Wireless Networking Question

[A1cntrler]

I presently have wireless networking running in my home, but the coverage is spotty and slow on my first level. The second level is where the router/broadband/wireless access point is at. I have wired downstairs, but would like to be wireless and communicate on the same network. All the stuff I have now is linksys, so I would like to stay with that. I tried one of thier range expanders before I ran the cabled CAT5 down there, and I could not get it to keep the connection (And linksys tech support kept wanting me to run the network with security turned off because that is how it worked) Do I just need another router/access point for down there?? I want them to run the same network security and be seamless (able to move up/downstairs without changing setting on the laptops... Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Teddy GreeneII]

First, Are you running B, G or super G, B I imagine?

 

[A1cntrler]

Sorry---it is G with Speed Booster---says I get 125mbps upstairs, and waivers between 80 in the good spots downstairs, to 5mbps where I need it.... (big house, lots of walls, brick....)

 

[Thomas Rogers]

You might look into an antenna booster. They plug into your broadband router's antenna (unscrew the old one), have their own power, and pump up the dB range to give you a stronger signal.



Look on the net for reviews of such products...one such product at TigerDirect is below:

 

[Chris Francis 2]

I would add a second access point using a switch where the cat5 terminates and I would try to hardwire any computer within reason. Linksys makes a great 5 port switch for about 30 bucks. The nice thing about switches is that you can daisy chain them.

Also the wiring terminations are a breeze just make sure the pin configs are the same on both ends of the cable and and the wires are seated correctly in the connector.

 

[Teddy GreeneII]

Weird, you must have one big house or one made out of lead walls! Running b and it does fine upstairs

 

[Nelson Atwell]

My fiancee has the same problem in her house. It also affects cell phones and cordless phones. Her house seems almost impenetrable to electronic signals.

 

[Kerry Chinn]

1. 802.11B generally travels farther than 802.11g

2. Antenna boosters help at the access point

3. USB wireless adapters can sometimes be installed with antenna boosters too

4. If all of the above still isn't enough, install a WAP near the area with weak reception

 

[Deleted deleted]

Yeah, as cheap as wireless access points are, I'd just add another one on the 1st floor of your house. All it needs is access to a Cat5 cable and power.

 

[Robert Barker]

Nelson,



Is her house an old Fall Out Shelter?



Trac N Tennessee

 

[Gene Zenk]

Try changing the channel that the access point operates on. Assuming it is probably channel 6 right now. If so, try channel 1 or channel 11. You might have a neighbor that has an access point on the same channel which might be causing interference in parts of your house.

 

[Kevin Palmer]

Just a note:



I had wireless as well as the old style wireless phones in my home. Had decent coverage but not great coverage. Only on RARE occasions could I go outside of my home. I'm talking like 10 feet at best.



While I was deployed in Kuwait my wife had new Vinyl siding put on our home and had the Steel Siding removed, (my home was only 4 years old at the time, she wanted a different color, LOL)



Other than that nothing has changed. Now I have fantastic coverage every where in my home and can go to all four corners of my yard. My yard is 200 by 400 feet. Soooo, in my case the original siding was seriously affecting my signal even inside my home.

 

[Ryan Schaecher]

My WAP has a software-adjustable power setting (2-Wire brand), the user manual would say if yours did.

 

[A1cntrler]

I think I will go with another WAP. Now do I put the same settings on the new one as my existing one?? I already have a CAT5 cable running downstairs, and this is where I will hook into. Will I still be able to access the entire network off the WAP I put downstairs (Desktops/printers I have upstairs) or will it be on it's own?

 

[Deleted deleted]

You should be able to setup the new WAP with an IP address that you place in the network settings of the original WAP. Anything communicating with either WAP will see the entire network in this setup. My Linksys WAP had instructions in the manual showing how to add a second WAP as in your scenario.