Boosting signal for wireless broadband

[thekitchendesigner]

Can anyone tell me whether there is something i can do to boost the signal from my wireless router to my laptop?

I currently have my office upstairs, above the room where the router is. i'll soon be moving the office into my converted garage, and although i can get a signal, it is lower.

i need to have a reliable signal but want wireless, so can i do anything to boost the signal?

Thanks

 

[crus]

Hi,

try and improve line of sight if possible?

Try changing frequencies.

Or get a repeater in and place in your hallway :-(

D

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Thanks crus.

Cant really change line of sight. could adjust the antenna?

how would i adjust frequencies, and whats a repeater?!?!

 

[confused]

you can get an booster, or if you are creative, you could do this
It actually works, I tried it some time ago.
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

A repeater does just that.

CALV

 

[thekitchendesigner]

thanks Calv, interesting one that!

might give that a go! if not, where can i get a booster??

thanks

 

[mattk]

Have you tried your laptop in it's new location for a significant period of time? Do you lose the connection alot?

Just because the signal is low doesn't neccessarily mean it will be unreliable. personally, I'd suck it and see before spending out on boosters or a new router.

 

[thekitchendesigner]

sounds like a plan. i've only tried it for a few minutes so would be a good idea to try it for longer.

cheers Matt

 

[Sapphire-Limited]

Hello,

What brand is your Router?

Its possible you could puchase a new antenna with a higher dB gain - you can find these on ebuyer.com or on ebay.co.uk

If its a Linksys try this link for information on changing the firmware and increasing its power:

http://www.linksysinfo.org/

Good Luck
Gareth
Sapphire Document Solutions

 

[thekitchendesigner]

hi gareth.

tis a linksys - model WRT54GS

i'll take a look at the site you mention and also for new antenna.

Thanks

 

[redback]

You can do wireless bridgeing with some Belkin routers. It works like this you buy a Belkin Access Point/Range Extender and set it up with the same SSID, security and channel as your router and in "Bridgeing" from the menu on the router you fill in the MAC address of the Access Point/Range Extender and bingo you now place the Access Point/Range Extender in a location which picks up your signal from your router and also provide a stronger signal for your laptop. No cable to run but you do need a mains supply. The Access Point/Range Extender cost about £50 but the router must be a particular belkin model.

 

[annethedonn]

Silly question, but have you got filters on every socket?

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Silly question, but have you got filters on every socket?

Hi Anne - could you elaborate - not that up on the tech talk im afraid!! :-(

 

[annethedonn]

Sorry, the telephone filters they advise you to get with the router which stops interference on your broadband. Not sure if that would affect your wireless or not though. I know until I put one on every extension I couldn't get on line.

 

[thekitchendesigner]

signal is v good internally and dont know of any filters. its only really because i'm locating out of the house i'm worried about signal strength dropping.

i'm going to try a 'prolonged' test 2mora to see how it goes!

 

[annethedonn]

Well good luck with that - you could try changing the channel from 11 to 6 - mine kept dropping out recently and Netgear advised me to change it and had excellent connection since.

 

[confused]

ok microfilters will not in any way,shape or form affect your wireless connection. Had the actual net connection been dropping then that may well have been a filter problem. you HAVE to have a filter on any socket with a telephony device connected to it or it wont work properly - simple as that.
A repeater is an option, as is changing channel, you can, as mentioned purchase a replacement antenna which should give you improved signal, also mounting the router up on a wall will improve things but of course this depends on how much of an eyesore you (or the other half..) consider it.
You could also get a longer rj11 cable (from phone line to router) and move the router. or indeed (assuming your router has LAN port(s)) hard wire it - my preferred method.

CALv

 

[easyasit]

keep in mind security as well if your going to do this.
If you can set the wirelss router to work from a longer range, the odds are others will also be able to see it.

You could also try changing the location of the router, move it closer to where u intend to do your work. Those these things generally have a good range in anycase

Have you added the WEP encryption , have you disabled the SSID broadcast? Enabled MAC address filtering?

Al

 

[thekitchendesigner]

you HAVE to have a filter on any socket with a telephony device connected to it or it wont work properly - simple as that.


CALv

do you mean ordinary phones or VOIP phones? or both? I want to use VOIP when i move so i dont have to run a new phone line, but i believe this is difficult, especially with proper VOIP hardware (phone) as i'm wireless?!?

thanks Al & Anne for previous posts.

Have you added the WEP encryption , have you disabled the SSID broadcast? Enabled MAC address filtering?

in simple - no! i havent done anything through fear of having no connection - net is vital for me! Willing to take advice though..

 

[Enigma121]

You should be running with at least some form of encryption enabled. Minimum standard is WEP, but it's not terribly secure, I'd recommend WPA if you have the equipment and software to cope with this.

If you don't have anything anyone in the local area could access your network and introduce files or surf the net downloading all sorts of nasties, absolutely free of charge. This could be your neighbour, or a hacker sat in a car outside. There have been a number incidents like this...

Isn't wireless networking fun....

 

[thekitchendesigner]

isnt it just!

I really have no clue how to do these things really, and dont want to mess with things i dont know through fear of cocking it up!

if you/anyone can PM/email me with a guide that would be good. I'm using a Linksys wireless router.

Cheers

 

[seabro]

Mark.

One more way to do it would be to buy one 'ethernet over mains' plug and one 'wireless ethernet over mains plug'.

Then you plug the non wireless device in the mains near the router and plug an ethernet cable into the router then you plug the other plug in the mains socket in the garage and it gives wireless access to your garage.

You can get the kit at solwise.co.uk. I have used it many times and it works well.

All the best,

 

[Enigma121]

Mark,

I've sent a PM with some guidance info on secure setups. Hope this can help.

 

[thekitchendesigner]

Thanks Sean & enigma.

Sean - had a look on that site, looks positive!

Enigma - thanks for PM.

Would another option be to buy a wireless access point and have this in the office/garage with me? did some research on the net and this idea popped up? feasable?

 

[confused]

Would another option be to buy a wireless access point and have this in the office/garage with me? did some research on the net and this idea popped up? feasable?

you would then still need to cable from your router to the access point or the rest of your network or the internet wouldnt be accesible.
Maybe a repeater is in order after all, or a booster for your router if the antenna come off.