What do do to boost the range of my linksys wireless network?

[adlep]

Are there any good/ reasonably cheap signal boosters available?
Maybe there are better/bigger antennas available?

Can anyone recomend also a Wireless Access Point which can act as a repeater for my Linksys wireless gateway?
(to extend the range).

Links appreciated
Thx!

 

[JackMDS]

Here, self made, antenna stories: Wireless Networking Reference - Antennas / Range Boosting

And here Antennae Vendor:

2.4 GHz WLAN antennas/ Wireless Internet antennas/ Access Point antennas/Wireless Bridge antennas

 

[rw120555]

We just went through one monster thread on this. To save you all the gory details, here is one way, albeit not all that cheap:

Get two more Wap11s. Place them at some point where they can still receive the signal of the original WAP11.

Configure one Wap11 in client mode. Set it to the same SSID and channel of the original WAP11.

Crossover-Cable-connect another WAP11 (leave it in the default access point mode) to the WAP11 in client mode. Set it to a different channel and different SSID than the other 2 WAP11s.

So, faraway WAP Access Point sends signal to WAP in client mode. Client mode WAP gives the signal to the cable-connected WAP which then continues beaming it using a different ssid.

Reason for different channels and different SSIDs is to prevent conflicts -- otherwise WAP in client mode would pick up the signal of the WAP right next to it and miss the signal of the faraway WAP.

Whehter this is better or cheaper than other mehtods, I don't know, but people who have tried it say it works.

Also, WAP11 client could be replaced by Linksys WET11. Also, you could connect a switch to the WAP11 client if that would fit your needs better.

Incidentally, official Linksys approved method uses 4 WAP11s, two configured as point to point brdiges and two as access points. Main advantages seem to be (a) you can use the same SSID throughout (b) Linksys sells more WAP11s.

 

[ktwebb]

No SOHO AP that has a repeater mode that I have heard of. Cisco's AP will repeat but you do effectively lose half the bandwidth of each hop. Not to mention those are 500 dollar pieces of hardware. Your best bet is probably going with a higher gain antenna. You can greatly extend your coverage area, depending on how high you go on the gain and what type of antenna you get, omni or directional. That would depend on what your trying to do. You didn't give any details of your network. If you have the AP connected to a switch or hub, and the aftermarket antenna cannot extend your coverage to where you want it, you should try to cable to an extra AP to do the job. It'd be cheaper, usually than buying a Second and third AP to bridge to the second AP and then broadcast from the third. You can go that route and it will work but seems a bit of overkill unless your talking about going outdoors to your remote site.

 

[adlep]

Sweet thx all!