spiffy
join:2001-01-17
Morgan Hill, CA
| [Connection Sharing] Source is fixed downstairs -- please help
Hi everyone,
Can anyone suggests some ways of boosting signals if the source line for my cable internet is fixed to locate in downstairs, but I need to have two devices upstairs (a PC and a ethernet connector for Slingbox) be part of the network? There is only one floor/ceiling separating the router and the adapters, but drilling holes in between floors is out of the question. I tried a Belkin Pre-N wireless router before, but the signal was so weak that it was impossible for the upstairs PC to stay connected to the internet. Right now I am trying the D-Link powerline 200kbps adapters, but frankly I am not too impressed with the throughput either. I am thinking of giving wireless another go; any suggestions on how I should set this up so the upstairs machines can get good signals? Maybe as an access point in between or something? I absolutely cannot move the incoming line away from the downstairs location either, so I am stumped as to how to set this up for max signal strength. (I don't think range is an issue, because I have another Slingbox connected wirelessly on the same floor of the router, and the speed is fine.)
Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! |
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InGreendwood
@rr.com
| Re: [Connection Sharing] Source is fixed downstairs -- please he
An Omnidirectional Antenna sends signal in a donut all around the antenna in a horiziontal plane. The 'stronger' the antenna, the more flattened the donut.
To go upstairs you really want some sort of directional antenna.
»episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/for···03340931 |
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vectravl400
join:2008-01-16
Didsbury, AB
| reply to spiffy
Get a Linksys wrt54gl. Install one of the aftermarket firmwares (dd-wrt, tomato, etc) that will allow you to turn up the strength of the wireless signal. Please note that this may be illegal in some jurisdictions, so use this advice at your own risk. |
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ChiTang
Premium,MVM
join:2002-08-23
Monterey Park, CA | reply to spiffy
Another choice will be Homeplug (power line ethernet adaptor).
--
I used to be indecisive, now I am not sure. |
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fox7
join:2001-02-12
Culver City, CA
| reply to spiffy
spiffy:
What 'vectravl400' say is good to a point. You can increase the power of the router, but if it can not hear the other wireless device you still do not get a connection. I have used the increase of power with that router and dd-wrt firmware and it does have applications.
If you put an antenna with dB gain in the mix you improve the sending and the receiving capabilities of the unit. You do not say what your router is, but if you can remove the antenna via a connector I would look into getting a higher dB gain antenna. That scenario has work for me also in the past.
The link by 'greenwood' helps with defining what type of connector you might need.
fox7 |
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spiffy
join:2001-01-17
Morgan Hill, CA
| Thanks for everyone's input. My router is a D-Link DGL-4300. But I have disabled the wifi part and use my Belkin Pre-N router as wireless access point. The PC & Slingbox I am trying to connect are one floor directly above the room where the incoming cable modem is located. If I were to get a dB gain directional antenna, where in the downstairs room should I mount it for the signal to travel through floors? And which shape of antenna would be most effective?
Thanks again |
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