extending range in a home using an access point

[chinkgai]

hi, currently we have a netgear 802.11b router set up in our home, but it is at the very furthermost corner of the house. we have severe connection problems at the other end of the home because practically everthing in a household lies in between (kitchen, cordless phones, etc.)

my question is on using the access point. i read somewhere that i am supposed to buy an access point and plug it into the computer where the wireless router is at and configure the access point there. after that, i can move the access point anywhere in the house and use it as a repeater to extend range and all it needs is the power connected. is what i said in this second paragraph accurate? thanks.

 

[Cyberclark]

Here is an article on Netgears site that talks about setting up thier equipment as a repeater. Hopefully that helps somewhat. I personally am not real familiar with Netgears equipment. I know Linksys makes a repeater product for just this purpose but it says it is only compatible with thier routers.

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / SOHO Network.

Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point

:sun:

 

[zmanb213]

You may be able to boost your signal enough by putting a more powerful antenna on the router.

 

[chinkgai]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
May be this can Help.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / SOHO Network.

Using a Wireless Cable/DSL Router as a Switch with an Access Point

:sun:

hi jack, i actually read your links from your other thread, the one titled "my wireless range sucks" or something like that

it is from those links is where i got the idea of using an AP as a repeater in the first place. thats why i was asking if netgear had an access point that could be configured as a repeater. do you know which model if they do? you seem very knowledgable.

one more question regarding the repeater: if we are using wireless B, with the theoretical speed being 11mbs and the repeater cuts it in half to 5.5mbs, does it actually affect throughput, meaning my actually download/upload speed, or does it only affect theoretical speed within the network? thanks!

 

[ktwebb]

It will cut your effective bandwidth in half. Regardless if your talking about theoretical or realworld.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: chinkgai
one more question regarding the repeater: if we are using wireless B, with the theoretical speed being 11mbs and the repeater cuts it in half to 5.5mbs, does it actually affect throughput, meaning my actually download/upload speed, or does it only affect theoretical speed within the network? thanks!

The stated ?Speed? of 802.11b Wireless Hardware is 11Mb/sec. this is not theoretical it is the Internal ?Speed? of Hardware; it is Not the Stated ?Speed? of the actual Network's File/Information Transfer.

The actual ?Speed? of the Network's File/Information Transfer is a combination of whole system, the OS, software applications used, and the envioroment.

When the Wireless Client is few feet away from the main source, the average ?Speed? of 802.11b Transfer is 6-8Mb/sec., and declining while you move away.

If you put a Repeater at a spot that the actual ?Speed? of Transfer is 4Mb/sec. past this spot the Repeater will yield 2Mb/sec.

For regular surfing and casual Internet downloading, 1-2Mb/sec. is usually adequate.

If you need more ?Speed? for your LAN you should consider upgrading to 802.11g.

While 802.11g is advertised as 55Mb/sec. Given the exact conditions, using 802.11g hardware will yield in the ?Real World? about 3 Times the ?Speed? of 802.1b.

If Extending the Wireless Network is done by using a CAT5e laid to a second Location and connecting there an additional Access Point (or a Wireless Router configured as an Access Point), the yield at second point would be the full ?Speed? of the additional Wireless Hardware.

:sun:

 

[chinkgai]

wow i learn something new everytime i read your posts jack. anandtech needs more members like you.

the reason why i am proposing using a preconfigured AP that does not require a CAT5 connection is cuz the CAT5 connection is not possible in this application since there is outdoors that lie in between the source and the rest of the house. do not ask why it was set up this way, for i think its stupid as well, but it cannot be changed at the moment.

the issue we currently have is that one computer in the house gets reception on and off. much more off than on. since both wireless B and wireless G are both on the 2.4ghz frequency, do you think upgrading to the wireless G will make the connection at the problem computer more reliable? i no longer care for speed at this computer, only seeking reliability.

thanks for all your help. i guess if youre unsure since there are so many variables in between, i can just go buy one and try it out before i purchase the access point. after all, thats why stores have return policies

 

[ktwebb]

since both wireless B and wireless G are both on the 2.4ghz frequency, do you think upgrading to the 2.4ghz frequency

Um....what?


If cabling is absolutely out of the question for the second AP then using it as a repeater somewhere between the primary AP and the client your trying to reach is a viable solution. Stick with the same Mfg Wireless gear if your going to repeat.

 

[chinkgai]

Originally posted by: ktwebb

since both wireless B and wireless G are both on the 2.4ghz frequency, do you think upgrading to the 2.4ghz frequency

Um....what?

haha, oops...typo

i meant upgrading to the wireless G

 

[chinkgai]

Originally posted by: chinkgai
the issue we currently have is that one computer in the house gets reception on and off. much more off than on. since both wireless B and wireless G are both on the 2.4ghz frequency, do you think upgrading to the wireless G will make the connection at the problem computer more reliable? i no longer care for speed at this computer, only seeking reliability.

 

[chinkgai]

nobody has any idea?

 

[JackMDS]

Link to: Wireless What Should I Get?

Mixing 802.11g with 802.11b reduces the "Speed" of the 802/11g.

:sun:

 

[chinkgai]

exactly what i needed to know in that link. thanks again jack.

 

[nealh]

Here is what I did for the same problem...I got a MR814v1 orginial then purchased a second router...it was a MR814v2 ....

I use the MR814v2 as my main router...the second router is setup in my house as an "AP"...this improves my wireless setup

I should note my house is hardwared with ethernet jacks in my office and each bedroom...but my wife and I have laptops as well....the second router is connected cat5e line and in netgear setup it is configured as IP address 192.168.0.250

This may not work for not sure how you house is wired..but this allow for great range and performance with our wireless setup...I want to move to "g" but have little real need to do so