Wireless Range Extenders?

lettuce · 29 May 2012 at 21:05

I am looking at getting either the, TP-Link 150Mbps Wireless Range Extender or a Edimax EW-7228APN 150Mbps Wireless-N Access Point, but not 100% sure which would best suit my needs.

My setup atm is the PC/wireless router connected up to the internet is upstairs in my house, back a few years ago i ran a 20 odd meter ethernet cable form this router to the back room in my house (going through the loft, outside the house and back in again) to a 4 port ethernet switch box, for the PC & Xbox that was in the back room. I have recently got a iPad and with the better weather being here now i would like to use the iPad in the garden but the wireless signal isnt strong enough from the wireless router upstairs, hence why im looking at the TP-Link or Edimax.

Can i do away with my current 4 port ethernet box and replace it with one of the above via plugging the ethernet cable coming from the router upstairs, thus sending out a wireless signal via this ethernet cable?, or do these devices only relay wireless signals?

JAzz · 29 May 2012 at 21:14

Having playing with extenders in the past I came to the conclusion they work well for a bit and then usually cause nothing but trouble! I'd get a set of Homeplugs and plug one in the point of your house that is low on wifi and stick a wireless access point there. Much better speeds and much more stable.

stevey3d · 29 May 2012 at 21:22

I use the Devolo AV200 with wifi. Use 2 of them and they have been 100% reliable. Used a range extender previously but it used to mess up regularly for no apparent reason.

lettuce · 29 May 2012 at 23:55

JAzz said:
Having playing with extenders in the past I came to the conclusion they work well for a bit and then usually cause nothing but trouble! I'd get a set of Homeplugs and plug one in the point of your house that is low on wifi and stick a wireless access point there. Much better speeds and much more stable.

How does these homeplugs work, do they have an ethernet socket on them?

EDIT: Something like the, OcUK Value 200Mbp/s Homeplugs then. So i would plug one into a power socket near the upstairs PC and connect up a ethernet cable from my router to the homeplug, and then plug the other powerplug into a wall socket downstairs?. Are these wireless or only wired, so in other words do i need to connect the homeplug downstairs up to my laptop via a ethernet cable?

stevey3d · 30 May 2012 at 06:58

In the devolo range there are two types of plugin. One has no wifi and one ethernet port. The other has wifi and 3 ethernet ports.

If you go for a homeplug without wifi then you could use a wifi access point plugged into it? Or use an ethernet cable into your PC.

I use the wifi Devolo and the range and speed are good. I also don't need ethernet hubs or wifi access points as its all built into the one box. Search for dLAN® 200 AV Wireless N Starter Kit to get an idea. They also do 500Mbps too, but I haven't seen a wifi version of that.

lettuce · 30 May 2012 at 13:28

Thanks for the info but the dLan 200 Av Wireless devices are way over budget for what i want to spend, nothing more £30 really.

All im after is a device that i can just plug into the ethernet cable that is in the back room downstairs (with the other end connected to my router upstairs) that gives out a wireless signal that my iPad can connect to in the garden?

JAzz · 30 May 2012 at 14:12

lettuce said:
How does these homeplugs work, do they have an ethernet socket on them?

EDIT: Something like the, OcUK Value 200Mbp/s Homeplugs then. So i would plug one into a power socket near the upstairs PC and connect up a ethernet cable from my router to the homeplug, and then plug the other powerplug into a wall socket downstairs?. Are these wireless or only wired, so in other words do i need to connect the homeplug downstairs up to my laptop via a ethernet cable?

Basically one end of the homeplug goes into router and the other end should give you an internet connection. In that other end you can use an ethernet cable or you can put a wireless access point or if you have any old router lying around you can use that as well and they can be converted into access points.

oli356 · 1 Jun 2012 at 13:39

Just bought some homeplugs for £11 from elsewhere, had vouchers to spend. I can either plug it into the wdtv in the lounge as there is no wi-fi signal downstairs (rubbish!) or buy a WAP. Seems like they all £20 ish :/ quite high considering routers arent much more.

EDIT: Found my out d-link N router, went into config and 1 button let me change it to a WAP =)