Powerline product question need wireless expansion

Hi,
I have a Linksys Router (WRT54GS0) upstairs and signal is not strong
enough downstairs in my house even with 14db antennas. I do not want
to burn any new third party firmware in the router and adjust power
output.

Note I did have a Linksys WRE54G wireless extender downstairs to
amplify the signal but it was problematic and did not have a strong
enough or consistent signal. It has since been tossed.

I would like to have wireless access downstairs for laptop use (will
buy this year), and streaming audio to a stereo (via a Squeezebox unit
I possess).

I would like to run a connection from my router upstairs to some sort
of Powerline adapter upstairs.

--->>Then downstairs I would like to pick up the signal through the
electrical system via another Powerline adapter BUT I want the signal
to be wireless...

What is the best bet or choices/combinations of products to accomplish
this?

I guess I could use Ethernet Powerline adapters on both end and
perhaps plug in another AP but perhaps there is a better way to do
this.


Thanks in advance for all suggestions...
Patty

> I have a Linksys Router (WRT54GS0) upstairs and signal is not strong
> enough downstairs in my house even with 14db antennas.

Greater "dB" is not always the answer. The radio signals radiate in a
pattern. With omnidirectional antenna this pattern is more or less 'donut
shaped'. The higher dB antenna make that donut shape pretty flat
vertically. Using one inside a house rarely buys you any improvements.

What often works is to turn the antenna so it's pattern better covers the
desired area. This might mean turning the antenna horizontally to turn the
donut on it's side. It also sometimes helps to add a reflector as they also
help to adjust the coverage area.

> I do not want
> to burn any new third party firmware in the router and adjust power
> output.

Why? They work.

> I guess I could use Ethernet Powerline adapters on both end and
> perhaps plug in another AP but perhaps there is a better way to do
> this.

Just run a segment of CAT5 wire. By the time you buy powerline adapters
it'll no doubt be cheaper to have just run the wire.

On Mar 25, 8:30*pm, "Bill Kearney" <wkearne...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > I have a Linksys Router (WRT54GS0) upstairs and signal is not strong
> > enough downstairs in my house even with 14db antennas.
>
> Greater "dB" is not always the answer. *The radio signals radiate in a
> pattern. *With omni directional antenna this pattern is more or less 'donut
> shaped'. *The higher dB antenna make that donut shape pretty flat
> vertically. *Using one inside a house rarely buys you any improvements.
>
> What often works is to turn the antenna so it's pattern better covers the
> desired area. *This might mean turning the antenna horizontally to turn the
> donut on it's side. *It also sometimes helps to add a reflector as they also
> help to adjust the coverage area.
>
> > *I do not want
> > to burn any new third party firmware in the router and adjust power
> > output.
>
> Why? *They work.
>
> > I guess I could use Ethernet Powerline adapters on both end and
> > perhaps plug in another AP but perhaps there is a better way to do
> > this.
>
> Just run a segment of CAT5 wire. *By the time you buy Powerline adapters
> it'll no doubt be cheaper to have just run the wire.

Thanks. Tried turning antenna and such, no help. Have a wireless
detector as well as other things and just need to get signal
downstairs with some decent strength. This is a fairly new home and I
am not about to run Cat5 or have someone do it. Would have to run it
outside and back in and such... And if I did that, I still need
perhaps an AP on other end.

Looking for Powerline alternative to make it wireless or Powerline
with AP recommendations...

Thanks though
Patty

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> On Mar 25, 8:30 pm, "Bill Kearney" <wkearne...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> I have a Linksys Router (WRT54GS0) upstairs and signal is not strong
>>> enough downstairs in my house even with 14db antennas.
>>
>> Greater "dB" is not always the answer. The radio signals radiate in a
>> pattern. With omni directional antenna this pattern is more or less
>> 'donut shaped'. The higher dB antenna make that donut shape pretty
>> flat vertically. Using one inside a house rarely buys you any
>> improvements.
>>
>> What often works is to turn the antenna so it's pattern better
>> covers the desired area. This might mean turning the antenna
>> horizontally to turn the donut on it's side. It also sometimes helps
>> to add a reflector as they also help to adjust the coverage area.
>>
>>> I do not want
>>> to burn any new third party firmware in the router and adjust power
>>> output.
>>
>> Why? They work.
>>
>>> I guess I could use Ethernet Powerline adapters on both end and
>>> perhaps plug in another AP but perhaps there is a better way to do
>>> this.
>>
>> Just run a segment of CAT5 wire. By the time you buy Powerline
>> adapters it'll no doubt be cheaper to have just run the wire.
>
> Thanks. Tried turning antenna and such, no help. Have a wireless
> detector as well as other things and just need to get signal
> downstairs with some decent strength. This is a fairly new home and I
> am not about to run Cat5 or have someone do it. Would have to run it
> outside and back in and such... And if I did that, I still need
> perhaps an AP on other end.
>
> Looking for Powerline alternative to make it wireless or Powerline
> with AP recommendations...
>

You might try experiment with rotating one of the antennas horizontal
and seeing if the pattern changes ?
Like the other person said, a vertical antenna radiates like a donut sitting
over the stick.

What are you using with the WiFi now ?
Can you walk around and see the "signal strength" ?

I was thinking of using the powerline stuff for the same reason...
The WiFi access point is upstairs in one extra bedroom/den,
and the family room is at the diaganol opposite end of the house behind the
garage.
The signal is ok - but not great -

BTW - in our family room
we added a wireless "bridge" and small Ethernet hub
to connect - TiVo + Xbox -
But, if you go powerline, you could have a small hub for any local stuff,
and then also add another WAP for downstairs WiFi.

It might be a challenge to get both the upstairs + downstairs AP's working
together ?

On Mar 25, 9:34*pm, "P.Schuman" <pschuman_no_spam...@interserv.com>
wrote:
> pattyja...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Mar 25, 8:30 pm, "Bill Kearney" <wkearne...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>> I have a Linksys Router (WRT54GS0) upstairs and signal is not strong
> >>> enough downstairs in my house even with 14db antennas.
>
> >> Greater "dB" is not always the answer. The radio signals radiate in a
> >> pattern. With omni directional antenna this pattern is more or less
> >> 'donut shaped'. The higher dB antenna make that donut shape pretty
> >> flat vertically. Using one inside a house rarely buys you any
> >> improvements.
>
> >> What often works is to turn the antenna so it's pattern better
> >> covers the desired area. This might mean turning the antenna
> >> horizontally to turn the donut on it's side. It also sometimes helps
> >> to add a reflector as they also help to adjust the coverage area.
>
> >>> I do not want
> >>> to burn any new third party firmware in the router and adjust power
> >>> output.
>
> >> Why? They work.
>
> >>> I guess I could use Ethernet Powerline adapters on both end and
> >>> perhaps plug in another AP but perhaps there is a better way to do
> >>> this.
>
> >> Just run a segment of CAT5 wire. By the time you buy Powerline
> >> adapters it'll no doubt be cheaper to have just run the wire.
>
> > Thanks. Tried turning antenna and such, no help. Have a wireless
> > detector as well as other things and just need to get signal
> > downstairs with some decent strength. This is a fairly new home and I
> > am not about to run Cat5 or have someone do it. Would have to run it
> > outside and back in and such... And if I did that, I still need
> > perhaps an AP on other end.
>
> > Looking for Powerline alternative to make it wireless or Powerline
> > with AP recommendations...
>
> You might try experiment with rotating one of the antennas horizontal
> and seeing if the pattern changes ?
> Like the other person said, a vertical antenna radiates like a donut sitting
> over the stick.
>
> What are you using with the WiFi now ?
> Can you walk around and see the "signal strength" ?
>
> I was thinking of using the Powerline stuff for the same reason...
> The WiFi access point is upstairs in one extra bedroom/den,
> and the family room is at the diagonal opposite end of the house behind the
> garage.
> The signal is ok - but not great -
>
> BTW - in our family room
> we added a wireless "bridge" and small Ethernet hub
> to connect - TiVo + Xbox -
> But, if you go Powerline, you could have a small hub for any local stuff,
> and then also add another WAP for downstairs WiFi.
>
> It might be a challenge to get both the upstairs + downstairs AP's working
> together ?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks a lot.

I think I will probably get 2 XE104's and then if I need to I will add
a wireless AP to the downstairs XE104 which I read can be done and
will work. 100% of the time, I am not sure.

I am going to use it for TiVo connectivity, streaming audio and
wireless.

The WRE54G range extender from Linksys did work but craped out about
2x a month and signal was not strong as repeaters usually 1/2 the
signal.

So I will give the XE104 a shot as opposed to using a Powerline with
wireless adapter. Read on Newegg and Amazon that these units have
failed quite a bit and they get hot.

There is a Powerline adapter (low bandwidth) in my boyfriends house
which has worked form day 1 without an issue. But of course his house
is a ranch all on one floor. But I do know that the circuit breakers
are different for the 2 outlets.

Thanks again
Patty

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> On Mar 25, 8:30 pm, "Bill Kearney" <wkearne...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> I have a Linksys Router (WRT54GS0) upstairs and signal is not strong
>>> enough downstairs in my house even with 14db antennas.
>>
>> Greater "dB" is not always the answer. The radio signals radiate in a
>> pattern. With omni directional antenna this pattern is more or less
>> 'donut shaped'. The higher dB antenna make that donut shape pretty
>> flat vertically. Using one inside a house rarely buys you any
>> improvements.
>>
>> What often works is to turn the antenna so it's pattern better
>> covers the desired area. This might mean turning the antenna
>> horizontally to turn the donut on it's side. It also sometimes helps
>> to add a reflector as they also help to adjust the coverage area.
>>
>>> I do not want
>>> to burn any new third party firmware in the router and adjust power
>>> output.
>>
>> Why? They work.
>>
>>> I guess I could use Ethernet Powerline adapters on both end and
>>> perhaps plug in another AP but perhaps there is a better way to do
>>> this.
>>
>> Just run a segment of CAT5 wire. By the time you buy Powerline
>> adapters it'll no doubt be cheaper to have just run the wire.
>
> Thanks. Tried turning antenna and such, no help. Have a wireless
> detector as well as other things and just need to get signal
> downstairs with some decent strength. This is a fairly new home and I
> am not about to run Cat5 or have someone do it. Would have to run it
> outside and back in and such... And if I did that, I still need
> perhaps an AP on other end.
>
> Looking for Powerline alternative to make it wireless or Powerline
> with AP recommendations...

we have used the Netgear Ethernet series before - but not the wireless....
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...etworking.aspx

> This is a fairly new home and I
> am not about to run Cat5 or have someone do it. Would have to run it
> outside and back in and such...

If it's a new home then it's even EASIER to run new wire. It's older homes
that have lots of trouble.

You do yourself a great disservice discounting this idea. Wire is cheap,
installing it is cheap, and it's far more reliable over time. Sure, your
upfront cost is higher but your headaches are virtually non-existant over
time.

> And if I did that, I still need
> perhaps an AP on other end.

Sure, and that way you get to set up wireless coverage at both locations in
a way that's best for each. No trouble with trying to stretch one coverage
area across the spaces and making for lousy signal at both. AP are cheap
these days.

I've never found powerline devices to be reliable enough to put up with
their added expense and hassle. No thanks.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a Linksys Router (WRT54GS0) upstairs and signal is not strong
> enough downstairs in my house even with 14db antennas. I do not want
> to burn any new third party firmware in the router and adjust power
> output.
>
> Note I did have a Linksys WRE54G wireless extender downstairs to
> amplify the signal but it was problematic and did not have a strong
> enough or consistent signal. It has since been tossed.
>
> I would like to have wireless access downstairs for laptop use (will
> buy this year), and streaming audio to a stereo (via a Squeezebox unit
> I possess).
>
> I would like to run a connection from my router upstairs to some sort
> of Powerline adapter upstairs.
>
> --->>Then downstairs I would like to pick up the signal through the
> electrical system via another Powerline adapter BUT I want the signal
> to be wireless...
>
> What is the best bet or choices/combinations of products to accomplish
> this?
>
> I guess I could use Ethernet Powerline adapters on both end and
> perhaps plug in another AP but perhaps there is a better way to do
> this.
>
>
> Thanks in advance for all suggestions...
> Patty

Depends on if you want it simple or complicated.... There are various
types/manufacturers of powerline stuf, some expensive and some cheaper, but
the netgear stuff I use works as an ethernet bridge over a powerline
(powerline ethernet adapter
http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...tAdapters.aspx
about $140 for two/a pair).. I have one hooked into my wap/router/cable
modem, and the other plugs into the router side ((not the wan)) of a Linksys
wrt54g (under $50 at walmart) and one of the netgear powerline bridge
things... gives me both wired and wireless wherever I plug the stuff in
(usually downstairs, but when nice out, in the backyard by the
gazebo/hammock... gotta relax when surfing!

They (netgear) do make a combo ethernet bridge/access point
(http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...essPoints.aspx)
however they are hard to find, so you may want to consider a plan B and go
for stuff that is reasonable cost but available easily.....

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
> There is a Powerline adapter (low bandwidth) in my boyfriends house
> which has worked form day 1 without an issue. But of course his house
> is a ranch all on one floor. But I do know that the circuit breakers
> are different for the 2 outlets.
>
> Thanks again
> Patty

Breakers have absolutely NOTHING to do with it (in actuality things have to
be on the same circuit/leg off the TRANSFORMER, *NOT* breakers in a breaker
box)

Not sure how same leg off the transformer got changed to same circuit
breaker, but it a lie... once again, does *NOT* have to be on the same
breaker...... Suspect it has something to do with how something is wired...
Power in is usually 3 wires (two hots and a neutral, hot to neutral gives
you 120, and hot to hot 240.... suspect some people/electricians attempt to
"load balance" and wire some circuits to one hot and some to the other, in
effect that is a seperate "leg")


Just an aside on which unit/speed you need.. The actual internet connection
speed will determine how fast you can access the internet from anywhere (ie
if the cable/dsl modem is only 8Kb max, then the low speed(cheaper) stuff
that can do 14Mb is faster than you can do the internet, only need the
higher speed powerline stuff if you want to transfer files locally (from
machine to machine) and most computers have a max speed of 100, the 200 Mb
units ONLY work at speed higher than 100 if you have gigabit ethernet
stuff).

I've been using the Netgear powerline adapters for several years now, to
extend my wireless access several hundred yards to my ma-in-laws home
behind me. A Buffalo wireless access point at the far end of the
powerline system talks to her Buffalo Ethernet Converter with a good
signal. Did wrap a piece of cardboard with tinfoil and place it behind
the access point for boost. Definitely helped, but that's another story.
Anyway, the powerline adapters work well and are very stable. Believe I
bought them cheap from compgeeks as refurbished. I like them.

Bill Kearney wrote:
>> This is a fairly new home and I
>> am not about to run Cat5 or have someone do it. Would have to run it
>> outside and back in and such...
>
> If it's a new home then it's even EASIER to run new wire. It's older
> homes that have lots of trouble.
>
> You do yourself a great disservice discounting this idea. Wire is
> cheap, installing it is cheap, and it's far more reliable over time.
> Sure, your upfront cost is higher but your headaches are virtually
> non-existant over time.
>
>> And if I did that, I still need
>> perhaps an AP on other end.
>
> Sure, and that way you get to set up wireless coverage at both locations
> in a way that's best for each. No trouble with trying to stretch one
> coverage area across the spaces and making for lousy signal at both. AP
> are cheap these days.
>
> I've never found powerline devices to be reliable enough to put up with
> their added expense and hassle. No thanks.