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Geek Culture / WiFi signal strength and boosting suggestions needed...

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Miguel Melo
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Joined: 8th Aug 2005
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Posted: 3rd Jan 2007 00:12
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I've got this problem in that I can't seem to get my wireless network signal to reach all of my house (actually a 3-bedroom apartment). This wasn't such a big deal... until I got a Wii. Have a look at the following house plant:



I normally had the router at (1) - in the office - but no way the signal reached the Wii in the Living Room. So I moved it to position (2) which does reach the Wii fine, but forces my computer to be on a fairly weak signaled wifi rather than Ethernet (and obviously won't reach the master bedroom). I bought a 10dbi antenna and returned the router to the office and while the Wii now sees the access point, the strength is red and not enough to actually connect.

I really cannot understand how the heck the signal is so weak - I mean, the apartment is spacious but it is still just an apartment! Could it be because the middle section of the house is made up of Bathrooms and the tiles/sanitaryware deflect the signal?

In any case, can someone suggest a way around this problem? I assume I can't just plug two Modem/routers into two different phone plugs, right? Thanks a lot for your help!

I have vague plans for World Domination
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dab
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Joined: 22nd Sep 2004
Location: Your Temp Folder!
Posted: 3rd Jan 2007 00:21
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If your house is as small as it seems to be in that scaled drawing, I suggest getting a different router.

Ours works very well DOWNSTAIRS and it's positioned in our attic. I hear Linksys gets good range, but We're using D-Link, which Is seems to be doing fine.

Take heed, never take advantage of the things you need, never let your self be overcome by greed. Walk a strigh line, pick up your speed and try. Everyone deserves a piece of the pie By: Shaggy
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Robin
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Joined: 22nd Feb 2003
Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 3rd Jan 2007 00:41
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Yeah have the same problem in my house...I'm in my bedroom with a 'very weak' signal, and it occasionally disconnects. And at a guess it can't be more than 8 metres direct from the router (downstairs) to my laptop. Is it possible to buy any (new and more powerful) router, plug it in and go? I'm on orange broadband (Free with phone contract) and got this weird white triangular router which I doubt is any good...

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Dell XPS M1210 12.1" | 2Ghz Duo Core | 2GB DDR2 Ram | 100GB HD | 256MB Geforce Go 7400
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CattleRustler
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21
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Location: case modding at overclock.net
Posted: 3rd Jan 2007 00:47
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2 words
range expander

only needs an outlet



Its 9/11 - but its FAKE 9/11 Ts=SQRT(Df/16)
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Miguel Melo
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Joined: 8th Aug 2005
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Posted: 3rd Jan 2007 01:18
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Quote: "If your house is as small as it seems to be in that scaled drawing, I suggest getting a different router. "


To have a sense of scale, the living room is about 5m by 8.5m. At a very wild guess, I'd say that from (1) to (Wii) is about 8 meters in a straight line (i.e. through the bathrooms).

Quote: "range expander"


I read about those but they seem to be extremely expensive and also very picky with which routers they work. Mine is a linksys WAG345 and - I've just been talking to linksys support and this modem/router cannot be range expanded...

I have vague plans for World Domination
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Jess T
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Location: Over There... Kablam!
Posted: 3rd Jan 2007 02:27
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Look up how to make a Pringles Can Amplifier - Cheap and works quite well (if you don't mind it looking a little shabby )

Nintendo DS & Dominos :: DS Dominos
http://jt0.org
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dab
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Joined: 22nd Sep 2004
Location: Your Temp Folder!
Posted: 3rd Jan 2007 03:30
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Hehe, you have a linksys router, try this site, it tells you how to almost get the workings of a "$600" Router.

Of course, if this is the router that they did the article on, I think it will work with any router by Linksys.



http://www.lifehacker.com/software/router/hack-attack-turn-your-60-router-into-a-600-router-178132.php

Take heed, never take advantage of the things you need, never let your self be overcome by greed. Walk a strigh line, pick up your speed and try. Everyone deserves a piece of the pie By: Shaggy
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BatVink
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Joined: 4th Apr 2003
Location: Gods own County, UK
Posted: 3rd Jan 2007 10:02 Edited at: 3rd Jan 2007 10:29
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Thanks Dabip, I'm just about to set up my friend's Linksys wireless router in his awkward house - the router is in the extension.

I have a D-Link cable modem that is fantastic, situated in the loft and works everywhere, including the garden. I bough a D-Link ADSL modem for a friend, and it wouldn't even work from adjoining rooms with no door! So I'm not sure whether D-Link are fantastic, terrible, or unpredictable.



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Miguel Melo
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Posted: 3rd Jan 2007 13:10 Edited at: 3rd Jan 2007 13:11
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Quote: "I have a D-Link cable modem that is fantastic, situated in the loft and works everywhere, including the garden."


The thing is I bet it's a lot easier to get good wifi coverage in UK houses than Portuguese apartments.

A lot of construction materials in UK houses are based on wood rafters and floorboards and flimsy interior walls. I know because I lived there for 5 years, renting for 3 of those and even owned a terraced house for the remaining 2 (where I did tons of DIY).

In Portugal concrete is used a lot in "master"/structural inside walls and all flooring. Normal interior walls are also made of much thinker brick than the average UK house... all of which seem to screw up the signal big time.

I have vague plans for World Domination
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