Wireless Hardware recommendations

[LibraryLady]

Here's the situation.

We're on cable for the Internets. Requirement of someone's job. So the wireless modem sits in the "office"/bedroom. If you draw a straight line from there to where the desktop/family computer sits you go through several walls including two with plumbing - hence no wireless signal at the desktop.

Looking at adding a repeater to 'bend' the signal so we're not stuck using the laptop in the living room all the time.

Wireless router = Linksys WRT150N Wireless N home router made by Cisco.
Antenna on desktop = D-Link DWA-130 Multi-band

So. Suggestions on repeater brand for home use and also should we set up all the wireless stuff as a single brand. Looked around a bit on da 'Nets and home repeaters are uncommon enough that it was hard to find definitive comparison reviews.

ETA: Or should we scrap the whole repeater idea altogether and figure out how to hardwire...

Thanks for all youse guys help in advance!

LL

[Dan]

Hardwiring is quite easy and would provide you the best signal, but since you already have a wireless router you might want to try enhancing it's wireless signal with a parabolic booster. My homemade version works through one wall, then over 200 yards including a few trees, and through another wall into a seperate house.

- You can try tinfoil or any wire mesh you have laying around, but my best signal was achieved using 1/4" wire mesh; it's usually sold in a yard width so get a foot or so section
- Use wire snips to cut out pieces for each antenna; about 6" x 6" or so depending on antenna heights
- Fold mesh pieces into a half moon and position them in place with the antenna in the center of the half moon as shown in the attached image (I set mine down a little lower to use the entire antenna length than the picture shows). The center piece that the antena goes through can be foam, wood, etc as long as it's not metal.
- Aim the enhancers in the general direction of the area you want the signal boosted towards.

[Snaquebite]

Originally Posted by Dan

Hardwiring is quite easy and would provide you the best signal, but since you already have a wireless router you might want to try enhancing it's wireless signal with a parabolic booster. My homemade version works through one wall, then over 200 yards including a few trees, and through another wall into a seperate house.

- You can try tinfoil or any wire mesh you have laying around, but my best signal was achieved using 1/4" wire mesh; it's usually sold in a yard width so get a foot or so section
- Use wire snips to cut out pieces for each antenna; about 6" x 6" or so depending on antenna heights
- Fold mesh pieces into a half moon and position them in place with the antenna in the center of the half moon as shown in the attached image (I set mine down a little lower to use the entire antenna length than the picture shows). The center piece that the antena goes through can be foam, wood, etc as long as it's not metal.
- Aim the enhancers in the general direction of the area you want the signal boosted towards.

Dan,
Is the mesh attached to something? Looks like it has a cardboard front or sosmething....

[LibraryLady]

Thanks Dan,

I got this link, http://www.freeantennas.com/projects...te2/index.html from someone else - they advised putting one on each end.

JJ_BPK - house is on a cement pad, attic is stuffed full of blown in insulation and to boot, the place is a rental. Thanks for the affirmation about brands, though, that's what we've been wondering - we'll upgrade the router to D-Link, I think it'll be worth it.

Once we get into owning, we'll definitely be hardwiring the whole house. Wireless can be such a pain!

lindy, thanks for the link. umm... you're stretching the limits of my geekiness, I'm sure it'll help me, but I just need to understand why it will help me!

LL

[lindy]

Originally Posted by LibraryLady;341807

lindy, thanks for the link. umm... you're stretching the limits of my geekiness, I'm sure it'll help me, but I just need to understand [I

why[/I] it will help me!

LL

I live in a condo with several neighbors who also have wireless connections. My girls' laptops would sometimes connect with a strong signal then drop out and random times. I couldn't figure it out. I downloaded that survey tool to see what the RF environment was like. I noticed that there were several Verizon routers in my location: all set to the SAME default channel 11.

I found that the lower channels were "occupied" but had a lower signal strength. I changed the channel of my router and haven't had any problems since.

I highly recommend changing the default password to your wireless router once you get it set up. You would not believe how many people leave it as admin.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by lindy

I highly recommend changing the default password to your wireless router once you get it set up. You would not believe how many people leave it as admin.

That's a given, but good to remind people. I'd recommend doing the following at a minimum; especially since you'll be boosting signal.

-Ensure Router firmware is up to date
-Change default admin passwords and username
-Turn on (Compatible) WPA / WEP encryption depending on router
-Change network name (called the SSID)
-Enable MAC address filtering and only add addresses you have
-Disable SSID broadcast

[Dan]

Originally Posted by Snaquebite

Dan,
Is the mesh attached to something? Looks like it has a cardboard front or sosmething....

It's foam that has been spray painted; the foam assists with keeping the antenna at the required stand-off. The antenna can't be right up against the metal. You'll get the idea from the attached image that basically shows a top view; the parabolic focus in the image is where the antenna needs to be located or near to it. The stand off and being centered is key for success.

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by LibraryLady

Here's the situation.

We're on cable for the Internets. Requirement of someone's job. So the wireless modem sits in the "office"/bedroom. If you draw a straight line from there to where the desktop/family computer sits you go through several walls including two with plumbing - hence no wireless signal at the desktop.

Looking at adding a repeater to 'bend' the signal so we're not stuck using the laptop in the living room all the time.

Wireless router = Linksys WRT150N Wireless N home router made by Cisco.
Antenna on desktop = D-Link DWA-130 Multi-band

So. Suggestions on repeater brand for home use and also should we set up all the wireless stuff as a single brand. Looked around a bit on da 'Nets and home repeaters are uncommon enough that it was hard to find definitive comparison reviews.

ETA: Or should we scrap the whole repeater idea altogether and figure out how to hardwire...

Thanks for all youse guys help in advance!

LL

Before you spend $$ & get into the repeater business..

Try your laptop at a friends house and see if you get reception where they get it.

There have been reported and unreported failures to receive because the antenna was engineered incorrectly.

IBM Had a ThinkPad in around 2000 that had miserable reception. After all the yelling,, it turned out to be the antenna,, it was routed BEHIND the case frame and this caused big problems. The next model they fixed the problem and touted the NEW & IMPROVED wireless chip set..

Apples Ipad 4 has a similar problem, only it brakes the antenna wire because of case flex..

This may not be your problem, but if it is buying a repeater is not going to fix reception..

Although Linksys is a leading seller,, it is not the leading quality in the router market. Additionally mixing Linksys & D-Link gear can produce problems.. Either or both will intensionally do "thinkings" to not be compatible..


I prefer D-Link's DIR-655 Extreme N Gigabit Wireless Router

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...rev_prod_title

And lastly,, Run a wire thru the cellar from the BR to the Office, You get full speed and cost is under 20 USD..

http://www.amazon.com/50ft-cat6-Ethe.../dp/B001OUW1RA

My $00.0002

Good luck..

[LongWire]

Originally Posted by JJ_BPK

Apples Ipad 4 has a similar problem, only it brakes the antenna wire because of case flex..

Don't you mean the iPhone 4?

[JJ_BPK]

Originally Posted by LongWire

Don't you mean the iPhone 4?

Probably,, I don't apple..

[lindy]

Here's a free program (scanner) that I use to check MY signal and other 2.4GHz sources of interference. You could confirm/deny the signal strength.

http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider

You can even attach a GPS and download the results to Google Earth...if that would ever be needed.

HTH.

[Draco771]

Something just dawned on me.

Regarding INTSEC (Internet Security)

If you're doing wireless internet, I'd strongly recommend looking into Internet Security Devices. Wireless Internet connections are the easiest to break into.

You can get Intelligent hubs with Wireless Security features pre-installed in them. Essentially it encrypts the signal between the modem, router, to the recieving computers. Only the comps with the devices and/or frequency software required will have access to the info. at least off the bat anyway.

Firewalls only work for the specific computer from outside influence, it does not protect against others dropping into the signal itself. Think of a "phone tap" for instance.

Just something to think about depending what kind of information your husband is sending/recieving via your home based business over a wireless network.

[Irishsquid]

Being a responsible network security professional and all, there is absolutely no chance I might have done any "hacking," in my younger days, but if I had, I was probably looking for unencrypted/weakly encrypted wireless. IF I were a hacker, and saw, for instance, WPA2, using AES+TKIP, I know that Aircrack will take forever-and-a-day to crack anything...and the neighbor is probably running WEP (5 minutes to crack, and you'd be amazed how many ISPs still ship hardware with WEP enabled by default.)

I wouldn't worry about spending the extra money on specialized devices. Personally, WPA2, AES+TKIP, MAC filtering, hidden SSID. Remember...a "professional," will still get in if they want...you don't need to be bulletproof...just moreso than the guy next door.

[Draco771]

Originally Posted by Irishsquid

Being a responsible network security professional and all, there is absolutely no chance I might have done any "hacking," in my younger days, but if I had, I was probably looking for unencrypted/weakly encrypted wireless. IF I were a hacker, and saw, for instance, WPA2, using AES+TKIP, I know that Aircrack will take forever-and-a-day to crack anything...and the neighbor is probably running WEP (5 minutes to crack, and you'd be amazed how many ISPs still ship hardware with WEP enabled by default.)

I wouldn't worry about spending the extra money on specialized devices. Personally, WPA2, AES+TKIP, MAC filtering, hidden SSID. Remember...a "professional," will still get in if they want...you don't need to be bulletproof...just moreso than the guy next door.

Good point, just felt like pointing something out.

Just there are Security Devices you can get for even $10 that will put your info a little bit above someone elses.

[Irishsquid]

True dat...I take a different tactic, personally...detailed here, but I know most aren't going to go that far.