Wireless Router in Metal Networking Cabinet

[DefSport]

I've currently got a cheap D-Link router given to me by my ISP. The short of it is that even with very little 2.4 Ghz congestion (noise floor is 86-92 dB), the router in the metal networking cabinet/closet where all the Cat5e terminates loses roughly 20 dB vs. opening the door. Needless to say, lots of areas in the house are at a roughly -85 dB level, where the connection is barely stronger than the noise floor and difficult to maintain or even establish.

So my question is, this entry level D-Link router gives bad reception, so will a nicer router with internal antennas (like an Asus N56U) offer up roughly the same coverage being subjected to such a hostile environment? Or should I step up to something like an Asus N66U and get some cheap external booster antennas just to run them out of the metal enclosure?


There really isn't another area I'd rather put the router via a Cat5 connection that will give good coverage across the whole house. I also need gigabit ethernet for my media server.

 

[paul878]

You said it yourself, the problem is your "hostile environment".
Replacing the router is not going to help you.

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless Router in a metal Cabinet?

It is bad metal. If it was good metal nothing will transmit out.

I hope you understand the gist of the above.

 

[Fardringle]

If the router really can't go anywhere else, either take the door off of the cabinet, or cut/open a hole in the cabinet to run the cable ends through and mount the router outside the cabinet. Putting a wireless transmitter inside a metal box is never a good idea.

Or better, take the metal cabinet out completely and leave the wires/routers inside the hole in the wall, preferably lining the hole with a new box made out of thin wood or other material that will keep dust out but won't block the wireless signals.

 

[s44]

AP mounted on a nearby wall/ceiling.

 

[DefSport]

If the router really can't go anywhere else, either take the door off of the cabinet, or cut/open a hole in the cabinet to run the cable ends through and mount the router outside the cabinet. Putting a wireless transmitter inside a metal box is never a good idea.

Or better, take the metal cabinet out completely and leave the wires/routers inside the hole in the wall, preferably lining the hole with a new box made out of thin wood or other material that will keep dust out but won't block the wireless signals.

There's not enough slack on the Cat5 cables to get the router out of the box and on the nearby shelf.


For those that don't know what I'm talking about, here's a pic of a similar one:

It's recessed into the wall. I'm not going to take it out, as I'd rather just get some extended external antennas at that point to solve the issue, and that would probably be 10+ hours of labor rerouting cable, pulling it, then putting things somewhat back together (no thanks!). I'm not sure if the box is steel or aluminum, but it probably doesn't matter each way. It's not completely enclosed, as there are lots of punchouts for cabling, and some holes for ventilation and mounting equipment in the back and sides.



I'm surprised this isn't a more common problem, as all homes built in the past 6 years around here have this sort of networking enclosure, and it does really kill wireless range.

 

[JackMDS]

There's not enough slack on the Cat5 cables to get the router out of the box and on the nearby shelf.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10519&cs_id=1051902&p_id=7284&seq=1&format=2

 

[DefSport]

haha - I thought of that, but I think my OCD would kick in with all the couplers and whatnot.


Plus I got about 20 Cat6 cables from Monoprice recently, and a large amount of them are DoA. It's not really worth RMA'ing them due to the price, but it gives me pause on putting more networking stuff from them as integral pieces of my network.


Running a couple of antennas out of the box is probably easier than 6 runs of Cat 5 and a power adapter as well.

 

[Eug]

Try the external antenna option.

Or else just put a Gigabit switch inside the box, and put the WiFi router outside the box. That may be a lot simpler.

In fact that is what I do. Inside my wiring closet, I have my DSL modem and a 24-port Gigabit switch. However, my WiFi router is actually nowhere near my wiring closet, which is in the basement. The WiFi router is in the living room, which is on the main floor (one floor above the wiring closet). This makes a lot more sense for WiFi range since the 2nd floor and the basement, as well as the living room of course, generally get good WiFi signal with the WiFi router centrally placed like this. If I put the WiFi router in the basement in the wiring closet, I get poor reception on the 2nd floor and elsewhere in the house.

 

[DefSport]

Try the external antenna option.

Or else just put a Gigabit switch inside the box, and put the WiFi router outside the box. That may be a lot simpler.

In fact that is what I do. Inside my wiring closet, I have my DSL modem and a 24-port Gigabit switch. However, my WiFi router is actually nowhere near my wiring closet, which is in the basement. The WiFi router is in the living room, which is on the main floor (one floor above the wiring closet). This makes a lot more sense for WiFi range since the 2nd floor and the basement, as well as the living room of course, generally get good WiFi signal with the WiFi router centrally placed like this. If I put the WiFi router in the basement in the wiring closet, I get poor reception on the 2nd floor and elsewhere in the house.

Would I need to run two Cat5 cables to the router outside the box? Essentially this:

WAN -> Cat 5 -> Router's WAN port

Router LAN port -> Cat 5 -> port on switch


Or can I get this done with only 1 Cat5 cable to the router?

 

[Eug]

One cable needs to go to the WAN port, but that comes from the modem. Where is the modem?

Then one cable needs to go from the router's LAN port to a switch in the box.