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Thread: Looking to increase wireless signal strength?

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    Question Looking to increase wireless signal strength?

    Hi guys,

    I'm looking at increasing my wireless signal strength through my house. Currently my network looks like this:



    (Sorry for the bad drawing)


    Anyway the signal strength from the Belkin N1 Vision router is great downstairs and in the front of the house however in the back bedrooms its very weak mainly due to the load bearing steel beams that run through the middle of the house.
    What would be the best way to increase the signal strength for the wireless network? Wired Switch 2 is already located in the second half of the house and upstairs in one of the back bedrooms so I assume this is where I'm going to change my hardware, but what exactly do I need to do this? Just another router? I still need the physical connections that already exist.

    Thanks!

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    jim
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    Re: Looking to increase wireless signal strength?

    Best thing to do is usually to drop in an additional wireless AP connected via ethernet, or if that's not possible use a wireless repeater.

    Another option is to connect a wireless AP to the ethernet network via powerline.

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    Re: Looking to increase wireless signal strength?

    The netgear switch (2) has available ethernet ports on the back or can be replaced entierly as long as the new access point also offers ethernet connections.

    Any advice as to what WAP to invest in?

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    Re: Looking to increase wireless signal strength?

    I've only ever used Netgears - the WG602 and the WG102. Can't say I ever had a problem with either (used them in a business environment, not at home), probably had 5 or 6 in total.

    If I remember rightly, they just have a single ethernet port on the back that you can plug into the main network. If you set them up with the same SSID and password etc they will serve to boost the current network power, if you set them up with different information they'll create a secondary network. They don't do anything beyond those two tasks.

    Normal practice would be to get a really short ethernet cable, whack the AP on top of the switch and connect them together.

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    Re: Looking to increase wireless signal strength?

    Have you tried pointing the aerials in the direction of the weak spots?

    You can get homeplug APs like below, but then you need another adapter too.

    http://www.scan.co.uk/products/edima...s-access-point

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    Re: Looking to increase wireless signal strength?

    I purchased Alfa networks wireless adapters for a similar purpose, they are USB based and you can get an amazing coverage with them.

    here's a link


    btw, this is the best adapter for war-driving, so the disappointment factor is non-existent ;-)

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