WiFi repeater / range extender?

[stockhausen]

ADSL2 modem router (Netgear DG834G I think) on the ground floor.

Users on the 2nd floor suffer a very weak, intermittent WiFi signal.

Is there any sort of device that can be placed on the 1st floor that will pick up the signal from the modem router on the ground floor and transmit it such that people on the 2nd floor can get a decent strength signal? I am aware that the Netgear DG834G isn't the ultimate device but I don't really want to substitute something else or fit a high gain aerial - I would rather have some 2nd device extending and/or amplifying the signal.


If such a device exists, what is it called and does anyone have any recommendations for a decent, cheap solution? Obviously I would want good WiFi security (WPA2), hidden SSID and MAC Id access control filtering.


Any help much appreciated

 

[LordAzathoth]

ADSL2 modem router (Netgear DG834G I think) on the ground floor.

Users on the 2nd floor suffer a very weak, intermittent WiFi signal.

Is there any sort of device that can be placed on the 1st floor that will pick up the signal from the modem router on the ground floor and transmit it such that people on the 2nd floor can get a decent strength signal? I am aware that the Netgear DG834G isn't the ultimate device but I don't really want to substitute something else or fit a high gain aerial - I would rather have some 2nd device extending and/or amplifying the signal.


If such a device exists, what is it called and does anyone have any recommendations for a decent, cheap solution? Obviously I would want good WiFi security (WPA2), hidden SSID and MAC Id access control filtering.


Any help much appreciated

if your electricity wiring is not split in 2 rings you can use powerline adapter have a look:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/search_results.php?sortby=&groupid=46&search=powerline
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=46&catid=1604

 

[LordAzathoth]

if your electricity wiring is not split in 2 rings you can use powerline adapter have a look:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/search_results.php?sortby=&groupid=46&search=powerline

You will know if you have 2 ring mains in your house by the circuit breaker box/fuse box (ie you can switch power off independantly to different parts of your house))

 

[LordAzathoth]

if you have two rings you can't use that.powerline is way better than wifi in terms of reliability
I

 

[LordAzathoth]

one other thing you can buy a wireless access point
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_access_point

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=46&catid=1837

 

[stockhausen]

if your electricity wiring is not split in 2 rings you can use powerline adapter ...

Good idea, I hadn't even considered that. Sadly it isn't possible because there are two completely independent fuse boxes - there are even two meters

one other thing you can buy a wireless access point
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_access_point

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=46&catid=1837

I get the distinct impression that these devices depend on a wired connection back to the ADSL modem/router and what I want is in effect a WiFi receiver that will then retransmit via Wifi - probably on a different channel and even sub-net . . . I think . . .

 

[John24]

Sadly it isn't possible because there are two completely independent fuse boxes - there are even two meters

Not sure if true but http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=17874867&postcount=5

 

[wolvers]

Using a wifi repeater halves the speed of the network, which is rubbish on 802.11g anyway. I would have thought, as a starting point, that you are better off upgrading to 802.11n and use a router that has a better range and multiple aerials.

Also, what adapters are used on the 2nd floor (did you mean 1st floor)? Laptop internal ones? This is an area for potential improvement as well. If they have intel ones in they're generally easy to replace with the 802.11n ones. If they're desktops then it's an easy upgrade and you could improve the aerials as well as alter the position of said aerial.

 

[stockhausen]

Using a wifi repeater halves the speed of the network, which is rubbish on 802.11g anyway. I would have thought, as a starting point, that you are better off upgrading to 802.11n and use a router that has a better range and multiple aerials. ...

Yup, I am coming to the conclusion that utilising a "better" modem/router or a new 802.11n WiFi router wired to the existing modem/router may well be the answer

... Also, what adapters are used on the 2nd floor (did you mean 1st floor)? Laptop internal ones? This is an area for potential improvement as well. If they have intel ones in they're generally easy to replace with the 802.11n ones. If they're desktops then it's an easy upgrade and you could improve the aerials as well as alter the position of said aerial.

Nope, 2nd floor of a three storey terraced house.

All devices are laptops, using internal aerials and I don;t think that any of the people involved would really want to use an USB external aerial (which might be a solution) and certainly not to open up the laptop to fit anything different.

 

[wolvers]

Nope, 2nd floor of a three storey terraced house.

All devices are laptops, using internal aerials and I don;t think that any of the people involved would really want to use an USB external aerial (which might be a solution) and certainly not to open up the laptop to fit anything different.

I see, 2nd story is gonna be tough. I'd be looking at moving the router to the 1st floor and getting one of the 802.11n ones with MIMO.

If the laptops have intel 802.11g units in them, it's really quite straight forward to replace with n spec ones but I can see why you might be hesitant. n spec USB dongles are an option though and not really that much trouble to have connected. Do the laptops in question have PCMCIA slots as that could be a neater option?

 

[HighlandeR]

I would always solve the issue from the source, so a new powerful wireless N+ modem router to replace the old netgear might be a good idea perhaps something like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-132-BE&tool=3

and then Wireless N adaptors for the laptops/desktops like these :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-077-EX&groupid=46&catid=1600&subcat=

Should surely provide better connectivity for all devices.

Or google this: HomePlug Wireless Range Extender Kit

You could in a sense use a homeplug ethernet adaptor, and just where the electricity cuts off to the next floor whack a wireless homeplug extender there that way the signals way closer to your laptops on the next floor... or even run a power surge/electricity point extender so its running closer to the laptops and then put the wireless homeplug extender on there...

You can even move the existing router closer or to the hallway or closer room to the laptops....

 

[stockhausen]

I see, 2nd story is gonna be tough. I'd be looking at moving the router to the 1st floor and getting one of the 802.11n ones with MIMO. ...

It seems that a new ADSL Modem/Router is the way to go. I'm not sure if 802.11n or MIMO (multiple antennas on the router) will help with 802.11g laptops but I doubt that it will make matters any worse and as you say, if people are bothered, they can always use an USB 802.11n WiFi dongle.

... If the laptops have intel 802.11g units in them, it's really quite straight forward to replace with n spec ones ...

Purely as a matter of interest, have you done this yourself and if so, from where did you source the 802.11n components for the laptops?

I would always solve the issue from the source, so a new powerful wireless N+ modem router to replace the old Netgear might be a good idea perhaps something like this:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-132-BE&tool=3 ...

Yup, you are probably right about the need for a modern ADSL Modem/Router (see above).

The Belkin F7D4401UK does seem very well specified although the only review of it on the OcUK site does include the ominous comment "despite the mixed reviews, on other websites". I Googled for it and reviews and unfortunately some of them are pretty negative.

 

[wolvers]

It seems that a new ADSL Modem/Router is the way to go. I'm not sure if 802.11n or MIMO (multiple antennas on the router) will help with 802.11g laptops but I doubt that it will make matters any worse and as you say, if people are bothered, they can always use an USB 802.11n WiFi dongle.

MIMO should help with multiple users dotted around the house. The router that I have can also supply up to 4 wifi networks. If you had one for each floor I would expect that to help again.

Probably someone with a better knowledge of the router world, than I, can pop by and give you some recommendations. I would imagine that you would be best to avoid cheap makes like Belkin though, but TBH I don't know. I have Netgear stuff and that's always getting slated!

Purely as a matter of interest, have you done this yourself and if so, from where did you source the 802.11n components for the laptops?

I got one from ebay and fitted it to the previous laptop that I had. The simplicity of it depends on the machine in question, but there are strip down guides for a lot of laptops on the information super highway.

Search for '802.11N MINI PCI-E' and you will see what I mean.