Increasing WiFi signal

benners

benners

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Ben
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Hey everyone

Just after some recommendations on how best to improve the WiFi signal around the house. Router is placed in the 'middle' if the house, but due to thick walls and distance, there are some dead spots.

I understand there's a few ways to do this, just wondering what good/bad experiences people have had?

Cheers!
 
Or better aerial if you can change the aerial on the back.
 
arad85 said:
Or better aerial if you can change the aerial on the back.
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good point, ive got a 7dBi High Gain for my old Linksys that always worked well.

however if its rediculously thick walls a high gain still may not work.

also its worth checking for sources of interferance such as power transformers, cordless phones, microwaves, fridges.. etc
 
I have started this thread

Maybe it could come handy :thinking:
 
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You can make a reflector for the aerial to bounce the signal back that would normally radiate outside the house. Card and tinfoil to test it. A friend of mine did just that and cured the wifi reception problem they had one one of the house to the other and up 3 floors.
 
ah thanks so much! i think the repeaters sound like a good idea, and have seen the 3-pin adapters before.

sorry for the novice questions, but for the plug-in adapters, are they literally just plug'n'play, or do they need to be configured, strategically placed, etc?

chouglez - will keep an eye on your thread, thank you, looks like the kind of thing which would work :)

a question - with these adapters, do they act as wireless points, or do you have to run an ethernet cable from the adapter to your laptop/device? - if so, is there a wireless version?
 
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benners said:
ah thanks so much! i think the repeaters sound like a good idea, and have seen the 3-pin adapters before.

sorry for the novice questions, but for the plug-in adapters, are they literally just plug'n'play, or do they need to be configured, strategically placed, etc?

chouglez - will keep an eye on your thread, thank you, looks like the kind of thing which would work :)

a question - with these adapters, do they act as wireless points, or do you have to run an ethernet cable from the adapter to your laptop/device? - if so, is there a wireless version?
Click to expand...

The one in my thread, at one end (where your router is placed) they plug in an electrical socket and Ethernet into your router. On the other end anywhere in the house you have two options, a. similar plug in adaptor which then plugs into another electrical socket and the Ethernet to your PC/Laptop or b. Wireless adaptor which has one or more Ethernet socket plus the wireless capability, in other words you can plug in your PC via the Ethernet plus also wirelessly connect another laptop etc.

The latter is slightly dearer but a good investment from a long term perspective IMHO. Plus it will reduce the clutter of RJ45 cables which a repeater option comes with as in my current set up.

One more thing I noticed is that on a repeater option I am noticing that I need to power on and off the repeater router a few times for the wireless signal to broadcast from time to time which is a pain sometimes.

Also to add, both for the repeater option and the wireless adaptor option you will have 2 distinct SSIDs, one for your main router and another for this setup.

Hope the above makes sense and I have not further confused you. :thinking:
 
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hehe thanks chouglez, will give it a read in daylight, i think i got it, but will make more sense then ;)

what i'd be after is simply enhancing the wireless signal in deadzones of the house, without any extra wires/cables.
 
benners said:
hehe thanks chouglez, will give it a read in daylight, i think i got it, but will make more sense then ;)

what i'd be after is simply enhancing the wireless signal in deadzones of the house, without any extra wires/cables.
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Sorry, didn't meant to confuse you but do think how many deadzones you have in total and plan accordingly.

I currently have one in the loft and hence the Netgear or Devolo option I am planning to go with. It also streams games and HD etc.
 
ok, I think I got... sorry if this is repeating what you said, but just trying to get it clear in my head :D

for all set-ups, you connect the router to an adapter, using an ethernet cable. the adapter then plugs into the wall near the router.

this then sends an internet connection whizzing around the building's electrical circuits.

presuming you have 1 deadzone, you then plug the 2nd adapter into a wall socket in the deadzone.
depending on the kit you've bought, you would either:

- connect your laptop/pc/device to this 2nd adapter with an ethernet cable ('cheaper' kit)
or
- connect wirelessly to the 2nd adapter (more expensive option)

:thinking::shrug::D:thumbs:
 
benners said:
..........
this then sends an internet connection whizzing around the building's electrical circuits.

............:thinking::shrug::D:thumbs:
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If it's an older building with a few different circuit boxes it won't work.
 
Mikesphotaes said:
If it's an older building with a few different circuit boxes it won't work.
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aha, good point... presumably if I have one fuse box in the house then that's an indication I should be ok?

more than one fuse box, i'd have to plug the parent and child adapters into the same circuit (haha that sounds obvious now I say it!)
 
benners said:
aha, good point... presumably if I have one fuse box in the house then that's an indication I should be ok?

more than one fuse box, i'd have to plug the parent and child adapters into the same circuit (haha that sounds obvious now I say it!)
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not necessaily, the parents had 2 fuseboxes and it still worked bridging upstairs with downstairs.
 
neil_g said:
not necessaily, the parents had 2 fuseboxes and it still worked bridging upstairs with downstairs.
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hehe... there's always something :)
But if there's just one fusebox, that should make it easier?
 
benners said:
aha, good point... presumably if I have one fuse box in the house then that's an indication I should be ok?

more than one fuse box, i'd have to plug the parent and child adapters into the same circuit (haha that sounds obvious now I say it!)
Click to expand...

That was my experience with a couple of folk in older houses.
 
neil_g said:
i guess..

buy them online and you can always return them under DSR :)
Click to expand...

Or buy them from a local computer shop like I did, with the ringing tone of "it's the best thing since sliced bread".

The return of said plugs was entirely painless too and helped the knowledge of all:D
 
can I just confirm that you can get adapters (the child ones for the deadzone) which are wireless and don't require you to attach an ethernet cable?
 
With the powerline adapters, you're not sposed to jump the fusebox, and you're not sposed to put them on a spur or 4 way extension lead... However, mine worked fine like that (just don't put them on a surge protector.

I've even managed to pick up my neighbours powerline configuration. I had to set a password on mine to prevent cross over.

something to bear in mind, although it may have changed... I've read there's a max of 8 powerline devices on one ring.
 
benners said:
can I just confirm that you can get adapters (the child ones for the deadzone) which are wireless and don't require you to attach an ethernet cable?
Click to expand...

Yes
 
chouglez said:
Yes
Click to expand...

I think the brand has to be similar. In other words once you go with Netgear the rest of the wireless adaptors have to be Netgear too.
 
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