Wireless Network Range Problem ?

Bouncy · 13 Apr 2006 at 12:03

I have purchased the Netgear Rangmax Router and 1 Netgear Rangemax PCI Card which i have plugged into 1 machine, the other machine is connected directly to the Router, The 2 machines are quite a distance away maybe 100-150 feet apart with VERY THICK walls in the building and a lot of metal in the building, Signal is awful sometimes it can take half an hour or so to get a signal if i am lucky and when i do it is very weak and i loose it numerious times. Is there anything i can do to help me boost the signal rather than having to make an extremely long Cable which will need tacked round the building, Your help on this would be much appreciated.

OllyM · 13 Apr 2006 at 12:13

Powerline networking?

Or ethernet cable... that's pretty much your only choice without messing around with WDS (which most Netgunks don't support anyway).

AMDX23800+ · 13 Apr 2006 at 12:25

You could get an aerial (omin-directional or directional), still might not work though, with thick wallas and metal etc.

Skilldibop · 13 Apr 2006 at 12:56

directional antenna might work. Also switching to 5GHz Band.

E=hf higher the frequency the higher the energy of the wave and the shorter the wavelength. Thus it will diffract less and penetrate further.

OllyM · 13 Apr 2006 at 13:19

I don't think those Rangemax things can have antennas added, anyway... don't they work on the principle that they have a couple of them, and Netgear seem to put them inside their routers.

Skilldibop · 13 Apr 2006 at 14:47

I don't think those Rangemax things can have antennas added, anyway... don't they work on the principle that they have a couple of them, and Netgear seem to put them inside their routers.

In that case, get the crimpers out.

Bouncy · 13 Apr 2006 at 17:20

They have 7 antenna's in the router but still pretty crap distance, i've one in my home too and it says signal strength low !!! Any recommendations where to goto for a ethernet cable made to a custom size?

Jimathy · 13 Apr 2006 at 22:32

OllyM said:
Powerline networking?

Or ethernet cable... that's pretty much your only choice without messing around with WDS (which most Netgunks don't support anyway).

I see that there are powerline network adaptors that can act as wireless access points.

Just put a "PL-85PE 85Mbps Ethernet HomePlug Adapter" and link it into your netgear then place a "PL-85PEW 85Mbps Ethernet HomePlug/54Mbps Wireless Adapter" closer to your pc or even use a few of them, would work a treat I reckon.

Bouncy · 14 Apr 2006 at 11:39

Not sure what that means but thanks for the reply

Jimathy · 14 Apr 2006 at 16:23

Do a google for PL-85PE 85Mbps Ethernet HomePlug Adapter and PL-85PEW 85Mbps Ethernet HomePlug/54Mbps Wireless Adapter

you can extend the range of your wireless network useing ethernet over power kit;

your setup would look something like.

wireless router <<--connects to-->> Ethernet HomePlug <<--connects to-->> Wireless HomePlug (placed closer to your PC) <<--connects to-->> PC/Laptop

MAllen · 15 Apr 2006 at 19:17

Bouncy said:
Any recommendations where to goto for a ethernet cable made to a custom size?

Ethernet cable can be easily be made up to any length you need. Measure out how long a cable you need, remembering to allow for tucking it out of your way, and then check the Yellow pages. You'll find any electrical shop could knock this lead up for you. You want "Cat-5e 10/100 Network Cable".

I'd offer to do one myself if you are in Sussex. Posting the copper cable doesn't make sense because of the weight.