Increasing router range

[X2]

Might seem like a silly question... but is wifi router reception a matter of line of sight ?

Ie.. If I placed a router higher up in a room, would it's potential range be maximized ?

Also, does it matter whether the router has adjustable antennae versus an internal antenna ?

The Netgear unit versus the Linksys units I have don't have similar range... although the internal antenna Netgear was the 'better' router, it's range seems very limited, whereas the Linksys with adjustable antenna stalks seems to get much better reception versus the Netgear, even if the netgear is in the next room and the Linksys is 2 rooms away !

[kual]

Linksys range extenders. works extremely well for the last 7 years

[wagonrunner]

X, the short response is antenna orientation does affect range in the three dimenions of an area.

[dragaholic]

Linksys range extenders. works extremely well for the last 7 years

Where can I find this?

[wagonrunner]

amazon had last time i bought. now this is good for inside a building where signal is present but weak.

It will take your one or two bars (out of five), and give you the full five.

[kurpal_v2]

I've been contemplating trying two routers to extend my range.


I have the arris (I think) from flow and a linksys wrt54g, plan was to let the linksys act as the repeater. What you guys think?

[jaceson]

i started to use the asus brand routers with the repeaters option. works very well and i had no need to restart since setting it up. pricing is comparable to linksys.

the asus i bought have external 2 antennas, and the signal strength is much better than the linksys with the internal antenna.

[wagonrunner]

can't remember if the linksys OS can do it, but if you can load DD-Wrt or Tomato on it, it will work.

I have a few of them running like that. sucks when lightening breaks the chain though.

[jaceson]

I've been contemplating trying two routers to extend my range.


I have the arris (I think) from flow and a linksys wrt54g, plan was to let the linksys act as the repeater. What you guys think?

if possible install dd-wrt. i had an application like this before and it worked great for me.

[sharkman121]

went pricemart to buy a router today, all they had were the Belkin N300's. Its a good thing i did a quick review of it on my phone before i bought it cuz apparently its rel sheit.

Looking for a router to buy asap... anyone? May check Supertech tomorrow.

[kurpal_v2]

can't remember if the linksys OS can do it, but if you can load DD-Wrt or Tomato on it, it will work.

I have a few of them running like that. sucks when lightening breaks the chain though.

I can load the dd-wrt, ill try in a few weeks once I settle on a place to install it.

[cherrypopper]

http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-WGR614-Wi ... =WGR614V10

I use this , been using it for a month now and no issues whatsoever and I got it reasonable...

[ru$$ell]

i got a cnet wifi 9dbi antenna for those of you who have routers that have the external antenna but want a further range:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=469473

[wagonrunner]

i got a cnet wifi 9dbi antenna for those of you who have routers that have the external antenna but want a further range:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=469473

not all connectors are the same. yours is a reverse SMA, won't work with a linksys.

[maj. tom]

[wagonrunner]

until lightening charge travels back to your hub and take out everything else.
UPS's try, but all downtime is mitigated if not avoided entirely.

[X2]

I have the WRT54G Linksys which has been a good, reliable router for over 4 yrs now. The netgear wndr3400v2 is merely 'ok' in terms of range and reliable connection. I want to mount the netgear up on a wall, about 6-7 feet up to see if it helps... but that requires extension cords.... jeez.



So raising the router up and clear of all adjacent walls WILL encourage better reception ?


What about the internal antenna vs externals ?

[wagonrunner]

not so much just walls, but steel in the walls, or walls so thick that interfere with broadcast in it's frequency.

graphic depicting how some antennas work. it would vary. some externals can be aimed, some internals are affected by orientation.

[X2]

So a router standing on it's side versus laying flat will have different ranges ?

Hmmm

[wagonrunner]

basically. yeah. at the extremities of it's antenna orientation.

[Cid]

I downloaded some plans for a diy antenna booster and got really good results... It didn't double the range or anything but it solved my problem... In areas where i got no signal im getting 2 bars now.... Its not alot but its free lol

[Cooper]

I downloaded some plans for a diy antenna booster and got really good results... It didn't double the range or anything but it solved my problem... In areas where i got no signal im getting 2 bars now.... Its not alot but its free lol

I tried one of these DIY templates from freeantennas.com, it's called the windsurfer. I used it to get a better signal quality on a system that uses a Dell USB wifi adapter (with no external antenna).

I verified the enhanced signal with a couple WiFi utilities I use at work and the signal quality increased by about 40%. Streaming HD video on youtube as if it were a wired connection now.

I'd suggest you guys try it out before spending money on new equipment. See the example pictured below:


It's basically a parabolic reflector that can direct and enhance radio signals. You can also use it to limit access to your wireless network...depending on the location of the router.

[wagonrunner]

those things help with short range gains. not a replacement for a repeater, to extend gain coverage.

[pioneer]

If i move my router from behind my monitor my range would increase?

please respond

[pete]

Wouldn't it be easy to try it and see?

[pioneer]

Not easy to move brah

[wagonrunner]

Not easy to move brah

not easy to sit here and accurately tell you brah

Wouldn't it be easy to try it and see?

is the most sensible thing to do

[pioneer]

Where's a good place to put it?

[redmanjp]

802.11N supposed to give up to 300m range not so? and for this to work must the wifi receiver card also be N to pick up at that range or is it that only the router has to be N?

[wagonrunner]

Where's a good place to put it?

central to where you want / need coverage, with ideally as fews object that would cause interference between it and those areas.