Spare sky router, use to improve wireless range?

Big-Mac-Please · 4 Jan 2012 at 21:37

Hello

I have a spare sky wireless router and as I currently have a switch in the roof I was thinking about taking it out and using the spare sky router and if possible this might improve the wireless range?

Any tips on this?

Thanks!

bremen1874 · 4 Jan 2012 at 22:20

You should be able to use it as a wireless access point if that helps.

The normal procedure is...

Assign it a network address that fits with the rest of your network.
Disable its DHCP server.
Connect it to the network using one of its LAN ports.
Configure the wireless as you want.

Big-Mac-Please · 4 Jan 2012 at 23:02

Ideal that sounds good

Would I set the wireless network up the same as the main one down stairs? Same ssid & password?

MissChief · 5 Jan 2012 at 01:13

AFAIK if you do that your devices will connect to which ever device is giving the strongest signal? Not sure if they should be on the same or different wireless channels though?

Tealc · 5 Jan 2012 at 02:31

I'd use different settings and channel. If it were a wireless extender it would need the same settings.

Big-Mac-Please · 5 Jan 2012 at 09:54

So the same ssid password etc but different channel?

I think the main one is 11 so what 10?

Tealc · 5 Jan 2012 at 09:59

If it's wired into the network you could use a different SSID and password, there's no need to confuse things. Try it and see how you go. As for channel use 1 or 6 to give separation from the main one (assuming it's 11). Wifi channels overlap a bit so you need to give at least 4 channels distance really.

Big-Mac-Please · 5 Jan 2012 at 10:30

Ok thanks I'll give this a try today and see how it goes

MissChief · 5 Jan 2012 at 17:38

But if the wireless has a different ssid and key if the laptop or whatever can see both networks it will connect to whichever has the highest priority in the wireless settings, regardless of the signal strength?

dan653 · 6 Jan 2012 at 18:19

same ssid, password and channel

seeing as it's a sky router might be worth unlocking and flashing with the stock sagem/netgear firmware for increased configuration options

Big-Mac-Please · 6 Jan 2012 at 20:07

Any tips on how to do that?

I haven't had chance to try this yet been sorting out an issue with my sky/tv/CCTV. I will be sure to report back how it goes!

dan653 · 6 Jan 2012 at 20:37

Skyuser and Digital Spy forums have plenty of guides for the different models, biggest hassle is finding working download links for the firmwares.

Here's a link for the Sagem F@st 2404 (post #5 has a working link for the firmware)...

http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/extr...0-flash-sagem-router-guide-working-links.html

Grenache · 7 Jan 2012 at 09:24

dan653 said:
same ssid, password and channel

seeing as it's a sky router might be worth unlocking and flashing with the stock sagem/netgear firmware for increased configuration options

I have a setup like that, works a treat. Same ssid, channel and password. I can walk about the house with my laptop or phone connected to the wireless and there's no break as it moves between the two wireless routers. I know that for sure because at either end of the house, the phone's wireless settings info page shows only one access point for my network, but show two in the middle of the house.

I have the Sky-branded netgear DG834GT and it's dead easy to reflash the firmware with standard Netgear firmware.

boosfuk · 7 Jan 2012 at 12:46

If I'm reading this thread right then the solutions are for when the 2 routers are connected via a wired connection. Is it the same for a wireless link between them so they can extend network range? I think I remember there are complications as they have to receive and send at the same time.

dan653 · 7 Jan 2012 at 13:03

No, this is for a cable link between the two. Afaik they (the Sagem models at least) aren't capable of being a wireless repeater or bridge, only a wireless extender.

Zarf · 7 Jan 2012 at 17:06

Don't use the same channel on both. Either put them both on auto, or use two which are at least three frequency bands apart (6 apart for 300Mb wireless N).
Otherwise traffic on one AP interferes with the other causing increased latency and reducing throughput. it also hurts signal strength.
Having them on the same channel has no benefits.

Big-Mac-Please · 13 May 2012 at 20:39

I know this is a bit late but I finally managed to get round to doing this last weekend.

When I opened the box it turned out to be a white propper netgear router I got from virgin. So I set the router up to not be a DHCP and have a static address.

I installed in the roof in place of the switch I already had there. I went for same ssid, password, channel and it has been working like a charm!!

No issues at all and finally my iMac has a strong signal and doesn't drop out at all.

If anyone has one knocking around I would highly recommend this

unleashed · 13 May 2012 at 22:33

+1
disable DHCP (on the second or more access point)
same SSID
same password
different channel (as far apart as possible)

Audigex · 13 May 2012 at 23:06

Different channel is the conventional wisdom - same channel only serves to cause interference, it doesn't help with swapping between APs.

The only time I'd bother with multiple SSIDs is if you want strong signal in either end of the house, but you don't tend to move them around - ie a machine at each end of the house, two SSIDs mean they'll always connect to the closest AP. If you have any machines that move between the areas covered by each AP you're probably best off with one SSID for simplicity of setup - you only need to connect once.

MissChief · 14 May 2012 at 01:25

Agreed with audigex. problem with two SSID's is that windows will connect to whichever one is highest on the list in the preferred networks list if it can detect it, regardless of the signal strength. A Single SSID means strongest signal.