Best way to extend wi-fi throughout my house?

[hans030390]

We recently got our PS3, and right now my parents are upset that we're playing it downstairs. First off, we have the 50" tv down here...but second, our wi-fi will not reach to the upstairs, or at least where we want it.

Here's our situation: We have a DI-624 at one end of my house (downstairs). We want the signal to reach to the complete opposite end of the house (upstairs). Currently, our router does not do that very well (even on extended range mode).

I'm willing to spend some money, but nothing crazy. What would be the best (wireless) way to get a good signal upstairs?

 

[JackMDS]

The best way is to lay few CAT6 cables to central locations in the house, install Access Points, or Cable/DSL Routers configured as an Access Points ( Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point ), and connect them to the D-Link.

You do not want to lay Cables? Give the D-Link as a Holiday gift.

Get a high power Buffalo Wireless Router. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833162134

Install it instead of the D-Link, and survey the house with Laptop using Netstumbler, http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

According to the Netstumbler?s signal strength reading, identify spots that have strong signal. and spot with weak, or No signal.

Additional Wireless Routers in WDS Mode (Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.) has to be placed in spots were the signal is good about Half way to the dead spots.

Buy (one at the time) BuffaloTech Wireless Routers, configure them as a WDS units to the Central High power Router.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833162173

How many units? It depends on your specific environment (that is the reason to buying WDS units one at the time, try it, and decide on the Next step).

Since the High Power unit cost $50 and the regular unit cost $40, even if you need 4 units it would be less than $200

Configuring WDS with these units, http://www.buffalotech.com/downloads/co...ring%20WDS%20on%20the%20AirStation.pdf

There is also an option to flash the Buffalo units with 3rd party firmware to augment functionality.

See here, http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=36&threadid=1952411&enterthread=y

 

[yukit]

Your wireless access point may have an detachable antennae to allow you to put a higher powered external antennae.

I use Netgear WGPS606 at the opposite end of my place to hook up Tivo & HTPC.
The unit is actually promoted as a print server, but it seems to work just fine as an inexpensive wireless bridge & 4-port switch.

I once tried to use a REALLY cheap repeater to see if I can improve the throughput, but it actually made the connection worse.

As already mentioned WDS mode is another way to go, but I don't have any personal experience with this setup.

 

[hans030390]

I plan on getting a new antenna. Where can I get a good one, and for how much?

By the way, I don't want to spend much money at all, and I'm not getting a new router. I'm keeping the D-link...now provide me solutions based on that, and I can't lay wires around the house.

I do have an extra Netgear wireless router, but it never worked with our connection. Could that possibly be used for anything? (Edit: Just checked and apparently netgear wont work with wds or anything).

Is there a good range extender out there that would work (not too expensive)?

 

[JackMDS]

Quote from OP: Best way to extend wi-fi throughout my house?
So we found out that you make a mistake in your initial posting.

It seems what you meant is Not the Best way, and throughout the house!

But rather: How can I can how get a little better Wireless than what I have now, while keeping my current Router and spending only few $$$.

Took me long time to answer the previous question.

Oh well probably can be of use to other people.

 

[keeleysam]

Move your router to the most central point in your house.

</thread>

 

[kevnich2]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Quote from OP: Best way to extend wi-fi throughout my house?
So we found out that you make a mistake in your initial posting.

It seems what you meant is Not the Best way, and throughout the house!

But rather: How can I can how get a little better Wireless than what I have now, while keeping my current Router and spending only few $$$.

Took me long time to answer the previous question.

Oh well probably can be of use to other people.

I'd agree with that statement, the OP doesn't want the best way to extend wireless but rather some "miracle" solution that'll extend it without doing any work and without spending any money. Well this isn't fantasy land so good luck with that.

 

[Doh!]

A new "cheap" (since you don't want to spend too much $) antenna probably won't help you at all.

 

[Jwyatt]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
The best way is to lay few CAT6 cables to central locations in the house, install Access Points, or Cable/DSL Routers configured as an Access Points ( Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point ), and connect them to the D-Link.

You do not want to lay Cables? Give the D-Link as a Holiday gift.

Get a high power Buffalo Wireless Router. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833162134

Install it instead of the D-Link, and survey the house with Laptop using Netstumbler, http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

According to the Netstumbler?s signal strength reading, identify spots that have strong signal. and spot with weak, or No signal.

Additional Wireless Routers in WDS Mode (Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.) has to be placed in spots were the signal is good about Half way to the dead spots.

Buy (one at the time) BuffaloTech Wireless Routers, configure them as a WDS units to the Central High power Router.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833162173

How many units? It depends on your specific environment (that is the reason to buying WDS units one at the time, try it, and decide on the Next step).

Since the High Power unit cost $50 and the regular unit cost $40, even if you need 4 units it would be less than $200

Configuring WDS with these units, http://www.buffalotech.com/downloads/co...ring%20WDS%20on%20the%20AirStation.pdf

There is also an option to flash the Buffalo units with 3rd party firmware to augment functionality.

See here, http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=36&threadid=1952411&enterthread=y

Thanks for these tips.
Im starting a project to install wifi in a 6000sqft house. I had no idea how to start. I was looking at going with the buffalo router and then some range extenders throughout, but im consearned about the little box's around this mansion.

I think im going to start my own thread as well.

TY again

 

[hans030390]

I gave you my situation. I have my wireless router at one end of the house, and I need the signal to go to the other end of my house. Based on that, give me the best possible solution with what I have.

Honestly, I really don't have very much money to spend at all.

I'd put the router in a central location, but my parents moved the computer and cable line and everything, and now the router has to stay where it is. I'm assuming the best way for my situation (not best way overall) would be to get a better antenna and then get a range extender. Would someone be able to help me get the best items for THAT solution?

 

[JackMDS]

The method mentioned in my first link is the range extender method, using better and less expensive Routers as a Range exetnders.

If you stay with your D-Link you have to get a D-Link range extender other wise it probably would not work.

Make sure that what ever you get can be returned cause some of these extenders "S**x".

 

[hans030390]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
The method mentioned in my first link is the range extender method, using better and less expensive Routers as a Range exetnders.

If you stay with your D-Link you have to get a D-Link range extender other wise it probably would not work.

Make sure that what ever you get can be returned cause some of these extenders "S**x".

Sure, the router itself may not cost much, but when you get that and a range extender, it's waaaay more than I wanted to spend. Plus, it's not guaranteed that my connection is compatible with the mentioned router. I know it works with D-link.

It's not that I don't get a signal where I want, it just gets weak, drops, or has dead spots.

I'll probably end up getting a replacement antenna and a D-link range extender. What would be the best solution for under $80?

 

[JackMDS]

This is what D-Link offer as a reasonable Extruder.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833127058

Notice, the price $69.99

I think that the back and forth here is stemming from a simple situation Not realizing by many people.

The High Volume sale of Wireless Router and client cards brought along very competitive pricing, the pricing is a Marketing decision.

Ad-on External Antenna that are very simple to design and cost pennies to manufacture, yet they cost as much and some times more than a Router on sale.

Access Points, Extenders, Game Boxes, etc. that are only part of what goes into a Wireless Router, cost almost twice the price of a good Wireless Router on sale.

Unfortunately, people get attached to the piece of plastic that they buy. Therefore, they would invest more money for Ad-Ons to fit on their lame hardware.

It is all a matter of simple Arithmetic, in an issue like discussed here, if I have to invest $50 or more I rather spend a little more and get some thing better all together.

Disclaimer:

I have No vested interest in Buffalo or any other Network Hardware Company, and similar disinterest in NewEgg or any other vendor.

It just happened that currently Buffalo offers the most versatile Wireless out of the Box. It stable devices and this holiday season it very well priced at NewEgg, and even better priced at Buy.com if one can use Goggle check out.

 

[spidey07]

obligatory change channels to 1, 6, 11 as this solves most wireless troubles.

 

[mrred]

You could set up power line networking for about $100 if you don't care about mobility

 

[Tegeril]

http://www.fab-corp.com/product.php?productid=3069&cat=250&page=1

RP-SMA type. It'll screw right onto your DI-624. The default antenna has a gain somewhere around 2.5dBi - this one is 9dBi. Be sure to use wireless encryption because the range this grants is significant (I used one all summer in my DI-614 to get better signal to my media box across my apt - signal went from low to excellent).