Doh

I think I've bought the wrong piece of kit which is actually it's not
unusual for me :-)

I have Linksys Wireless G Broadband Router (WRT54GS) connected to my main pc
and cable modem. I have two family wireless laptops which connect to the
router.

The router is in the corner at the front of the house and because it doesn't
transmit too well through a couple of solid walls and a conservatory I
wanted to extend the range.

First of all I bought a Hawking Hi-Gain Omni-Directional Antenna which does
make a difference but the signal was still dropping out in the garden.

I spoke to a colleague who told me I needed a wireless access point to
extend the signal so I bought a Linksys Wireless G Access Point (WAP54G).

After struggling with it for a couple of hours I realised that what this
actually does is make a wired network wireless not extend a wireless
network.

Three questions:

1. Can it be used for what I need - i.e. extend the range of my wireless
network?

2. If it can't - what exactly do I need?

3. What's the address of Ebay again :-) I feel a bargain coming for someone.

Many thanks.

Steve

On Tue, 11 Jul 2006 06:52:10 GMT, "Scooby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<uUHsg.307654$(E-Mail Removed)> :

>I think I've bought the wrong piece of kit which is actually it's not
>unusual for me :-)
>
>I have Linksys Wireless G Broadband Router (WRT54GS) connected to my main pc
>and cable modem. I have two family wireless laptops which connect to the
>router.
>
>The router is in the corner at the front of the house and because it doesn't
>transmit too well through a couple of solid walls and a conservatory I
>wanted to extend the range.
>
>First of all I bought a Hawking Hi-Gain Omni-Directional Antenna which does
>make a difference but the signal was still dropping out in the garden.
>
>I spoke to a colleague who told me I needed a wireless access point to
>extend the signal so I bought a Linksys Wireless G Access Point (WAP54G).
>
>After struggling with it for a couple of hours I realised that what this
>actually does is make a wired network wireless not extend a wireless
>network.
>
>Three questions:
>
>1. Can it be used for what I need - i.e. extend the range of my wireless
>network?

Yes, if connected to your router by *wire* (Ethernet, powerline
networking, phoneline networking, coax networking). It's the preferred
way to extend wireless coverage. You normally want the *same* _unique
to you_ SSID, but a *different* minimally-overlapping channel (1, 6, or
11).

Or you could also locate the access point near the router, using
directional antennas on each one to cover different directions better
than the high-gain omni. Again, same SSID and different channels.

The least desirable solution is to use a wireless repeater (WDS) instead
of a wired access point, because that cuts the wireless speed in half.

--
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>

"John Navas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 11 Jul 2006 06:52:10 GMT, "Scooby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> <uUHsg.307654$(E-Mail Removed)> :
>
>>I think I've bought the wrong piece of kit which is actually it's not
>>unusual for me :-)
>>
>>I have Linksys Wireless G Broadband Router (WRT54GS) connected to my main
>>pc
>>and cable modem. I have two family wireless laptops which connect to the
>>router.
>>
>>The router is in the corner at the front of the house and because it
>>doesn't
>>transmit too well through a couple of solid walls and a conservatory I
>>wanted to extend the range.
>>
>>First of all I bought a Hawking Hi-Gain Omni-Directional Antenna which
>>does
>>make a difference but the signal was still dropping out in the garden.
>>
>>I spoke to a colleague who told me I needed a wireless access point to
>>extend the signal so I bought a Linksys Wireless G Access Point (WAP54G).
>>
>>After struggling with it for a couple of hours I realised that what this
>>actually does is make a wired network wireless not extend a wireless
>>network.
>>
>>Three questions:
>>
>>1. Can it be used for what I need - i.e. extend the range of my wireless
>>network?
>
> Yes, if connected to your router by *wire* (Ethernet, powerline
> networking, phoneline networking, coax networking). It's the preferred
> way to extend wireless coverage. You normally want the *same* _unique
> to you_ SSID, but a *different* minimally-overlapping channel (1, 6, or
> 11).
>
> Or you could also locate the access point near the router, using
> directional antennas on each one to cover different directions better
> than the high-gain omni. Again, same SSID and different channels.
>
> The least desirable solution is to use a wireless repeater (WDS) instead
> of a wired access point, because that cuts the wireless speed in half.
>

That's excellent, thanks very much for that John.

Follow on question - is there a maximum operational length for an ethernet
operating cable (I am hoping for around 20ft)?

Steve

On Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:48:01 GMT, "Scooby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
<5DQsg.74354$(E-Mail Removed) >:

>"John Navas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .

>>>1. Can it be used for what I need - i.e. extend the range of my wireless
>>>network?
>>
>> Yes, if connected to your router by *wire* (Ethernet, powerline
>> networking, phoneline networking, coax networking). It's the preferred
>> way to extend wireless coverage. You normally want the *same* _unique
>> to you_ SSID, but a *different* minimally-overlapping channel (1, 6, or
>> 11).
>>
>> Or you could also locate the access point near the router, using
>> directional antennas on each one to cover different directions better
>> than the high-gain omni. Again, same SSID and different channels.
>>
>> The least desirable solution is to use a wireless repeater (WDS) instead
>> of a wired access point, because that cuts the wireless speed in half.
>
>That's excellent, thanks very much for that John.
>
>Follow on question - is there a maximum operational length for an ethernet
>operating cable (I am hoping for around 20ft)?

CAT5 Ethernet is good for at least 100 meters (328 feet).

--
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>

Scooby wrote:

> Follow on question - is there a maximum operational length for an ethernet
> operating cable (I am hoping for around 20ft)?

LOL. I believe Jeff claims success for cat5e cable up to 1000'. In any
case, far more than you need :-)
--
derek

"John Navas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:48:01 GMT, "Scooby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> <5DQsg.74354$(E-Mail Removed) >:
>
>>"John Navas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>news:(E-Mail Removed). ..
>
>>>>1. Can it be used for what I need - i.e. extend the range of my wireless
>>>>network?
>>>
>>> Yes, if connected to your router by *wire* (Ethernet, powerline
>>> networking, phoneline networking, coax networking). It's the preferred
>>> way to extend wireless coverage. You normally want the *same* _unique
>>> to you_ SSID, but a *different* minimally-overlapping channel (1, 6, or
>>> 11).
>>>
>>> Or you could also locate the access point near the router, using
>>> directional antennas on each one to cover different directions better
>>> than the high-gain omni. Again, same SSID and different channels.
>>>
>>> The least desirable solution is to use a wireless repeater (WDS) instead
>>> of a wired access point, because that cuts the wireless speed in half.
>>
>>That's excellent, thanks very much for that John.
>>
>>Follow on question - is there a maximum operational length for an ethernet
>>operating cable (I am hoping for around 20ft)?
>
> CAT5 Ethernet is good for at least 100 meters (328 feet).

Thanks again John