extend wireless range

[cmillar6]

I have a wireless network in my house using a linksys wrt54g router and a linksys wmp54g pci card. I am having problems with signal strength and frequent disconnects. In anybodys experience, do the $49.99 high gain antennas linksys sell really help, or are they a waste of money?

[DonVito]

I used to have the same prob your having with those same products. I called linksys and the said that pci card es only good for like 40 FEET!! So i got a wireless access point and set it up to be a wireless repeater. It takes the weak signal a strengthens it then sends it out agiain. I put it in the same room as my computer and i went from very low to very good/excellent signal.

[cmillar6]

forgive my ignorance, what is the difference between a wireless access point and a wireless router?

[DonVito]

A router brings in the internet data and, well, "routes", or sends the data to the correct computer. It is hardwired to the internet cabel coming into your house. A wireless access point is used to either pick up a wireless signal and allows you to hardwire a computer to the wireless access point to get the internet to computer without a wireless card. or if you have a non wireless network you can plug an access point into the network just like a coputer then comps in the general area with wireless cards and share the signal coming from the access point.

[glc]

The first thing to do is get rid of any 2.4 GHz phones in the vicinity. I've used Hawking antennas to extend range with good results, they are cheaper than the Linksys ones. They have high gain omnidirectionals and higher gain directionals, Newegg sells them. If you put one on the router, connect it to one antenna jack and swivel the other antenna down till it's horizontal.

I've gotten a lot more than 40 feet with the Linksys PCI cards, by the way.

[cmillar6]

I did replace all 2.4GHz phones with 5.8Ghz ones. My router is upstairs and my wireless pci card is downstairs (only one flight of stairs) which is around 40 feet, so distance shouldn't be a problem. I will try the antenna you suggested, if this doesn't work I am returning all of this expensive wireless equipment and running network cable. I am growing impatient with wireless technology.

[glc]

Wireless will always be hit or miss. In some places, it works great, other places it sucks no matter what you do. If you don't want to run CAT5, phoneline and powerline networking are decent alternatives.

[drb46]

Originally Posted by AMD_freak I used to have the same prob your having with those same products. I called linksys and the said that pci card es only good for like 40 FEET!! So i got a wireless access point and set it up to be a wireless repeater. It takes the weak signal a strengthens it then sends it out agiain. I put it in the same room as my computer and i went from very low to very good/excellent signal.

I think I'm going to try this with Dlink products. Hope you are available if I need help!

[cmillar6]

I actually solved my wireless disconnect problem. First, I purchased the hga7s high gain antenna for my wmp54g pci card. Second, I went into the advanced wireless settings on my wrt54g and changed the "beacon interval" from the default 100ms to 50ms. My disconnects then disappeared.

[drb46]

Originally Posted by cmillar6 I actually solved my wireless disconnect problem. First, I purchased the hga7s high gain antenna for my wmp54g pci card. Second, I went into the advanced wireless settings on my wrt54g and changed the "beacon interval" from the default 100ms to 50ms. My disconnects then disappeared.

Thanks for the information, It may come in handy!

[drb46]

I wonder what the difference is between a DLink DWL-2100AP Access Point and a DLink DWL-G800AP Wireless Range Extender? I wonder which one would work the best to extend your wireless range? Anyone know? I can't understand it from reading their information on their web site.

[glc]

The G800AP is primarily a repeater that's also capable of acting as an access point at 802.11b speeds. The 2100AP is primarily an access point that supposedly can be used as a repeater. A repeater is a device that does not require an Ethernet connection to anything. An access point is what the wireless section of your router is. You can use an access point in a remote location as a bridge, but it must be connected to Ethernet, either a standalone PC or a switch.

If you are simply trying to increase range to wireless devices, the range extender in repeater mode is a better bet, as long as you have a compatible router/access point.

[drb46]

Originally Posted by glc The G800AP is primarily a repeater that's also capable of acting as an access point at 802.11b speeds. The 2100AP is primarily an access point that supposedly can be used as a repeater. A repeater is a device that does not require an Ethernet connection to anything. An access point is what the wireless section of your router is. You can use an access point in a remote location as a bridge, but it must be connected to Ethernet, either a standalone PC or a switch. If you are simply trying to increase range to wireless devices, the range extender in repeater mode is a better bet, as long as you have a compatible router/access point.

Well I think I get it now, in my case that does that mean that the G800AP doesn't need to be connected by cable to the wireless router? It just picks up the wireless signal and then repeats it? Thanks.

[cmillar6]

yes, an extender does not need a cable from the wireless router.

[glc]

Originally Posted by drb46 Well I think I get it now, in my case that does that mean that the G800AP doesn't need to be connected by cable to the wireless router? It just picks up the wireless signal and then repeats it? Thanks.

Correct. Note that it's only compatible as a repeater with specific D-Link routers and access points, the list is on the product page on D-Link's site.