Wireless Router Questions

Serious Business Backup 17 replies 219 views
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Sonofanump
May 10, 2012 9:07am
I currently have a 5 year old Linksys WRT110, it is kind of the bridge between G & N routers. In hindsight, it looks to have decent range and good reviews. I am having trouble picking up the interwebz sometimes on the second floor. The router/modem is in the basement office, so moving it to the first floor is not an option. Should I be looking to upgrade and what to? Do I need a N450, N600? Thank you in advance to the genius experts on the OC. </SPAN>
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superman
Posts: 3,582
May 10, 2012 9:55am
My mom has the Linksys wrt120n. She can get wi-fi at her pool which is about 100 feet from the house. It should do the trick for you. The nice thing about it is I saw it on clearance at the local Target for less than $20.
thePITman's avatar
thePITman
Posts: 3,867
May 10, 2012 10:02am
Routers are most commonly meant for more horizontal reception than vertical. Having said that, a stronger router should be able to reach the desired area... Of course moving the router to the 1st floor is the best way to resolve the issue, but you said this is not an option. Stronger router is my only thought.
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WebFire
Posts: 14,779
May 10, 2012 10:04am
You can spend the extra and get an extended range router. PitMan is correct that routers do better horizontally. But I run wireless on 2 long floors of a downtown office building using just 2 extended wireless access points.
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Sonofanump
May 10, 2012 2:35pm
Thanks.
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MontyBrunswick
May 10, 2012 3:33pm
I'm pretty sure N routers have worse wall-penetration than G routers.

You might want to toggle the N router down so everything is on G and see if it makes a difference

Edit: upon researching, I'm wrong. You may want to try G anyways and see if it makes a difference

Edit 2: you may want to look into powerline adapters. They plug into any electrical outlet. ZyXEL makes some. Can probably find them on newegg
FatHobbit's avatar
FatHobbit
Posts: 8,651
May 10, 2012 3:51pm
My brother in law uses a signal booster and it works pretty well. If we're on the second floor and can't get a connection rebooting the booster worked every time.
said_aouita's avatar
said_aouita
Posts: 8,532
May 10, 2012 5:59pm
Run a long ass patch cable up the stairs.

(edit) You are talking about internet signal for a notebook, arn't cha?

Honestly I'd run a hard wire from the basement to a booster someplace on the 1st floor.
Thinking something like if it's possible to drill a hole through a closet ceiling in the basement upto the utility room (whatever) just so it's hidden.
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gut
Posts: 15,058
May 10, 2012 6:09pm
Do you not have cable broadband? I would think you could find a spare cable outlet on the first floor. Not sure about splitting, but you actually could do what aouita just said.

I probably wouldn't split the signal to my tv. Not sure you even can, but I think there are some options there.
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Sonofanump
May 10, 2012 6:39pm
I want a wireless signal for Ipods, Ipads, Laptops, etc. I am not familiar with a booster, I will check that out.
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WebFire
Posts: 14,779
May 10, 2012 8:24pm
gut;1167253 wrote:Do you not have cable broadband? I would think you could find a spare cable outlet on the first floor. Not sure about splitting, but you actually could do what aouita just said.

I probably wouldn't split the signal to my tv. Not sure you even can, but I think there are some options there.
Internet doesn't work like that. Has to hit the modem first, then routed ethernet from there.
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WebFire
Posts: 14,779
May 10, 2012 8:25pm
Sonofanump;1167264 wrote:I want a wireless signal for Ipods, Ipads, Laptops, etc. I am not familiar with a booster, I will check that out.
If you can get a hard line upstairs, then you need a wireless access point. This is the best solution.
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Sonofanump
May 10, 2012 8:43pm
WebFire;1167350 wrote:If you can get a hard line upstairs, then you need a wireless access point. This is the best solution.
So I need a modem and two routers?
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WebFire
Posts: 14,779
May 10, 2012 8:52pm
Sonofanump;1167365 wrote:So I need a modem and two routers?
1 modem, supplied by the cable company. 1 wireless router hooked direct to that. Run 1 ethernet from that router to upper floor. Plug into access point.

If the cable company provides a wireless router, user that one for the downstairs one.
said_aouita's avatar
said_aouita
Posts: 8,532
May 10, 2012 8:56pm
Sonofanump;1167365 wrote:So I need a modem and two routers?
WebFire;1167367 wrote:1 modem, supplied by the cable company. 1 wireless router hooked direct to that. Run 1 ethernet from that router to upper floor. Plug into access point.

If the cable company provides a wireless router, user that one for the downstairs one.


Right now both modem and router are downstairs?


The modem has an external plug on the back, kinda looks like a big telephone plug. You will run a cable up stairs from the back of the modem to the wireless router.


Router in basement


Wireless modem on first floor.

I'd just try moving the wireless router up stairs before buying anything new. Maybe all ya need is 50/100 ft of cable.

*If moving the router up stairs causes you to lose wireless connection in the basement, you will need a 2nd router.
Either way, you will need to run cable upstairs. Ya may need a new wireless router.
First try moving your current wireless router upstairs, connected to the modem downstairs by cable. If you get wireless connection everywhere needed by just moving the wireless modem, problem solved.
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MontyBrunswick
May 10, 2012 10:45pm
My powerline solution would work too.
hoops23's avatar
hoops23
Posts: 15,696
May 10, 2012 10:47pm
Pour Jack Daniels on it.
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WebFire
Posts: 14,779
May 10, 2012 11:21pm
hoops23;1167470 wrote:Pour Jack Daniels on it.
That may make your internet sluggish.