does 802.11b range vary a lot?

[dpopiz]

I'm thinking of getting my friend a Toshiba Magnia SG20 (server appliance that can act as a wireless access point with an optional 802.11b pc card). I want to make sure it will be powerful enough to reach all the comps in his house.

does the range of 802.11b products vary greatly? what's the minimum range and number of walls I can expect it to penetrate?

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

How big is the house?

 

[dpopiz]

not too big, 1 story

 

[Ionizer86]

Not too big, you'll be fine. I get around 25-35% across 3 walls a great distance away. (single story) DI-614+ router.

 

[dpopiz]

ok but are you sure whatever little toshiba 802.11b pc card that's included with the Magnia will be as powerful as your router? doesn't their range vary quite a bit from product to product?

 

[MasterHoss]

Actually, people do get varying results in homes. There are several factors that can hurt your range (ie: microwave ovens, 2.4GHz phones --> particularly the Panasonic phones (with or without DSS), and certain building marterials used within the house).

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

You'll be fine then. My belkin 802.11B goes through a desk, two stories, a refridgerator, and a bed without problems 🙂

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: MasterHoss
Actually, people do get varying results in homes. There are several factors that can hurt your range (ie: microwave ovens, 2.4GHz phones --> particularly the Panasonic phones (with or without DSS), and certain building marterials used within the house).

Ive been testing around the house with the Panasonic FHSS 2.4 ghz phone. If you get the laptop around 10ft around the phone the network looses connection on the Netgear WGR614. I considered getting the 802.11a router but it costs too much more for a good one. (The good ones being the NEWER dual band type that use A,B, and G) So my solution is to have a wired phone near the computer and just have the wireless panasonics elsewhere. That seems to work out fine. Other than that I can go outside of the two story brick house here and I still get a signal. Though it drops down to 2mbps.

 

[RanDum72]

If you can adjust the channel of your router, set it to channel 11. Most, if not all cordless phones don'tuse this.

 

[sciencewhiz]

Yes, range does vary a lot. My old Siemans wireless router couldn't get through the walls of my house, and even in open area couldn't get more then 30 feet. My new SMC barricade wireless router can get to the far corner of my house (through 3 walls, about 50 feet) with 70% signal.

 

[aka1nas]

Originally posted by: RanDum72
If you can adjust the channel of your router, set it to channel 11. Most, if not all cordless phones don'tuse this.

That's great advice. Any other tips like that for boosting wireless performance? My Linksys WAP could use a bit more range.