Short-range wireless router advice

[(Account no longer active)]

I'm after a wireless router that will transmit up to about 10-20m/32-65ft (through two brick walls). Speed is not to much of an issue - 200KBps will be fine.

 

Would one the the devices below suffice? There is no mention on their range:

- TP-Link TL-WR702N: http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?model=TL-WR702N

- Edimax BR-6258nL: http://www.edimax.com/en/produce_detail.php?pd_id=450&pl1_id=3&pl2_id=18

 

For now I've just been using my phone as a WiFi hotspot - it does the job perfectly. However, I'd prefer having a device powered from USB that supports hiding of the SSID, connected to my Ethernet router.

[HawkMan]

why do you want to hide the SSID. it's rather pointless if you're doing it from an assumed security standpoint. 

[(Account no longer active)]

why do you want to hide the SSID. it's rather pointless if you're doing it from an assumed security standpoint. 

That's right, for security. I don't want my neighbors attempting to access/hack my network.

[Anibal P]

Easy to get even if "hidden", use real security of you're so concerned about the neighbors 

 

WPA2/AES and decently secure password are all you really need, if you insist on being paranoid you could use MAC address filtering, but that's trivial to bypass

[(Account no longer active)]

Okay, I'm happy with WPA2 a secure password. That's what I use through my phone at the moment.

 

My main concern is the transmission range of the devices. A sales assistant told me the Edimax was only good for up to about 6m, but I find that a bit hard to believe, as WiFi USB dongles seem to go much further.

[Ambroos]

That's right, for security. I don't want my neighbors attempting to access/hack my network.

 

No point. Once you try to connect to a hidden network your PC constantly broadcasts "Hello, is Network X available? Is Network X available? Is Network X available? ...".

 

Good WPA2 with AES and a long enough passphrase (just use a sentence you know with at least four words, for example) is all you need. And disable all forms of WPS (with PIN or a button to push). Those are security nightmares.

 

And people who work in stores are, in general, idiots. They'll say what they say to sell what they want to sell. If they're not thick brick walls you'll get through two walls with decent speeds with any more or less recent access point.

[Ambroos]

Although I would always go for TP-Link over Edimax. TP-Link has an excellent reputation and really has amazing value-for-money hardware.

[Aergan]

Depends on what you're classing as brick walls to be honest. I have a "breeze block" (high metal particle content) wall for the rear extension and it pretty much blocks all forms of 2.4Ghz communication, regardless of proximity.

 

In the study (former garage) we have 40cm thick wall comprised of reinforced concrete blocks which allows 2.4Ghz to penetrate through but pretty much blocks all 5Ghz.

[(Account no longer active)]

No point. Once you try to connect to a hidden network your PC constantly broadcasts "Hello, is Network X available? Is Network X available? Is Network X available? ...".

 

Good WPA2 with AES and a long enough passphrase (just use a sentence you know with at least four words, for example) is all you need. And disable all forms of WPS (with PIN or a button to push). Those are security nightmares.

 

And people who work in stores are, in general, idiots. They'll say what they say to sell what they want to sell. If they're not thick brick walls you'll get through two walls with decent speeds with any more or less recent access point.

Thanks for the tips. Looking at the product manuals I thought WPS would be a good thing!

 

WiFi is one thing I have studied into much.

Depends on what you're classing as brick walls to be honest. I have a "breeze block" (high metal particle content) wall for the rear extension and it pretty much blocks all forms of 2.4Ghz communication, regardless of proximity.

 

In the study (former garage) we have 40cm thick wall comprised of reinforced concrete blocks which allows 2.4Ghz to penetrate through but pretty much blocks all 5Ghz.

Just concrete bricks. No metal.

[Aergan]

Thanks for the tips. Looking at the product manuals I thought WPS would be a good thing!

 

WiFi is one thing I have studied into much.

Just concrete bricks. No metal.

 

WPS is never a good thing and if your router brand is Netgear, it's actually impossible to completely disable WPS on certain models (despite a multitude of support forum arguments, they apparently know better).

[xrobwx71]

That's right, for security. I don't want my neighbors attempting to access/hack my network.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wireless_network_watcher.html

 

This is what I use at home and work. It's simple to use. Shows everything that is using your wireless (and wired) network. You can name each connection for familiarity and if you spot one you don't recognize, you can go into your router (when you get one) and ip/mac address block the suspicious user.

This is a good router for the specs in your op. http://store.buffalotech.com/store/bufftech/en_US/pd/productID.279000300/quantity.1