Expanding the range of my G wireless network

Sic · 2 Feb 2009 at 10:35

I don't know anything about this sort of thing, so bear with me! I have a Sky network with the under-powered Netgear DG834G. Basically, I have 1 phone line into the house, and no extensions so my router has to go where it is. Annoyingly, the wireless signal is very unreliable in my office, so I need to give it a bit more range.

In my naivety, I tried using a Belkin range extender and it didn't even find my network, so that was a good start. Please don't recommend any Belkin products!

I basically need to give my network better coverage, and I need it to be reliable. I can't change the modem/router I use because Sky will cry about it, so I'm after some buying/network design advice.

Thanks in advance

russ0r · 2 Feb 2009 at 21:30

You should be able to buy pretty much any standalone wireless access point and configure it as a wireless 'repeater'. This will basically make it a second access point for your network.
If you want to try this look for an access point that has a 'wireless bridge' feature. I know my two year old linksys does this so it might be worth giving one of their newer APs a try.
This way you could have the repeating access point sat a bit closer to your office so you can get a more reliable wifi signal, and you could leave your sky router as it is.

ATI · 7 Feb 2009 at 20:36

hi russ0r

would a Netgear DG834Gv2 do the job as i,m having the same issue as sic?

any tips or guides on how to set up would be great

thanks

tolien · 7 Feb 2009 at 20:52

If they both do WDS you can use that, otherwise you're looking at running a cable.

ATI · 7 Feb 2009 at 21:12

i dont know if the o2 box or the netgear do that, is there anyway i can check?

tolien · 7 Feb 2009 at 22:16

Google, or read the manual? From the former, the DG834G does.

Mr-White · 7 Feb 2009 at 22:25

replace the antenna on the router and pc or get a newer router with MIMO

MW

Slyman2k4 · 8 Feb 2009 at 08:55

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/

Haven't done it myself yet, but I will be when I get the time. The extra dB should cover what the concrete wall is blocking from my living room and upstairs nicely.

LeeC · 9 Feb 2009 at 08:57

DLINK AP2100+ , i swear by these. works as a client, repeater or access point. I currently run an industrial estate on these alone, with backhaul over 5kms!