Boosting wireless signal

Have posted something along this line to 24support, however, I've
given things more thought so perhaps someone here can advise.
I need to boost a wireless signal as the belkin modem/router won't
reach the top of my house.
Is there something I can install wirelessly in the middle to boost the
signal. I have been reading the manual on (say) the DWL-G700AP and it
looks like it needs to be hardwired (or am I mistaken).
Help appreciated.

Nick

On 20 Mar 2007 12:53:12 -0700, in alt.internet.wireless , "NOTTNICK"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Have posted something along this line to 24support, however, I've
>given things more thought so perhaps someone here can advise.
>I need to boost a wireless signal as the belkin modem/router won't
>reach the top of my house.
>Is there something I can install wirelessly in the middle to boost the
>signal.

You could install a range extender. However bear in mind that this
will halve your bandwidth. I can't recommend any particular unit.

>I have been reading the manual on (say) the DWL-G700AP and it
>looks like it needs to be hardwired (or am I mistaken).

Thats an access point, so yes it'd have to be hardwired. This is by
the way the best solution - move your AP as high as possible in your
house.

Have you considered powerline networking?

--
Mark McIntyre

On Mar 20, 8:17 pm, Mark McIntyre <markmcint...@spamcop.net> wrote:
> On 20 Mar 2007 12:53:12 -0700, in alt.internet.wireless , "NOTTNICK"
>
> <goo...@bellows.org.uk> wrote:
> >Have posted something along this line to 24support, however, I've
> >given things more thought so perhaps someone here can advise.
> >I need to boost a wireless signal as the belkin modem/router won't
> >reach the top of my house.
> >Is there something I can install wirelessly in the middle to boost the
> >signal.
>
> You could install a range extender. However bear in mind that this
> will halve your bandwidth. I can't recommend any particular unit.
>
> >I have been reading the manual on (say) the DWL-G700AP and it
> >looks like it needs to be hardwired (or am I mistaken).
>
> Thats an access point, so yes it'd have to be hardwired. This is by
> the way the best solution - move your AP as high as possible in your
> house.
>
> Have you considered powerline networking?
>
> --
> Mark McIntyre

What's that?

On 20 Mar 2007 14:59:15 -0700, in alt.internet.wireless , "NOTTNICK"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>> Have you considered powerline networking?
>>
>What's that?

STFW FCOL!!

eg

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/defa...ShopGroupID=61

--
Mark McIntyre

On Mar 20, 11:35 pm, Mark McIntyre <markmcint...@spamcop.net> wrote:
> On 20 Mar 2007 14:59:15 -0700, in alt.internet.wireless , "NOTTNICK"
>
> <goo...@bellows.org.uk> wrote:
> >> Have you considered powerline networking?
>
> >What's that?
>
> STFW FCOL!!
>
> eg
>
> http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/defa...ShopGroupID=61
>
> --
> Mark McIntyre

Thanks for that, more research following from your suggestion leads me
to this - it looks like exactly what I need, a comprimise between
wireless & powerline (as I have 2 wireless laptops needing a stronger
connection).
(if anyone thinks I am mistaken, please tell me).

NetGear 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender Kit

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx...avigationKey=0

Nick

On 2007-03-20 18:35:20 -0500, Mark McIntyre <(E-Mail Removed)> said:

> On 20 Mar 2007 14:59:15 -0700, in alt.internet.wireless , "NOTTNICK"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>> Have you considered powerline networking?
>>>
>> What's that?
>
> STFW FCOL!!
> eg
>
> http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/defa...ShopGroupID=61

This idea of powerline networking looks very interesting, but I noticed
that both companies and the op are from the UK. I'm not sure but I
think their powerlines are different from those in the US. Do these
devices work in the US also?

On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:15:27 -0500, Kathy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<2007032310152716807-me@nowherecom>:

>On 2007-03-20 18:35:20 -0500, Mark McIntyre <(E-Mail Removed)> said:
>
>> On 20 Mar 2007 14:59:15 -0700, in alt.internet.wireless , "NOTTNICK"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>> Have you considered powerline networking?

>This idea of powerline networking looks very interesting, but I noticed
>that both companies and the op are from the UK. I'm not sure but I
>think their powerlines are different from those in the US. Do these
>devices work in the US also?

Definitely.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Powerline IS a great solutoin, but if your question is "how do I get
the signal to reach the top of my house", then consider the antenna
side of things first.

Consider that your antenna probably has a donut- shaped pattern and
depending on location and position your upstairs may be in the "hole",
not the donut. Turn the antenna toward the horizontal to send the
signal upward and see if that helps.

See if you can move your router/AP upstairs or to the middle of the
house and again, experiment with different positions for the antenna.

Consider a higher gain omni antenna. Radio Shack has 'em. It's
stronger, but the donut gets flatter, more like a disc as the gain
goes up.

Or you could use a panel antenna from one end of the house and point
it to cover the rest of the house.

Steve

NOTTNICK <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I need to boost a wireless signal as the belkin modem/router won't
> reach the top of my house.

The signal coming from your stock antenna is shaped like a donut slipped
onto the antenna. You want it broadside to the target, not pointing
end-on, like might be typical if the downstairs antenna were pointing
straight up.

You might try a simple reflector. http://www.freeantennas.com EZ-12,
printed on photo paper for thick stock, with aluminum foil glued to the
sail, provides a substantial boost in signal.
http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/EZ12-windsurfer.jpg
http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/w...fer-dining.JPG The signal with
the reflector is not only 13dB stronger, it's more stable.

With 54g connections, I find that watching the "current bandwidth" in the
Windows perfmon.msc is a pretty good signal indicator.
start-run-perfmon.msc
+ Performance Object = Network
Numbers agree with dslreports.
+ Performance Object = TCP
"current bandwidth"

If you run Remote Desktop or VNC, you can monitor the remote signal
strength from a PC near the router while repositioning the antenna at the
router. Monitoring the remote screen moves enough data that the
performance monitor will show reasonable data.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

On Sat, 24 Mar 2007 23:12:04 +0000 (UTC), (E-Mail Removed) wrote in
<eu4b84$2c5$(E-Mail Removed)>:

>You might try a simple reflector. http://www.freeantennas.com EZ-12,
>printed on photo paper for thick stock, with aluminum foil glued to the
>sail, provides a substantial boost in signal.
>http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/EZ12-windsurfer.jpg
>http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/w...fer-dining.JPG The signal with
>the reflector is not only 13dB stronger, it's more stable.

More stable??? How and in what way?

>With 54g connections, I find that watching the "current bandwidth" in the
>Windows perfmon.msc is a pretty good signal indicator.
> start-run-perfmon.msc
> + Performance Object = Network
> Numbers agree with dslreports.
> + Performance Object = TCP
> "current bandwidth"

I personally find considerable difference between that and actual signal
measurements. My preference is to use a radio with good real-time
signal monitoring capability.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>