Linksys WAG354G wireless range

rustyballsz · 20 Nov 2006 at 16:48

Hi I've got one of the above & my wireless range is really short at the moment.

I've got the most recent firmware & have tried all the different channels to see if that made a difference to the range, currently 6 & 8 are the most powerful. However with a direct line of sight I can lose connection about 10m away & if there is a wall in the way this cuts down to about 3-5m distance. I have my pc linked via ethernet cable & a second PC the other side of the house which had wireless access, 2 walls about 15m away which cannot see the router.

Anyone recomend any settings that need to be changed to boost the range as i'm sure it should be better than my old BT router!

Trifid · 20 Nov 2006 at 16:59

I just bought that router, wireless range is fine with default set up. I am currently in the room below where it is located and getting 4 out of 5 bars. It works to the end of the garden - just - but it is quite long and goes through 2 walls.

Tracerts don't work for me though.

bluemistywaters · 20 Nov 2006 at 17:07

I got the same router, I Used to get 75% before I got a high gain antenna for it now get 80-85% and I am upstairs (front) router is down stairs and in back room. I play a lot of online games and have no probs, 3 other PC's connected to it 2 by wi-fi one by LAN.

rustyballsz · 21 Nov 2006 at 14:09

Hmm I don't even get close to that kind of signal strength, looks like I may have to get hold of Linksys tech support to see if they can suggest anything.

ianthompsett · 21 Nov 2006 at 14:31

Hi Guys,

I (for my sins) have two of these at work. The one in the office used to be dodgy within a range of 10m or so through three (solid) walls, until I got the Hi Gain Antenna (about £15-20). It is now running at about 65% through the same walls and i can sit in the carpark and still get signal whereas before I couldn't.

The one on site is a bit different - after my experience within the office i bought the hi gain at the same time as the router and it works well - from the "site hut" (read metal box with doors and windows) it works fine with line of site through an unshuttered window to about 150m outside and through a thin cabin wall (40% but very few drop outs). If you close the shutter it kills it big time (signal wont get through 2mm sheet metal, unsurprisingly! )

In summery get a hi-gain antenna - it really does make a difference and if you are running through walls that have metal in them (ie metal frame walls) try repositioning - if you can.

I have heard (but could not find to buy) that you can get antenna extenstions - on the linksys web site - so you can run the hi gain antenna somewhere better but keep the router in the same place.

The only issue I have with this model is that I have had to have a couple replaced due to power surges on the BT line... if you have the option, run the phone line through a surge protector

HTH, IT

BTW Linksys tech support are variable - it depends who picks up the phone (and be prepared to translate from American)

rustyballsz · 21 Nov 2006 at 15:25

Thanks for that ianthompsett, looks like i'll have to get the hi-gain antenna to boost the signal. If it boosts it as much as your stating it'll be more than enough for what i'll need it for.

ianthompsett · 21 Nov 2006 at 15:35

No Worries.... anything much below 35% means lots of drop outs and annoyance. As i said we have one laptop running at 40% and it seems pretty stable.

Cheers
IT

rustyballsz · 25 Nov 2006 at 20:28

Yup the antenna was exactly what i needed, boosted the signal to almost twice what it was before & I can now get a signal anywhere in the house & garden. Brilliant!!