Extending wireless strength

denz1968

denz1968

denz1968

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Joined
18 Jun 2003
Posts
275
Location
Alford, Lincs
Hi

I have a dlink DSLG604T wireless router. What is the best way to increase the signal strength at the extremeties of my home? I.E. In the bedroom with the laptop we get a full speed signal but the strength varies because of the amount of block walls the signal has to travel through.

All help appreciated.

Thanks
 
Dlink arn't renound for signal penetration. Could try higher gain arials or indeed directional antenni(sp?) but don't rule out the adapters. normally routers can transmit further than adapters and it's normally the adapter's transmission signal that is the weak link.
 
could you add an access point at a higher level, if it was a pci wireless adapter you could add an aerial, have you a built in wireless or a cardbus?
 
OK the laptop that has problems has built in wireless.

The 2 other PC's that use the wireless network both use USB wireless adapters. Generally they are both ok, but then they are closer to the DLINK wireless router.


The laptop is OK close to the router, but looses signal as you go to the other end of the house, both upstairs and down.

I have just found that i have a 3com wireless access point that i can use. What do i need to do to use this??


Thanks
 
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1\ Install NetStumbler on the laptop to let you get a better idea of your signal strength.

2\ Try one of the USB WiFi NICs on the laptop. With an extension lead, you may be able to "wave it around" and find a better signal.

3\ Use NetStumbler to make sure your neighbours are not on the same WiFi channel as yourself. (When I did this in my house, my signal strength doubled)

4\ See if you can setup your 3-com WiFi Access Point as a WiFi Bridge. This will then allow you to have two aerials in the house. (I have done this for one of my customers who needed to get their WiFi up three floors of the house into the loft.)

5\ Is the aerial detachable from your Access Point? If yes, you get get stronger aerials.

6\ I have a plan around somewhere for making a reflective dish out of card and tinfoil to make your Access Point more directional.

Edit: Annoyingly I can't find my original link. But these could help for some ideas....

http://www.freeantennas.com/prod01.htm
http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

..time to eat some Pringles. :D

:D
 
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im not an expert on wireless, however i imagine you plug the access point into one of the ethernet ports on the router, and cable it to where you need it.

i have a wired network to 3 pc's all in the same room, plus a wireless access point upstairs cabled to the wired router.
another pc upstairs is wireless, as is this laptop
all netgear, the wireless is rangemax access point and cardbus.
if you want to try a 108g cardbus OC were givin em away at £11.69
ive seen em in the high street at gulp-£59.99
ive had my signal as high as 96%. the access point is directly above me in the bedroom, but trial and error helps (locating it)
 
valerian said:
im not an expert on wireless, however i imagine you plug the access point into one of the ethernet ports on the router, and cable it to where you need it.
Click to expand...
Not quite. You can setup the second Wireless Access Point as a stand alone thing. No cables attached at all. As long as it has a "Bridge" mode to allow it to connect to the main Wireless Access Point at the front of the house. :)


We need the model of that 3-Com. Or a good read of the config pages to see if there is mention of a Bridging mode. (Not all AP's will have them, but a quality 3-Com one has a good chance of the feature being available...)
 
Ahhhh... from a quick Google on "WL-526" it is clear that you don't have a 3-Com device, you have a Sitecom device. A VERY different company.

3-Com are network experts with expensive kit.

Sitecom are cheapo parts sold in the highstreet. (Also found inside some Belkin kit). I doubt that you will have a bridge option, but now I know what it is I'll try to locate a manual. :)

Edit: On the sitecom site, the numbers are a little odd....

A "WL-526" refers to a box of bits includeing a WL-122, WL-121 and WL-125. The router is a WL-121. but there are two editions.... V1 and V2. Which do you have?

http://www.sitecom.com/drivers_result.php?groupid=5&productid=237
 
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MAllen said:
Ahhhh... from a quick Google on "WL-526" it is clear that you don't have a 3-Com device, you have a Sitecom device. A VERY different company.
Click to expand...
/Throws book at MAllen

My WL526 says 3com on it
 
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Phnom_Penh said:
/Throws book at MAllen

My WL526 says 3com on it
Click to expand...
[MAllen ducks to avoid book] Weird. So why can't I find it on the 3-Com site? But I can find it as a Sitecom product? This is bizzzare....

Give us a URL to the manual - or throw that at me as well. :D
 
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Doubly cunning of old Phnom_Penh as the link was to the conformity document... but that lead me to this 3-Com Manual for WL526 Thanks for you help Phnom_Penh :)

Bad news is I can't see any reference to a Bridge mode.... so that idea is out. :(


BTW - denz1968 - have you thought of using the 3-Com as your main router instead of the LInksys? Could be worth comparing signal strengths with Netstumbler.?
 
Phnom_Penh said:
When you say bridge, do you mean like a repeater/extender or as a client?
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I meant a "Bridge" as in a "Repeater/Extender". But this 3-Com doesn't have that facility. I think it is more specific to stand-alone access points. (For example, my old Netgear WG602 can do it with a firmware update.)

It's not an option in this case, so we can ignore all the Bridge suggestions from me. :D Back to the Heath Robinson tinfoil reflectors I think....
 
MAllen said:
I meant a "Bridge" as in a "Repeater/Extender". But this 3-Com doesn't have that facility. I think it is more specific to stand-alone access points. (For example, my old Netgear WG602 can do it with a firmware update.)

It's not an option in this case, so we can ignore all the Bridge suggestions from me. :D Back to the Heath Robinson tinfoil reflectors I think....
Click to expand...
Yeh thats a repeater and not a bridge, the 3com does do it, but the Dlink doesn't so it won't work.
 
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