Extending WiFi range in my home

Riczter on 29/05/2013 - 18:51
Last edited 29/05/2013 - 19:13

Ok I've been trying to get my head around this concept for a while. I know there's some good pages on whirlpool about this, but I wanted the OzB community's feedback.

Lets say the average home user has a wireless ADSL Modem Router, with crappy signal at the other end of the house or upstairs. Whats the best option?

My research has lead me to the following solutions:

Option 1: Wired Access Point.

The most effective way is to get another router, place it in the dead zone, and get a length of ethernet cable running through the roof to join the two routers together via the LAN ports. You set up the new router as an access point like so, and bob's your uncle.
With the router deals on OzB the past fortnight you'll scrape in under $50.

Running cable through the roof can be daunting for some people, which leads to the next option, which I'm thinking is the easiest option, but also the most expensive.

Option 2: Access Point using Powerline/Ethernet over Power (EoP).

Did you know you can run data over your house's power circuit? Cool huh? Not quite as fast as an ethernet cable, but saves you having to drill holes into your roof or get up in the attic.
You buy a pair of these, and another router, plug one adaptor into a power socket near the router in one room, and plug the other adaptor into a power socket near the router at the other end of the house. Connect the adapters to the routers with small ethernet cables, sync the adaptors, and its just like the two routers are connected directly via ethernet! Then follow the configuration steps for the router from the link in option 1, and Bob is once again your uncle. I think you can also get a wireless powerline kit that would remove the need for a second router. I think.

Option 3: Wireless Extender/Repeater

You can get devices like these, or upgrade compatible routers with DD-WRT firmware, which act as repeaters, such that you put them on the fringe of your WiFi's range, and they catch the signal, amplify it, and rebroadcast it. I consider this the least effective method though, because the way the repeater works, catching and rebroadcasting the signal, cuts the bandwidth of the network. It's effectively twice the range at half the speed. But this can be the cheapest option if you use an old wireless router.

My questions to the more knowledgeable people out there are:

  • Have I made any mistakes/Incorrect assumptions?
  • Are there any other methods that I've missed that aren't ridiculously complex or expensive?
  • Are all "Range Extenders" like the link in option 3, effectively a "repeater" that cut the bandwidth of your network? Or do some range extenders work differently?

I hope people find this helpful :)

Computing

Comments

  • Morien on 29/05/2013 - 19:32
    +1

    Option 1 kind of defeats the purpose if you have to run a long ethernet cable through the house.

    Option 2 is finnicky. Both adapters will have to use the same circuit. Often quite a bit of interference in my experience.

    Option 3 is the best of a bad situation.

  • justanick on 29/05/2013 - 19:37
    +1

    Option 3 is also hard to work. I tried doing this on my billion vgp 7404 router with net gear repeaters and others. It failed.
    I like your post and subscribed to it. I'll monitor the thread for solutions as well.

    Hoping someday I find my uncle Bob ;)

    • cpho on 30/05/2013 - 23:04

      I'm using the same router as you. However, netgear doesnt like DD-WRT. I'm using a Belkin from MLN's last sale, and it's working great.
      Take a look through the DD-WRT forum and you might get your problem solved

      • tonyjzx on 03/06/2013 - 18:09

        option 3 isnt hard but its probably a better idea to set up a bridge and get another router to rebroadcast

        forget repeater since you're asking the AP to do twice the work and halve the bandwidth

        sure you may not like the extra router but at these prices… does it matter

  • Bystander on 29/05/2013 - 20:31
    +1

    I actually installed the Netgear device in Option 3 last week. Dead easy, does what it says and I didn't notice any speed difference. Even if the wifi speed was reduced it's possibly still faster than your internet so no real penalty.

  • grababargain on 29/05/2013 - 20:32
    +1

    Get the Asus RT-N66U or AC66U. You will get great wifi range downstairs, upstairs, front yard, back yard and even a few houses up and down your street. Flingshot has the AC66U atm for $198 delivered.

  • Riczter on 29/05/2013 - 21:34

    Yeah I've heard a few people say that these are fantastic routers.

  • zerocritical on 30/05/2013 - 07:40

    Get the n750 router from msy currently at 29$ and configure it as a repeater.

    • justanick on 30/05/2013 - 08:27

      So what you are saying I can have 3 of those as repeaters?
      The speed will be halved but increases the frequency correct?
      I'm installing wifi cameras around for CCTV purposes and don't need Internet at all just long range with local wifi speed. Is this repeater solution going to be fast?

  • zerocritical on 30/05/2013 - 08:38

    I've not worked with cctv cameras before but given the specs of the router, it should work for such a configuration.

  • shortarmsLongpockets on 30/05/2013 - 12:20

    I had a similar problem, with the router at one end of the house and no/very weak signal at the other end. A friend more knowledgeable in these matters put in a ubiquti nano station. You have it connected to your router via a single Ethernet cable which is split at a connection box to connect power as well. Very strong signal all over the property, even though they are meant to work by directing the signal to a narrow point. They cost around $100 from memory.

  • elf888 on 30/05/2013 - 13:10

    Does a replacement antenna works for the extension?
    e.g.
    http://flingshot.com.au/computers/networking/antennas/d-link…

    and anyone have idea what's different between 5dbi & 7dbi?
    Price are so much different.

    http://flingshot.com.au/computers/networking/antennas/d-link…

    • 1bug on 02/06/2013 - 16:22

      If you have a router with multiple detachable antennae, then you have to replace all of them with the same type of antenna (5dBi or 8dBi).

      http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=tp-link+ant…

      • elf888 on 03/06/2013 - 15:20

        Thanks 1bug, i still confuse with those dBi, is the higher the better (in terms of distance and signal)?

        • 1bug on 03/06/2013 - 23:01

          Yes, the higher the better (also the higher the bigger in size).
          Standard detachable antenna are typically 2dBi.

  • WD TV andSOUND on 30/05/2013 - 22:53

    In my house I have Bridged a Cisco 2000 modem Wi-Fi/router to a Cisco 3000 Wi-Fi/router with a 20m run of Cat6 cable between them, with one IP address so the routed printer can be easily found from any point.

    • Riczter on 30/05/2013 - 23:51

      This is option 1 right?

  • WD TV andSOUND on 30/05/2013 - 22:56

    Option 2 only works if your power points are on the same circuit or fuse in your power box!!!

  • WD TV andSOUND on 31/05/2013 - 11:35

    Yes Option 1, but bridged Cisco/Linksys. Check with the manufacturer, as some can be bridged and others can't. When Bridged, you only have access to the one modem router's IP address. The second one that is bridged has to be reset to do any adjustments. I have access to 2x sets of 2.4Gh & 5Ghz Wi-Fi, that's 4 signals, routered signals from one end of the house to the other. If one is slow or falling out of range, I simply disconnect from one signal then connect to the alternative stronger signal from the nearest Wi-Fi router.
    I also have various switches running from the Ethernet ports as well to TVs, TiVo, T-Box, PCs etc, to 8x other location around the house.

  • Riczter on 31/05/2013 - 11:46

    Ah I get it, so you are able to have only one IP address. Cool.

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