New Topic: Know any good wireless range extenders?

[Cabages]

Changed topic:

Just what title says, do any of you know of a good wireless extender?

Ive been looking at this. It seems flaky on setup, but im sure I could get past that. What worries me is that people say that the config doesnt hold when the power goes out, which would definitely get tiresome.

So, any suggestions?

 

[MadAmos]

If you can move the router I would try that I have found a very small change of location can make a big difference in some cases. It would also help to know more about your setup distances involved multiple floors, router Model & OS

Amos

 

[vorgusa]

mattering the router you can always get better quality antennas but you should be able to improve your situation by putting it in a better location like MadAmos said

 

[Cabages]

Ok, I found out I have this router. Looking at the specs, which detail points out one that can send the signal long range?

I have been looking at wireless extenders. They seem to work pretty well, and I think that might be the direction I will head. Do any of you have experience with any? Could you recommend any?

Thanks.

 

[hanoverphist]

i found i had to aim my antenna downwards a bit when i had it in my cieling... took me a while to figure that one out, seems that the signals xmit a bit like a yagi directional, so mebbe just pointing that antenna at about 45 deg may improve the reception... i recently pulled it out of my attic and put it on one of my desks (about the same height as my couch) and havent had an issue, even tho its still going thru the same brick walls it did before.

 

[Cabages]

----New Topic Starts Here---

 

[JackMDS]

These is No pne uniform trick to exetnd Wireless Range sonce it is highlu depends on the enviroment.

These are the practical options to extend Wireless range.

Extending Distance - http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html

Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Wireless Modes - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Modes.html

Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

Hi Gain Antenna - http://www.ezlan.net/antennae.html

If you end up that WDS is your prefferd solution, this Routers can work as WDS (Extender) same price but much better than the one in your link.

http://www.ezlan.net/buffalo.html

 

[Cabages]

Hmmm. Well, thanks a lot for the help Jack. All that literature really helped.

I really had no idea the repeater would cut my bandwidth by half. That information is steering me away from the extender.

I am now thinking of two options:

A) Getting a better wireless router (something I would have no clue in finding).

B) Considering that I am going to be using a stationary desktop to receive the signal, using a Real Hi Gain Uni-Directional Antenna.

I have this router right now. Im thinking I could buy the buffalo router/repeater that you linked to, try it as a router first, and if I still cant get a good signal use it as a repeater.

Im thinking I will go this route. I just have one question. If I flash it with dd-wrt firmware, will I still be able to use it as a repeater?

Otherwise if I could find a good uni directional antenna for a good price I would rather go that direction. I just cant seem to find many, and the ones I do find I quite pricey. I there some place I should really try?

BTW, thanks a lot for the help Jack.

 

[JackMDS]

Get this one you can try it as is since it has High Power, or configure it as WDS.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&Ntk=all&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

http://www.ezlan.net/buffalo.html

 

[Cabages]

Ok, well ive been looking at a lot of the Buffalo routers, and it looks like once I get the money I will go with this one. It also has WDS, but it has built in signal amplification and a removable antenna so if I need to I can get a higher dbi one.

Thanks for all the help. I will report back on how it goes when I receive.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Get this one you can try it as is since it has High Power, or configure it as WDS.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...&Ntk=all&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

http://www.ezlan.net/buffalo.html

I took Jack's advice in another similar thread and I picked up the Buffalo router to along with my existing WRT54Gv2. Flashed both to DD-WRT and setup WDS pretty easily. Cost me $30 or $40 for the router which was much less than a range extender.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Cabages
Hmmm. Well, thanks a lot for the help Jack. All that literature really helped.

I really had no idea the repeater would cut my bandwidth by half. That information is steering me away from the extender.

many, and the ones I do find I quite pricey. I there some place I should really try?

BTW, thanks a lot for the help Jack.

Half the bandwidth coming with a good strong signal is better than 25% of the bandwidth coming from the main Wireless.

The only other viable way to minimize loses is the use few Access Points connected with cables to the main Router.

 

[Cabages]

Update and question:

I have the router set up as a repeater now. I just cant connect to the internet, while the signal is strong (around 100%)

My wireless router that is sending out the signal from the modem doesnt support WDS. Do I need to get another router that does support WDS? Or is that not a problem?

 

[JackMDS]

First Router should be connected to the Modem, and should configured as a normal infrastructure Wireless. It does not have to be a Repeater..

Second Router that works as a Repeater should be a Repeater or WDS capable. When you configure it first time, do it next to the first Router and with security off. When it works configure the security and start moving it away.

Repeater, or WDS, works well when both Routers are using the same chipset. In some cases a Router working as a repeater might not repeat none compatible chipsets installed in other Routers.

 

[Cabages]

Well I just got off the line with buffalo tech support. The guy there was sure that I needed a WDS capable router (which I dont have) to send out the signal from the modem, and then have another WDS capable device to repeat it.

I just dont know what to do. Im gonna reset it and start over again setting it up. I am happy about the signal I get, usually %100, if only I could use it.

 

[heymrdj]

Originally posted by: MadAmos
If you can move the router I would try that I have found a very small change of location can make a big difference in some cases. It would also help to know more about your setup distances involved multiple floors, router Model & OS

Amos

QFT. When I got this laptop and I tried to connect to my router which is a good 80-90 ft. away I could only get one or two bars. Then I moved the router 3ft. out from behind my server's monitor. Instantly got 5 bars. It can be as easy as that.