Linksys WRT-54GL plus a Buffalo WHR-G54S plus a powerline network = questions

[rivethead]

Hi all,

I'm trying to set up a wireless and wired network for my family. The optimal conclusion is to:

a) keep my wife from complaining about not being able to connect in the kitchen, and
b) keep my son from complaining about lag on his xbox 360

I had a Buffalo WHR-G54S hooked up to our DSL modem. It simply does not have a strong enough single to allow devices to connect in the kitchen/dinning room or upstairs. The dsl modem and router are in the office which is in a corner of our house. The kitchen/dinning room are in the opposite corner of the house. The family room (with xbox) is upstairs.

So I bought a powerline network adapter which allows me to create a wired connection to the xbox 360. So that problem is solved (no lag - no complaining from the kid).

However I still had the problem of the wireless signal strength in other parts of the house.

Well my Dad gave me his old Linsys WRT-54GL. At his house he had no signal strength issues, despite the router being in the basement. It has a stronger signal.

So I figured that would help my issue. Not really. So then I upgraded the firmware to DD-WRT and cranked the antenna power to 105 (from default of 70). That helped....a little. But signal in the kitchen is still not great.

So I'm thinking my best bet is to use the Buffalo as a "repeater". Would you agree?

My questions:

Do you have to have the same firmware on both devices to make a repeater work? I was able to upgrade the Linsys to DD-WRT pretty easy. However, the instructions for doing so with the Buffalo make it sound like much more of a chore.......

Would I be better off just hooking the Buffalo to the other end of powerline adapter upstairs (it has room for 4 Cat 5 connections...one is being used by the Xbox) and just making that an "access point" (I think that's what it's called)? The family room is right above the kitchen so I could then just beam the sign through the floor (instead of going through multiple walls like the Linsys now must do).

Sorry for all the noob questions. I just don't get some of this stuff.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bobdole369]

So I'm thinking my best bet is to use the Buffalo as a "repeater". Would you agree?

This is the best option. Note that you do not connect anything but power to your Buffalo when in this configuration.

Buffalo goes fairly simply into DD-WRT (at least a number of WHR-HP-G54's that I've done have, I needed at first to muck about with which version and try a couple diff tftp servers, but it wasn't like pulling teeth or anything.)

You should probably reduce the signal strength on the DD-WRT as you noted it didn't help the issue. Most devices already tx at max but it's device dependent and adjusting that setting often leads to worse performance - as the signal starts to be clipped and produces harmonics and spurious emissions (hash, garbage, noise, etc).

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Universal_Wireless_Repeater
Do not perform step 5 and 8 in this article. (There is probably a specific article in the wiki for repeater setup, though I can't be bothered to find it.)

 

[rivethead]

Thanks!

In the event I can't flash the Buffalo to DD-WRT, I may just switch it around....use my Linksys as my "repeater" (since it already has DD-WRT) and my Buffalo as my primary.

Good to know about the signal strength. I'll keep an eye on that.