Connecting to wireless through thick walls

nikkif_3

I want to connect the computer in our office to our wifi, and although it is only probably 10meters away there are 2 very thick stone walls in between, so guessing this is why a usb adapter wont connect. Is there anything I can do to connect without running cables? Or any better USB adapters I can use? The adapter I tried was a basic Belkin adapter. Thanks.

alinwales

homeplugs, aka powerline adapters:

http://www.ebuyer.com/263575-tp-link-200mbps-powerline-adapter-twin-pack-tl-pa211kit

penrhyn

I concur with the previous poster.

[Deleted User]

BTW, there's a chance that the powerline adapters are going to be made illegal (they interfere with various other bits of electronics)

neilwoods

ringo_24601 wrote: »

BTW, there's a chance that the powerline adapters are going to be made illegal (they interfere with various other bits of electronics)

Care to show some of the evidence for this.?

mattduk

Have you tried changing the Wifi channel you're using? It could be that there are a lot of other Wifi networks in the same area that are on the same channel causing congestion. In my block of flats I was getting issues streaming iPlayer and it turned out that 90% of people are on 6 for some reason (about 20 networks), so I switched to another channel and it improved.

If there aren't many other networks or you are already on a distinct channel then if your hardware supports it at both the adapter and router, try setting it to use the 5ghz frequency band as that will have higher penetration power compared to 2.4ghz, and might get you through the wall ok.

[Deleted User]

neilwoods wrote: »

Care to show some of the evidence for this.?

Sure. They generate short-wave radio interference

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/367399/spooks-powerline-networking-disrupts-our-work
http://www.ban-plt.co.uk/

Have you noticed the price of these plug adapters dropping recently? I think this might be because they think they could get shelved in the near future

nikkif_3

mattduk wrote: »

Have you tried changing the Wifi channel you're using? It could be that there are a lot of other Wifi networks in the same area that are on the same channel causing congestion.

Thanks for the replies, regarding changing the channel, we live on a farm, so no other buildings near by, if this makes a difference?


With the plug adapters, how do they work? Sorry to sound dull.

nikkif_3

mattduk wrote: »

If there aren't many other networks or you are already on a distinct channel then if your hardware supports it at both the adapter and router, try setting it to use the 5ghz frequency band as that will have higher penetration power compared to 2.4ghz, and might get you through the wall ok.

How do this? Sorry again to sound dull.

neilwoods

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Sure. They generate short-wave radio interference

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/367399/spooks-powerline-networking-disrupts-our-work
http://www.ban-plt.co.uk/

Have you noticed the price of these plug adapters dropping recently? I think this might be because they think they could get shelved in the near future

Yeah that old site ban-plt. The leak out from these powerline adapters is very localised. You are more likely to get interference from a fridge or central heating switching on and off or even a drill than these PLT's. Can't see them banning fridges somehow. Also that debate was over a year ago, nothing came of it.

As for price drop, it is like any technology, quite expensive when it first comes out. But as soon as more companies make there own, the price will allway's drop.

penrhyn

The 'plug' adapters use your mains wiring to carry the internet signal. They connect to your router and PC via ethernet connectors.
To change the frequency on your wireless router you would need to log on to its user interface.