Wireless doesnot have good range?

[ingeborgdot]

I hooked up a wireless D-link 524 kit for a friend. It says the indoor range is 328 ft. I have the other computer about 40 feet and it says the signal is from low to good but most of the time low. The antenna I am using for the other computer is a dwl usb antenna. I have it hooked up via a usb cable extension. The range is also stated at 328. I know that is only at ideal conditions but 40 ft should rate at least very good shouldn't it? What can I do?

 

[ktwebb]

Any cable pigtail is going to introduce loss. If I understand you correctly you've added even more cable to the USB client. If that is the case then certainly remove that cable from the scenario. Bad mojo. You can completely and totally ignore the specs of wireless devices. 40 feet through walls might be more than your gear can manage to overcome. Moving the AP and/or the client device, specifically away from any walls or corner that the AP sits in or around, might solve your problem. might not.

 

[Fardringle]

The 328 feet that manufacturers list is the ABSOLUTE maximum range for consumer grade wireless equipment. You will never get anywhere near that range without perfect environmental circumstances and zero wireless interference.

There are so many different things that can affect (and interfere with) wireless signals that 40 feet is a fairly average indoor range limit for home users, especially with a low power USB wireless adapter that you have made even weaker (signal loss) by using a USB extension cord.

Some of the things that can affect wireless range (not necessarily in order, but with the most common offenders at the top) are:

2.4Ghz cordless phones
Other nearby wireless networks (especially when operating on the same channel)
Heavy EMI interference from large appliances and high power microwaves
Metal building frame
Cement or stone walls and floors
Hardwood walls and floors
Heavy metal cabinets
(Sitting close to any of the above is particularly bad for wireless signals)
Passing the signal through multiple drywall or other 'soft' walls
Environmental air pressure and humidity
and many other things that are too numerous (but less common) to list...


edit: fixed a couple of typos

 

[ingeborgdot]

The extender came with the kit. So you are saying by removing the extender it should help?? Alot of the things that affect it are in this house. If by removing the extender it doesn't help what can I do next? I have the router in the only place it can go. Also, 40' is actually farther than what it is but that was just a rough estimate. More like 33 after measuring.

 

[JackMDS]

If the "Extender" is few feet of USB cable that connect the USB Module from the computer?s port to the Wireless USB unit it would not have any affect on the Wireless.

33feet 40feet or any feet does not matter, the fact is that you have "Bad" connection.

Start first by putting the two computers few feet away in the same room. If you do not get the correct speed (frame of reference here: http://www.ezlan.net/net_speed.html ) then the hardware might be "Bad". If the it OK while it is in close proximity then it means thta environment is not Friendly toward Wireless and you might more Hardware to Extend the distance.

The following pages might give you few ideas choose the one that fit your specific circumstances.

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

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

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / Network.

:sun: