalk LLU line - arguably the best router out there not only for its array of features (which i admit not everyone will use) but also for line stability and excellent wifi coverage. Not cheap at 105 notes but like with most things in life you get what you pay for. Have a look at the Amazon reviews, you could always return it back to Amazon for a refund if you feel it hasn't made any difference
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Billion-BiPAC-7800N-Broadband-Wireless-N/dp/B002TOKGL8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Mr_Toad

mcfisco wrote: »

Good story Scarab and it just shows what you can do if you understand the physics
A couple of years ago we played around with a DIY cantenna and was able to extend wifi signals quite a distance

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

Absolutely of no use to the OP though

Great fun! I find a Pringles tube makes an excellent 'cantenna', foil lined with a metal bottom.

Then there's the hack your router to increase the power mod.

Countries have different rule and regulations about transmission power and this is usually set in the Router's firmware, although some routers can be changed in the advanced settings. There are a lot of sites that tell you how to change the power output of the transmitter in various routers.

I can't remember what the UK routers are set to but I think it's 25Mw to 28Mw this can, on some routers, be increased to 100Mw and on some models as high as 250Mw

espresso

masonn wrote: »

Great fun! I find a Pringles tube makes an excellent 'cantenna', foil lined with a metal bottom.

Then there's the hack your router to increase the power mod.

Countries have different rule and regulations about transmission power and this is usually set in the Router's firmware, although some routers can be changed in the advanced settings. There are a lot of sites that tell you how to change the power output of the transmitter in various routers.

I can't remember what the UK routers are set to but I think it's 25Mw to 28Mw this can, on some routers, be increased to 100Mw and on some models as high as 250Mw

Your way off there!

mW - a milliwatt is equal to one thousandth of a watt.

MW - a megawatt is equal to one million watts.