Increasing Network Strength in Garden

Mundu

Mundu

Mundu

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I have a WRT54GL flashed to DD-WRT v23 SP2 wich is wired to my 20mb virgin media connection and to a PC in the house. I have a studio in the back of the garden which has my main rig in it.

The signal strength/speed always varies but surfing is okay even though I only get 7mbs when I run speedtest. Streaming is the main problem it always judders and HD playback is impossible to watch.

I've tried increasing the xmit power but it doesn't seem to help the streaming at all.

I'm thinking of getting a omni outdoor antenna and placing it outside the studio but I'm really not sure if it would help. Any other suggestion would be much appriciated.

 
Might be just an inherent speed limit with wireless technology... I doubt you'd be able to stream HD stuff over any wireless at sufficient speed.

Try sticking your main rig in the house temporarily (or laptop if you have one), sit it next to the router so you get maximum signal, and then try streaming - if you still have issues then you won't do any better with wireless (tho you could try some draft-n stuff).

If that's OK, then you just need to boost the strength of the signal you recieve so a nice directional, high dbi antenna connected to your main rig and pointed back at the house may well do it.
 
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I was in the same situation with my garage. Needed a good link so i could backup all the computers in the house. All i did was run a cat5 down there, didn't need any special shielding and it's been fine for well over a year now in the rain and snow. Wireless is poo!
 
Zap said:
I was in the same situation with my garage. Needed a good link so i could backup all the computers in the house. All i did was run a cat5 down there, didn't need any special shielding and it's been fine for well over a year now in the rain and snow. Wireless is poo!
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Was going to suggest the above. Get some cat5 cable run from the house to the studio, then get a cheap switch for the studio.
 
you could make your self a network mesh using some Meraki Mini WiFi Repeaters

they cost $50.00 each and im a 100% sure they will do the job
just stick them on the inner wall of your window facing the garden and it
should create a good wifi range

Meraki ship to the UK but i dont know what the shipping costs are.

they also do out door ones but cost more.

cant see them coping with HD playback tho as there only 54mbs
 
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Mundu said:
Well I just want a cheap way to improve the connection at the moment.
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Good antennas are not cheap and you may need a pair to improve the signal enough. Even if they get a stronger signal you cant be sure you dont have external interference or a bandwidth issue for streaming.
DIY is possible but you still usually need to buy suitable wiring and connectors.

Pair of mid speed (85mbps) homeplugs should be about £45 and very likley to be good enough. perhaps try etenrnet wiring to first to ensure its just a connection problem with wifi and not an issue at some toehr point.
 
after reading about how wireless G can't penetrate walls and what you guys have said i have come to accept that I won't be able to stream until Wireless N (?) is proven. For the internet it's fine but for streaming media I'd be better off just using a wire I guess.
 
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