Need to boost range of wireless

I have a small wireless network I've just moved into my new house. I had a
desktop hardwired to a Linksys WRT54G, with a desktop and a laptop
connecting to the wireless network at my old house.

At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the house.
She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB a
second per the linksys utility.

It seems my options to remedy this are running cat5, a range extender,
stronger antennas, or a wireless access point. Running cable is a last
resort as it could be tough getting to the area of the bedroom that needs
the feed as it is under a the lowest point of the attic. The antennas seem a
dubious investment. Not sure if the wireless extender thing will really
work. Would the WAP do the same thing as the extender? It seems to be a
better investment as I could reconfigure it if I need to reconfigure the
network in the future.

Any ideas?

Jon

Zeppo <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I have a small wireless network I've just moved into my new house. I had a
> desktop hardwired to a Linksys WRT54G, with a desktop and a laptop
> connecting to the wireless network at my old house.

> At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
> wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
> downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the house.
> She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB a
> second per the linksys utility.

If you have a low signal, a reflector will likely fix the problem.

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

---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5

"Zeppo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
>wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
>downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the house.
>She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB a
>second per the linksys utility.

Does it work OK? If you are sharing a typical 1.5MB internet
connection, it may not matter how fast you are connecting to your
LAN...

I'd look at moving the router to (or installing an AP in) a more
central location.

Zeppo wrote:

> I have a small wireless network I've just moved into my new house. I had a
> desktop hardwired to a Linksys WRT54G, with a desktop and a laptop
> connecting to the wireless network at my old house.
>
> At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
> wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
> downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the house.
> She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB a
> second per the linksys utility.

And that's a problem? You can't make use of all that bandwidth on the
Internet, anyway.
--
derek

I moved the router about 15 feet down the wall from my desktop, which is in
the corner. The signal went from little or no connection to a low power,
'throughput most of the time' connection.

It does get about 1.5 MB sec most of the time, but was hoping to improve
that. My laptop gets 3.5 MB/sec on the wireless card using an online speed
test. My hardwired Comcast connection at my desktop gives me a solid 6mb/sec
from the same site.

If I used an AP would I be better off using a WAP or a signal extender?

Thanks,
Jon

<William P. N. Smith> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Zeppo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
> >wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
> >downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the house.
> >She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB
a
> >second per the linksys utility.
>
> Does it work OK? If you are sharing a typical 1.5MB internet
> connection, it may not matter how fast you are connecting to your
> LAN...
>
> I'd look at moving the router to (or installing an AP in) a more
> central location.

OK, I need to try this, if just for the novelty value of the idea. :-)

Do I use this on the router antennae, or the desktop's PCI card antenna (or
both)? If used on the router, do I need one for each antenna or just use it
on one?

Thanks,
Jon


<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:df4g1l$mbe$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Zeppo <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> > I have a small wireless network I've just moved into my new house. I had
a
> > desktop hardwired to a Linksys WRT54G, with a desktop and a laptop
> > connecting to the wireless network at my old house.
>
> > At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
> > wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
> > downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the
house.
> > She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB
a
> > second per the linksys utility.
>
> If you have a low signal, a reflector will likely fix the problem.
>
> 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
>
> ---
> Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5
>

On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 10:27:44 -0400, "Zeppo" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I have a small wireless network I've just moved into my new house. I had a
>desktop hardwired to a Linksys WRT54G, with a desktop and a laptop
>connecting to the wireless network at my old house.
>
>At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
>wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
>downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the house.
>She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB a
>second per the linksys utility.

12MBits/sec will give you about 6Mbits/sec thruput. This is faster
than the typical DSL although it may cause problems with a faster
cable modem connection. However, I suspect that going through the
floor of the house results in an unreliable connection, which is the
real problem.

>It seems my options to remedy this are running cat5, a range extender,
>stronger antennas, or a wireless access point.

1. Run CAT5 upstairs to the computers.
2. Run CAT5 upstairs to a 2nd wireless access point.
3. Setup a 2nd WRT54G and use WDS to repeat the signal. This might
be a problem as you can't seem to go through the floor with a wireless
client, there's no reason to suspect that it can be done with a
repeater.
4. Setup a wireless repeater. Same problem as #3.
5. Use the power line to act as a link upstair and setup a repeater.
This tends to be limited by the speed of the power line link at about
2Mbit/sec thruput.
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGXB102.php
6. Run coax cable upstairs with a 2nd antenna. This is lossy, but if
the cable lengths are short, it works quite well. This is what I do
to deal with the upstairs/downstairs problem at my platial domicile.
7. Install a directional antenna or reflector on the WRT54G and hope
that it penetrates the floor. This is probably the cheapest and
easiest solution. A panel, patch, or biquad antenna would probably
work. I'm not a big fan of coffee can antennas, but if you can
tolerate the aesthetics, that will also suffice. Also:
http://www.freeantennas.com
8. Move the WRT54G to somewhere near the middle of the house or at
the base of the stairwell. Wireless goes through air much easier than
through floors. If your floor is poured concrete, I don't think any
form of positioning will help.

>Running cable is a last
>resort as it could be tough getting to the area of the bedroom that needs
>the feed as it is under a the lowest point of the attic.

Run it to the attic and then to over the bedroom. Install an 2nd
access point or wireless router setup as an access point over the
bedroom. Ceilings are usually not as heavily built as floors.

>The antennas seem a
>dubious investment. Not sure if the wireless extender thing will really
>work.

Wireless extenders, repeaters, WDS repeaters, and mesh networks all
have a small problem. If you need high thruput, they cut your maximum
bandwidth in half. That's probably not a problem if you just want to
share a DSL or cable modem connection. However, your wireless to
wireless thruput will be slow. Methinks you could live with it.
Repeaters and extenders are also very specific as to what chipsets and
devices they will work with. The newsgroups are full of disappointed
users that discover their new wireless repeater doesn't work with
their access point or wireless router. WDS is more of the same, but
you already have half the puzzle. The WRT54G with Sveasoft Alchemy
replacment firmware supports WDS. Buy a 2nd WRT54G to act as a WDS
repeater. You can also plug client computahs into the 2nd WRT54G and
it will act as a bridge to the first. If you have good connectivity
between WRT54G boxes, this is probably the most vesatile and useful
arrangment. Unfortunately, it's also the most expensive and
complicated to setup.

>Would the WAP do the same thing as the extender?

A WAP (wireless access point) can be wired with CAT5 to the first
WRT54G and supply coverage upstairs. You can also use a wireless
router as an access point by ignoring the WAN port and router section.
You'll find that wireless routers are also cheaper than WAP's. Unlike
the extender or repeater, the CAT5 connection is fast, stable,
interference free, and always works. A 2nd WRT54G would do the job or
just about any wireless device.

>It seems to be a
>better investment as I could reconfigure it if I need to reconfigure the
>network in the future.

Your decision. I would play with location and antennas first. Then
decide on the more expensive alternatives if that fails.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
AE6KS 831-336-2558

The spot in the bedroom where the desktop sits resides over the garage,
which has masonry walls. This is probably help block the signal. I get the
same reception on my laptop if I use it near the wife's desktop but the
signal gets real strong near the door to the bedroom.

Just had a thought... Could I connect a coax cable to the back of the PCI
card and run it along the wall to the opposite corner of the bedroom and
connect the antenna and the other end near the door? Would I get a lot of
signal loss through the cable?

Jon

"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 10:27:44 -0400, "Zeppo" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
> >I have a small wireless network I've just moved into my new house. I had
a
> >desktop hardwired to a Linksys WRT54G, with a desktop and a laptop
> >connecting to the wireless network at my old house.
> >
> >At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
> >wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
> >downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the house.
> >She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB
a
> >second per the linksys utility.
>
> 12MBits/sec will give you about 6Mbits/sec thruput. This is faster
> than the typical DSL although it may cause problems with a faster
> cable modem connection. However, I suspect that going through the
> floor of the house results in an unreliable connection, which is the
> real problem.
>
> >It seems my options to remedy this are running cat5, a range extender,
> >stronger antennas, or a wireless access point.
>
> 1. Run CAT5 upstairs to the computers.
> 2. Run CAT5 upstairs to a 2nd wireless access point.
> 3. Setup a 2nd WRT54G and use WDS to repeat the signal. This might
> be a problem as you can't seem to go through the floor with a wireless
> client, there's no reason to suspect that it can be done with a
> repeater.
> 4. Setup a wireless repeater. Same problem as #3.
> 5. Use the power line to act as a link upstair and setup a repeater.
> This tends to be limited by the speed of the power line link at about
> 2Mbit/sec thruput.
> http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGXB102.php
> 6. Run coax cable upstairs with a 2nd antenna. This is lossy, but if
> the cable lengths are short, it works quite well. This is what I do
> to deal with the upstairs/downstairs problem at my platial domicile.
> 7. Install a directional antenna or reflector on the WRT54G and hope
> that it penetrates the floor. This is probably the cheapest and
> easiest solution. A panel, patch, or biquad antenna would probably
> work. I'm not a big fan of coffee can antennas, but if you can
> tolerate the aesthetics, that will also suffice. Also:
> http://www.freeantennas.com
> 8. Move the WRT54G to somewhere near the middle of the house or at
> the base of the stairwell. Wireless goes through air much easier than
> through floors. If your floor is poured concrete, I don't think any
> form of positioning will help.
>
> >Running cable is a last
> >resort as it could be tough getting to the area of the bedroom that needs
> >the feed as it is under a the lowest point of the attic.
>
> Run it to the attic and then to over the bedroom. Install an 2nd
> access point or wireless router setup as an access point over the
> bedroom. Ceilings are usually not as heavily built as floors.
>
> >The antennas seem a
> >dubious investment. Not sure if the wireless extender thing will really
> >work.
>
> Wireless extenders, repeaters, WDS repeaters, and mesh networks all
> have a small problem. If you need high thruput, they cut your maximum
> bandwidth in half. That's probably not a problem if you just want to
> share a DSL or cable modem connection. However, your wireless to
> wireless thruput will be slow. Methinks you could live with it.
> Repeaters and extenders are also very specific as to what chipsets and
> devices they will work with. The newsgroups are full of disappointed
> users that discover their new wireless repeater doesn't work with
> their access point or wireless router. WDS is more of the same, but
> you already have half the puzzle. The WRT54G with Sveasoft Alchemy
> replacment firmware supports WDS. Buy a 2nd WRT54G to act as a WDS
> repeater. You can also plug client computahs into the 2nd WRT54G and
> it will act as a bridge to the first. If you have good connectivity
> between WRT54G boxes, this is probably the most vesatile and useful
> arrangment. Unfortunately, it's also the most expensive and
> complicated to setup.
>
> >Would the WAP do the same thing as the extender?
>
> A WAP (wireless access point) can be wired with CAT5 to the first
> WRT54G and supply coverage upstairs. You can also use a wireless
> router as an access point by ignoring the WAN port and router section.
> You'll find that wireless routers are also cheaper than WAP's. Unlike
> the extender or repeater, the CAT5 connection is fast, stable,
> interference free, and always works. A 2nd WRT54G would do the job or
> just about any wireless device.
>
> >It seems to be a
> >better investment as I could reconfigure it if I need to reconfigure the
> >network in the future.
>
> Your decision. I would play with location and antennas first. Then
> decide on the more expensive alternatives if that fails.
>
> --
> Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
> 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
> Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
> AE6KS 831-336-2558

The problem is the signal is flakey there. It fluctuates and stalls
occasionally. Maybe I am being unrealistic about how much I can improve it
though.

Jon

"Derek Broughton" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2i0hu2-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Zeppo wrote:
>
> > I have a small wireless network I've just moved into my new house. I had
a
> > desktop hardwired to a Linksys WRT54G, with a desktop and a laptop
> > connecting to the wireless network at my old house.
> >
> > At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
> > wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
> > downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the
house.
> > She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB
a
> > second per the linksys utility.
>
> And that's a problem? You can't make use of all that bandwidth on the
> Internet, anyway.
> --
> derek

Zeppo <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> OK, I need to try this, if just for the novelty value of the idea. :-)

> Do I use this on the router antennae, or the desktop's PCI card antenna (or
> both)? If used on the router, do I need one for each antenna or just use it
> on one?

Three.
Putting it on the PCI antenna will help.
Putting it on one of the WAP antennas will help, but I found that if both
antennas have signal, my SMC7004WFW would toggle back and forth between the
good signal and the poor signal.

http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/w...fer-dining.JPG The signal with
the reflector is not only 13dB stronger, it's more stable.


PCI antennas are often blocked by the PC itself. Is your PC facing in the
right direction? If there's an upstairs downstairs angle, you might want
the antennas at matching angles, so they are "broadside" to each other.



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"

You can watch the throughput while copying locally as well as from the
internet. The internet link is the slow link, but I found that a WiFi link
that is low and fluctuating while you are observing it is likely hanging
from time to time due to poor signal, or other interactions and
interference in the house that varies with time.

On one PCI card, I added a "Hawking HAI6SDA Directional 6dBi 2.4GHz Antenna"
http://www.hawkingtech.com/prodSpec.php?ProdID=143


--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8,-122.5