Best Solution To Increase Wifi Strength

Thanks for the replies, I am thinking my best bet is running an ethernet from the downstairs SkyHub through the ceiling and then plugging it into my Netgear WNR2000 and setting it as an Access Point with its own separate SSID.

Like I said right now it is mainly for chromecast streaming and if it comes to the point I need Xbox Live etc then I can just plug an ethernet into the Netgear upstairs and still get the full wired experience as I would plugging ethernet in downstairs, correct??
 
I've just been through something similar and was using powerline adapters to connect to a spare router in my top room - disabled the DHCP thingy ("bridge mode only" or similar!), assigned the same SSID (albeit on a different channel) and hey-presto, automatic extension of the network for wireless devices!

I appreciate your solution is slightly different with you running an ethernet cable to the upstairs router but I don't see why you'd have an issue with having the same SSID to connect to!?!?

Ordinarily I'd recommend powerline adapters as I've found them to be far more effective that WiFi but in your case I'm guessing that your wiring might be a bit old for them to operate perfectly!

Having said that, powerline kits are as cheap as chips these days so might be worth trying them out to see what sort of results you get before drilling through your floors!
 
Yeah it really goes down to :

1) Drill and feed an ethernet cable upstairs
or
2) Buy two powerline adapters

Either way using WIFI or hard wiring upstairs from the router will give the same effect... I would rather use the powerline adapters if they save less hassle.

How do they work though? Like power consumption, they don't rack up a bill or anything as they will be constantly powered?
 
I'm no expert but I doubt you'd ever notice a cost as such - in fact I think most these days have an "eco" setting whereby they aren't powered unless they are being used!
 
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Al-Ectrician said:
Are you not able to run an Ethernet cable to a network switch in the upstairs room.

Hello from a fellow Bankie lol.

Al
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Haha, moved to Knightswood now buddy :P Emm.. well I would need a network switch, but the more I look into these powerline adapters they seems a lot better than drilling holes (which Mrs will kill me)
 
I am pretty sure I am going to go and purchase one of these tonight, which is better Netgear at £19.99 or TP Link at £24.99??
 
How did you go on?

I doubt there would be much of a difference between the TP Link and Netgear plugs - the limiting factor is more likely to be the quality of your house wiring to be honest!
 
Both the TPLink and Netgear kits are never going to deliver anything like 500mbit or even 250mbit each way as claimed - they both have 100mbit ports if you read the spec's :D
 
Avalon said:
Both the TPLink and Netgear kits are never going to deliver anything like 500mbit or even 250mbit each way as claimed - they both have 100mbit ports if you read the spec's :D
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I think the speeds there refer to the powerline side of the connection (between adapters). There will always be some attenuation depending on the wiring, so for example 100 mb might drop to 50 mb. So it's still worthwhile having a higher speed than 100 mb even if it doesn't have a gigabit ethernet connection.
 
Avalon said:
Both the TPLink and Netgear kits are never going to deliver anything like 500mbit or even 250mbit each way as claimed - they both have 100mbit ports if you read the spec's :D
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True but they should be adequate for the OP's uses if all he's trying to do is stream content through a Chromecast!
 
Yes it does refer to the maximum theoretical throughput from one powerline adapter to another, the point I was making is that you can't send data in either direction at more than 100mbit as the powerline adapters LAN connection is 100mbit according to the spec which seems a poor choice for a product they market as being capable of '500mbit'. We all know that's a full duplex figure, but even allowing for that the maximum throughput that's theoretically possible is 200mbit in perfect conditions.

StevieP said:
True but they should be adequate for the OP's uses if all he's trying to do is stream content through a Chromecast!
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I wasn't saying it would be unsuitable, just pointing out that neither was going to be any better than the 100mbit the port was capable of.
 
Hi,

Sorry for not replying had a lot going on.

I found out I had a cable running from my living room to my sons room (think it was for an old phone line but it has been cut off anyway.

However the hole size cannot fit the ethernet head through it so I was wondering:

1) Should I buy a 1/2" drill piece and extend the hole. Keep in mind I would need to then put up a hole cover and most are for satellite cables that ethernet heads won't fit through :(
or
2) Is it possible to remove the ethernet head to feed the wire through then re-attach it?

Thanks
 
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You can cut it but you'll need a crimping tool and an RJ45 plug to reattach the head after you've made the run.
 
You can normally cut the hole trims along their length so that they'll fit over the cable with the plug still attached. If you do it neatly it shouldn't be too obvious.

You could chop the plug off and crimp a new one on. You'd to get hold of a crimping tool to do this. It can be a fiddly job.

Your third option is to install network faceplates at each location and connect them together using solid core cable.
 
It's because not only do I have to run an ethernet upstairs to run a second router for the WIFI, but I also have an ethernet cable in my living room I have to run into the spare room downstairs. Right now its just running under the door but rather than buying 3/4 powerline adapters thats what is making me think drilling holes and feeding an ethernet cable through is the better option, its more just getting a crimping tool and spare RJ45 heads.. and nice caps to hide the damage.

But like you said, if I drill a hole big enough (14-15mm) for the ethernet head to fit through then it means I can replace the cables easy enough if they break but all I need to do is find a suitable cover.

I suppose I could buy these:
http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-coax-hole-tidy-pack-of-2/178054_BQ.prd

And just cut across them so I can slide the ethernet cable in it and you wouldn't notice the cut hopefully.
 
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Ok I've ordered 14mmx170mm masonry drill piece, 6-7mm cable clips and some twin ones too for double wiring along skirting. I have also ordered a 20m cat5e ethernet cable from Amazon coming tomorrow.

So I will start this little project today. Open out the hole in my ceiling so the ethernet can just fit through it, give me enough length to install the router upstairs where ever I see best. Then I have ordered some hole tidy's which if the ethernet head doesn't fit through I will try splitting them to slide it in, shouldn't be too noticeable.

Hopefully this will set up easy enough.

As far as the router goes if I hard wire the Netgear WNR2000 into my Sky Hub, what is the better setting to leave it on so I can hard wire anything upstairs like xbox's etc and use the wireless for my chromecast? Should it still be on repeater mode or something different?
 
Breakthrough! :)

Ok I think I have it all set up fine, Skyhub is downstairs wired into PC, PS4, TV and then into the Netgear router upstairs which is wired to Xbox.

I set the WIFI up on both with the same SSID but on different channels (1 and 12).

I used that app you told me about Wifi Analyser and it shows my network with the two and obviously depending on where I am one is better than the other.

What I just need to know is if I am downstairs and I go upstairs, will it automatically connect to the better router or do I have to disable and enable the WIFI again?

(The weird thing also is downstairs there isnt much difference between the WIFI signal but upstairs you notice is, is the Sky Hub wifi really that bad compared to Netgear WNR2000?)
 
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It depends on the client but you should find it switches itself. If you have trouble then cycling the wifi adapter like you mention is all likely all you'll need to do.

Generally speaking having your wifi signal up high is a good thing so your Netgear may have an advantage, or perhaps it's more central?
 
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