Need to boost range for linksys wrt54g wireless router

[Texashiker]

I need a way to boost the range of a linksys wrt54g wireless router. The router is at the far end of the office, with 2 laptops that connect through wireless.

Since the router is on one side of the office, I thought about going with a Trendnet 14 db directional antenna. But I dont know if the trendnet antenna needs an adapter to connect to the linksys wrt54g.

We do not have the option of moving the router to the middle of the office.

I thought about going with a omni-directional antenna, but I dont know if that is going to give us the signal boost that we need.

 

[bobdole369]

I need a way to boost the range of a linksys wrt54g wireless router. The router is at the far end of the office, with 2 laptops that connect through wireless.

Since the router is on one side of the office, I thought about going with a Trendnet 14 db directional antenna. But I dont know if the trendnet antenna needs an adapter to connect to the linksys wrt54g.

We do not have the option of moving the router to the middle of the office.

I thought about going with a omni-directional antenna, but I dont know if that is going to give us the signal boost that we need.

Adding signal strength is almost always a bad idea - you'll quickly run afoul of the law.

Is purchasing an additional wrt54g a possibility (or any other similarly priced WAP's?) You can set up dd-wrt on the first wrt54g and do the same with the second - but set it up as WDS, which will repeat the signal.

a 14dbi directional generally has a fairly narrow bandwidth. 2.4ghz blocking objects will still block the same 2.4ghz with gain.

 

[Emulex]

just upgrade to a modern n router like buffalo wzr series. even the 2wire junk uverse gives you is 400mw. buffalo airstation are 834mw legal. very potent

 

[Dark Shroud]

There are plenty of guides on the net on making little boosters for the antennas.

 

[JackMDS]

It is a business so do not look for "silly" Enthusiasts solution. :\

If the office has partitions and obstacles, Antenna will not do much.

Lay a cable toward the center of the space and install a second Wireless Router acting as a n Access Point.

Use the same Password and SSID for the Access point but put it on a different channel than the Linksys.

Using a Wireless Router as a switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

If opt to, you can get an a/b/g/n Wireless and provide more inclusive service than just b/g.

 

[Texashiker]

It is a business so do not look for "silly" Enthusiasts solution. :\

The wrt54g wireless router was already in place when I got there. I thought about getting a better unit, but I dont know if they want to fork out the money.

Instead of trying to extend the range, we might just replace the router with something more up-to-date.

This is a small doctors office with 4 work stations (1 work station is rarely used), and 2 new laptops. The 2 laptops are wireless and the doctor carries them from room to room for the electronic medical records.

 

[JackMDS]

Put a better Router instead of the WRT54G and if still needed, use the WRT54G as an additional Access Point.

Hmm..A doctor office that can not judge spending $60 expense to do work right ???

I wonder how they judge medication usage when they prescribe them???

 

[Modelworks]

Doctors office are special cases for wireless. do they use any equipment like EKG machines, xray in the office ? All of these require some thought, some EKG do not like wifi and will misbehave if the machine is near a strong signal , others are designed to send the data via wifi, so something to consider. I know of an office that chose to put low profile wifi antenna with small repeaters in the trouble spots vs trying to use one high power solution because of the interference it caused.

The antennas they use are like this:

http://www.l-com.com/content/FAQ.aspx?Type=FAQ&ID=4891
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/antennas/2.4gig/2.4-ceiling5.php

 

[Texashiker]

Doctors office are special cases for wireless. do they use any equipment like EKG machines, xray in the office ?

Xray - yes
EKG - no

I like the low profile antenna you linked to, that might be a good option.

There are only 2 rooms that they are having problems with the signal. If we can get the signal boosted just a little bit, I think everything is going to be ok.

Or, add a second router, set up some kind of bridge mode, and set the second router at the end of the hall so it has good line of sight to the main router where the modem is at.

 

[bobdole369]

Ya man this isn't that hard of a case. You don't even need to have ethernet to the "repeater" on WDS - in fact that would make a broadcast loop. Issue is that the WAPs need to be the same. For that level of traffic this is probably best as the WDS induced reduction in bandwidth is not huge for a couple users.

Experiment with antenna height? Mount the thing to the wall about eye level? Just a thought.