Signal strength

I have setup a Microsoft 802.11g wireless base station
and network card. It is in an older house and the signal
strength is very low. It even disconnects at times.
Any tips on how I can increase the signal strength?
Are there any signal boosters out there that will work
with Microsoft equipment?

Not happy with this so far.
Have a Netgear 802.11b setup in my other house and it
works twice as good as the microsoft equipment.

Help!

thanks


Brian

Here is your answer on extending the range.

Broadband modem --> WAN port of MN-500 #1
MN-500 #1 LAN port #2 --> WAN port of MN-500 #2
MN-500 #1 LAN port #3 --> WAN port of MN-500 #3 (if available)

Make sure all MN-500s are running the latest firmware 1.11.017

Now lets look at the setup of each MN-500:

MN-500 #1
router mode
LAN IP address at default of 192.168.2.1
some SSID
some WEP key
channel 6

MN-500 #2
bridge mode
LAN IP address at 192.168.2.42, outside of default DHCP range
same SSID
same WEP key
channel 1

MN-500 #3 (if available)
bridge mode
LAN IP address at 192.168.2.43, outside of default DHCP range
same SSID
same WEP key
channel 11


If you keep the SSID and WEP key the same for all base stations, people
will be able to move between offices and get a connection.

You need to select non-overlapping channels for the base stations to
prevent interference.

Channels 1, 6, and 11 are the three non-overlapping channels.

There are more combinations if you only need two channels.

Brian wrote:

> I have setup a Microsoft 802.11g wireless base station
> and network card. It is in an older house and the signal
> strength is very low. It even disconnects at times.
> Any tips on how I can increase the signal strength?
> Are there any signal boosters out there that will work
> with Microsoft equipment?
>
> Not happy with this so far.
> Have a Netgear 802.11b setup in my other house and it
> works twice as good as the microsoft equipment.
>
> Help!
>
> thanks

Here is some information about Wireless Interference.

Posted 6/7/2004 2:03 PM By ken

The majority of cordless phones in use today are 2.4GHz models. These
phones reap devastating effects on 802.11b/g WLANs. Some 802.11b WLANs
have even been totally shut down by somebody simply answering a 2.4GHz
cordless phone. Why? The answer lies in the technology.

Most 2.4GHz phones use frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)
technology that operates within the 2.4GHz spectrum. FHSS hops from
frequency-to-frequency across the entire 2.4GHz spectrum. 802.11b/g
WLANs, on the other hand, use direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS),
which transmits within approximately one third of the 2.4 GHz spectrum.
Because FHSS jumps across the entire spectrum while DSSS stays in only
one portion, a FHSS 2.4GHz will clobber an 802.11b/g network, causing
interference or even failure.

The jury is still out on whether 5GHz cordless phones have any
detrimental effects on 802.11a WLANs. If interference issues do arise,
however, they will most likely be easier to correct than with 802.11b/g.
802.11a uses more non-conflicting channels within the 5GHz spectrum as
compared to 802.11b/g in the 2.4GHz spectrum. 802.11a enjoys the luxury
of 12 independent, non-overlapping channels. 802.11b/g has 11 channels
in the U.S., but only three don't overlap (channels 1, 6, and 11).

What can you do to eliminate the effects a cordless phone has on your
WLAN? There are a number of solutions, some of which are guaranteed to
work and others that may significantly lower the interference level. The
fail-safe solutions all consist of replacing equipment.

If your interference is coming from a 2.4GHz phone, the sure fire
solution is to switch the WLAN to 802.11a. This solution is the most
effective, but also the most expensive.

Before spending lots of money on new hardware, consider the following
less expensive (but possibly less effective) approaches:

With 802.11b/g systems, try changing the channel on the access point (at
least try 1, 6, and 11). Anecdotally, people have found that they have
the least interference on channel 11.

With 802.11a systems, change to any one of the channels that are not in
use by the cordless phone.

Change the location of the access point or the cordless phone base.
Maximize the distance between the cordless phones and WLAN devices,
especially WLAN users operating at the fringes of access point range.

If you have the option, use an external, remote antenna on your
computer. This will let you place the antenna as far away as possible
from a cordless phone.

Operate the cordless phone with the antenna in the lowered position if
possible. This will dampen the RF signal coming from the cordless phone
and reduce the amount of interference.

Finally, transmitted signal are POLARIZED in the direction of the
antenna. Since most cordless phones have the antenna VERTICAL to the
user, place your antennae (adapters and base station) HORIZONTAL.

================================================== ================================================== ===================

Posted 6/10/2004 9:25 PM By ken

If you mean cordless (not wireless) phone. There are a few things you
can do. One, of course, is to get a 900 MHz or 5 GHz phone.

The majority of cordless phones in use today are 2.4GHz models. These
phones reap devastating effects on 802.11b/g WLANs. Some 802.11b WLANs
have even been totally shut down by somebody simply answering a 2.4GHz
cordless phone. Why? The answer lies in the technology.

Most 2.4GHz phones use frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS)
technology that operates within the 2.4GHz spectrum. FHSS hops from
frequency-to-frequency across the entire 2.4GHz spectrum. 802.11b/g
WLANs, on the other hand, use direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS),
which transmits within approximately one third of the 2.4 GHz spectrum.
Because FHSS jumps across the entire spectrum while DSSS stays in only
one portion, a FHSS 2.4GHz will clobber an 802.11b/g network, causing
interference or even failure.

The jury is still out on whether 5GHz cordless phones have any
detrimental effects on 802.11a WLANs. If interference issues do arise,
however, they will most likely be easier to correct than with 802.11b/g.
802.11a uses more non-conflicting channels within the 5GHz spectrum as
compared to 802.11b/g in the 2.4GHz spectrum. 802.11a enjoys the luxury
of 12 independent, non-overlapping channels. 802.11b/g has 11 channels
in the U.S., but only three don't overlap (channels 1, 6, and 11).

What can you do to eliminate the effects a cordless phone has on your
WLAN? There are a number of solutions, some of which are guaranteed to
work and others that may significantly lower the interference level. The
fail-safe solutions all consist of replacing equipment.

If your interference is coming from a 2.4GHz phone, the sure fire
solution is to switch the WLAN to 802.11a. This solution is the most
effective, but also the most expensive.

Before spending lots of money on new hardware, consider the following
less expensive (but possibly less effective) approaches:

With 802.11b/g systems, try changing the channel on the access point (at
least try 1, 6, and 11). Anecdotally, people have found that they have
the least interference on channel 11.

With 802.11a systems, change to any one of the channels that are not in
use by the cordless phone.

Change the location of the access point or the cordless phone base.
Maximize the distance between the cordless phones and WLAN devices,
especially WLAN users operating at the fringes of access point range.

If you have the option, use an external, remote antenna on your
computer. This will let you place the antenna as far away as possible
from a cordless phone.

Operate the cordless phone with the antenna in the lowered position if
possible. This will dampen the RF signal coming from the cordless phone
and reduce the amount of interference.

Finally, transmitted signals are POLARIZED in the direction of the
antenna. Since most cordless phones have the antenna VERTICAL to the
user, place the antennae of your wirelss-B station network (adapters and
base station) HORIZONTAL.

Brian wrote:

> I have setup a Microsoft 802.11g wireless base station
> and network card. It is in an older house and the signal
> strength is very low. It even disconnects at times.
> Any tips on how I can increase the signal strength?
> Are there any signal boosters out there that will work
> with Microsoft equipment?
>
> Not happy with this so far.
> Have a Netgear 802.11b setup in my other house and it
> works twice as good as the microsoft equipment.
>
> Help!
>
> thanks

And one las post on interference.

Does she have lap & spackle for walls (This generally uses chicken wire
that causes interference in the wireless signal), lead paint, some sort
of metal between the router & wireless NIC, Some other dense object
between the router & the wireless NIC.

Brian wrote:
> I have setup a Microsoft 802.11g wireless base station
> and network card. It is in an older house and the signal
> strength is very low. It even disconnects at times.
> Any tips on how I can increase the signal strength?
> Are there any signal boosters out there that will work
> with Microsoft equipment?
>
> Not happy with this so far.
> Have a Netgear 802.11b setup in my other house and it
> works twice as good as the microsoft equipment.
>
> Help!
>
> thanks

Here is an updated version of that text file.

Broadband modem --> WAN port of MN-500 or MN-700 #1
MN-500 or MN-700 #1 LAN port #2 --> WAN port of MN-500 or MN-700 #2
MN-500 or MN-700 #1 LAN port #3 --> WAN port of MN-500 or MN-700 #3 (if
available)

Make sure all MN-500s are running the latest firmware 1.11.017

Make sure all MN-700s are running the latest firmware 2.00.08.0333

Now lets look at the setup of each MN-500 or MN-700:

MN-500 or MN-700 #1
router mode
LAN IP address at default of 192.168.2.1
some SSID
some WEP key
channel 6

MN-500 or MN-700 #2
bridge mode
LAN IP address at 192.168.2.42, outside of default DHCP range
same SSID
same WEP key
channel 1

MN-500 or MN-700 #3 (if available)
bridge mode
LAN IP address at 192.168.2.43, outside of default DHCP range
same SSID
same WEP key
channel 11


If you keep the SSID and WEP key the same for all base stations, people
will be able to move between offices and get a connection.

You need to select non-overlapping channels for the base stations to
prevent interference.

Channels 1, 6, and 11 are the three non-overlapping channels.

There are more combinations if you only need two channels.

joker wrote:

> Here is your answer on extending the range.
>
> Broadband modem --> WAN port of MN-500 #1
> MN-500 #1 LAN port #2 --> WAN port of MN-500 #2
> MN-500 #1 LAN port #3 --> WAN port of MN-500 #3 (if available)
>
> Make sure all MN-500s are running the latest firmware 1.11.017
>
> Now lets look at the setup of each MN-500:
>
> MN-500 #1
> router mode
> LAN IP address at default of 192.168.2.1
> some SSID
> some WEP key
> channel 6
>
> MN-500 #2
> bridge mode
> LAN IP address at 192.168.2.42, outside of default DHCP range
> same SSID
> same WEP key
> channel 1
>
> MN-500 #3 (if available)
> bridge mode
> LAN IP address at 192.168.2.43, outside of default DHCP range
> same SSID
> same WEP key
> channel 11
>
>
> If you keep the SSID and WEP key the same for all base stations, people
> will be able to move between offices and get a connection.
>
> You need to select non-overlapping channels for the base stations to
> prevent interference.
>
> Channels 1, 6, and 11 are the three non-overlapping channels.
>
> There are more combinations if you only need two channels.
>
> Brian wrote:
>
>> I have setup a Microsoft 802.11g wireless base station and network
>> card. It is in an older house and the signal strength is very low. It
>> even disconnects at times. Any tips on how I can increase the signal
>> strength? Are there any signal boosters out there that will work with
>> Microsoft equipment?
>> Not happy with this so far. Have a Netgear 802.11b setup in my other
>> house and it works twice as good as the microsoft equipment.
>> Help!
>>
>> thanks
>
>