Increasing Range

Increasing Range
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bc9405 @ 25th Oct 11:40AM:
Increasing Range

I have AT&T DSL, withe a motorola 2210, and a di624 I was told that i could increase the range of my wireless network by setting the modem to bridge. Is this true and if it is what other settings do i change in modem and router and computers.

Thanks in Advance
BC
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heels_fan @ 25th Oct 12:05PM:
Re: Increasing Range

setting your modem to bridge mode has nothing to do with the range of your wireless.
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bc9405 @ 25th Oct 12:14PM:
Re: Increasing Range

Then with equipment i Have what is the best way, I bought a linksys range expander( a total pain to get it to recognize my equipment) did not help. Router is in finished basement trying to get stronger signal to 3Rd floor of house and outside( 60' max from router).
Thanks
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bogey780 @ 25th Oct 12:26PM:
Re: Increasing Range

Custom firmware may allow you to boost the output of the wireless.

I used to run dd-wrt and loved it.
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NetFixer @ 25th Oct 12:44PM:
Re: Increasing Range

said by bc9405 :

Then with equipment i Have what is the best way, I bought a linksys range expander( a total pain to get it to recognize my equipment) did not help. Router is in finished basement trying to get stronger signal to 3Rd floor of house and outside( 60' max from router).
Thanks

The basement is the worst place you can put a wireless router for use in a multi floor building. The best place would be in a middle floor, and the next best place would be on the top floor. If your modem must be in the basement because that is the location of the DSL connection, you might want to consider running at least one cat5 ethernet cable to a central upper floor location and put your wireless router there.

If running cat5 cable is not desirable/possible you might want to consider using one or more Powerline Wireless Access Point adapters on your upper floors.
[att=1]
--
History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
-- Thomas Jefferson

DeltaElite @ 25th Oct 02:39PM:
Re: Increasing Range

said by NetFixer :

This fellow gives VERY good advise!!!
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Protect your right to keep and arm bears!
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bc9405 @ 25th Oct 04:45PM:
Re: Increasing Range

What is the diference in a reange expander and the Powerline wireless access point.

Thanks
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NetFixer @ 25th Oct 10:08PM:
Re: Increasing Range

said by bc9405 :

What is the diference in a reange expander and the Powerline wireless access point.

Thanks

That would depend on what type of range expander you previously tried unsuccessfully to use. If (as I suspect) it was a wireless to wireless range expander, then the range expander itself would need to have a good WiFi connection to your base router. If that connection is poor, then you can't expect anything that is trying to use the range expander to have anything better than a poor connection. The technical term is "garbage in = garbage out".

With a standard cat5 connected access point, or a Powerline access point, the connection to the access point from your base router is hard copper. A cat5 Ethernet connection is best, but it does require that you run the cable(s).

The Powerline access point transmits the data to/from your base router over the 120vac power lines in your house. The major problem with powerline data connections is that if the base and access point are not on the same phase, the connection will not be as good (but it will probably still be better than a poor WiFi connection). If the transformer phases are bridged at the breaker box with a ~1 microfarad capacitor, then even that is not a problem in most in-house usage of Powerline data connections. YMMV, and don't try the transformer bridging yourself unless you understand what you are doing.

BTW, did you click the link I provided? If you did, most of your questions could have already been answered. The image below and its accompanying text from the Netgear link I provided pretty much illustrates what the Powerline product line does.

NETGEAR’s Powerline Wireless Range Extender Kit provides everything you need to extend wireless access to your home network and the Internet. Setup is easy. Simply connect the Powerline Network Bridge (XE102) to any wired or wireless broadband router and plug it into an electrical socket. Then plug the Wireless Range Extender (WGX102) into any other room’s outlet and you’re ready to connect to a PC, laptop or gaming console with a wireless adapter.

[att=1]
--
History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
-- Thomas Jefferson

NormanS @ 26th Oct 03:11AM:
Re: Increasing Range

Most routers I've seen orient the antennas vertically. Propagation of RF energy is in the form of a toroid (doughnut shape) with the vertical through the "hole".

You might try reorienting the antennas horizontal, and see if you can throw that "doughnut" to the upper floors. You would probably have to play with positioning, since the lobes likely won't provide full coverage on the premises.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum
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