Extending Wireless Connection Through House

[Scubacollie]

Another post i'm afraid, i'm going to run out of favours shortly with the amount of questions i'm asking! :)

I've had problems with my youngest childs internet connection for a few years now, and would like to try and resolve.

I was considering whether to extend a hard wired ethernet connection via a switcher (as i already have a ethernet lead downstairs in the lounge directly below my childs room which runs from my wireless router/main pc in the conservatory) and was going to put this into a 3 way switcher, and have one going to my media streamer, one to the PS3, and the other going up through the ceiling to my childs room.

However, it would be easier and cheaper for me to try and work on the wireless if possible.

I've spent money on 2 different types of usb wireless dongles in the past, i think the 'G' was the fastest i tried, however i've never tried an N which i believe is the fastest?

However, i've just tried my phone (Galaxy Note 2) which i believe has an N card inside, and that was struggling opening web pages, had 1/2 bars at best, and wouldn't stream Netflix without buffering/stuttering.

I really need a decent internet signal so that my child can watch movies via Net Flix and BBC IPlayer etc.,

My childs room is at the front of the house and the Main PC/Wireless Router (Netgear WNR200 N) is in the conservatory on the rear of the house (sorry i stated the obvious, as most conservatories are on the rear!).

I've looked at PC World and there appears to be some quite expensive N Type USB Wireless dongles, however i still don't believe this will be sufficient.

I have another PC in the Dining Room which i installed a Wireless N PCI Card and that works fine, but its at the rear of the house just behind the wall of the conservatory.

Would you have any other suggestions i.e., internal PCI better than a USB? of the same signal/reception i.e., N?

Do they still do those wireless plugs that you plug into a plug socket to extend the signal around the house?

Thank you in advance.

Soni

[trek]

Approximately how far away is your child's room from the Wireless router? You mentioned you have an ethernet connection available in the room directly below the child's room with weak signal. I'd suggest the easiest thing would be to add a second wireless access point there and he should get almost no loss just going through one floor.

[Astra.Xtreme]

Since even your phone isn't getting a good signal, I would first start by adjusting some settings in the router itself.

Maybe you're on a channel that's getting interference or already has a lot of wireless traffic. So, simple solution is to try another channel. Beyond that, I'm not sure if any of the other settings would help. Another option would be to install DD-WRT or Tomato (if it's compatible) and boost the power output a little bit. That will add a bit to the range. Another option would be to, as you mentioned, buy a wireless extender. I know Linksys has a "powerline" series for extenders in the chassis of a small plug. A bit pricey though.

Regarding a wireless dongle, I personally use a Linksys AE3000 and it gets great range. Linksys also has the AE2500, which I believe is quite a bit cheaper.

[Scubacollie]

Hi Guys,

Many thanks, i've changed the wireless channel in the past, however i get great signal around all of the house apart from the two front bedrooms (our room and our childs are both in the front of the house upstairs - seems to be the furthest rooms from the router).

Just been looking at Ethernet cable, it seems to have fallen a lot in price, the last i purchased was around 4 years ago and it is this cable that runs around the outside of the house (15Metres) and in through the side of the house to the lounge, i'm almost sure it was called CAT5, but just been looking at PC world and it has RJ45 and CAT5? I've researched and apparently the RJ45 is just the plug on the end of the CAT5 cable, but it doesnt look like that on the PC World Website.

If i choose to hard wire the bedroom then the wire i put around the side of the house will go into an ethernet switcher and the ehternet coming out and going to the room i need to be the same as that going around the house and into the switcher, how do i know which it is? RJ45 or CAT5?

These are the two web pages i've just found when looking for ethernet cable prices:-

This one states its CAT5

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/essentials-pcat55m12-cat-5e-ethernet-cable-5-m-13034577-pdt.html

This one states its RJ45

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/essentials-pcat51012-rj45-ethernet-cable-10-m-13212919-pdt.html

[Crisp]

Depending on how old / big your house is, with wall / ceiling thickness, some routers do just struggle to emmit a signal over distance. You could try changing the channel on your router as you may be getting interference from another network or something in the house like a home phone / microwave on the same 2.4GHz band - more than unlikely.

If you struggle to get a good signal close to the router on your phone then there seems to be a problem (if that was the case).

In any situation, running cable is always the best option, but for some is out of the question. If that is the case you have the choice of either running a Wi-Fi extender between your childs computer and the router, or the use of powerlines. - Although cannot recommend as I've never used them.

What kind of PCI card is in your childs computer?

This one states its CAT5

http://www.pcworld.c...034577-pdt.html

This one states its RJ45

http://www.pcworld.c...212919-pdt.html

They're both the same cable, just different length. You're right, RJ45 is just the connector on the end. CAT5 is 100Mb, CAT5e is 100/1000 and you get CAT6 which is also 100/1000 but different frequency (higher - longer lengths for consistent speed)

[trek]

Your initial research was correct. Cat5 is the type of cable. RJ45 is the type of jack on the end of the cable. Careful when you route cables outside through the walls as you may want to look at outdoor-rated cat5/cat6 ethernet cables for weatherproofing.

[Scubacollie]

Many Thanks guys, in the past weve tried Belkin and Netgear, both usb, not internal, only one was a g connection I believe, the other was the slower one I think from memory.

Buy as stated, I have another pc downstairs in the dining room which has a g pci internal card that I installed a couple of years ago and apart from losing connection and having to reconnect every now and then its ok, nut is only in the next room from the router.

Im going to go for the hard wired option, just to play safe, will get an ethernet switcher to connect to the other end of the cat5 in the lounge and connect the new cat 5 from that and wire through the wall and up through the ceiling of the cupboard under the stairs and under the floorboards upstairs into the bedroom, at least I know it will stream without any problems.

I need an ethernet switcher anyway as need another internet connection for the ps3.

Thanks again guys! :)

[Scubacollie]

Hi Guys,

OK, so i've purchased a CAT5e 15M cable today and also the following 5 port Ethernet switcher.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/tp-link-5-port-gigabit-desktop-switch-635838

I've got the Modem connected via Ethernet to the Wireless Router, the main PC connected via Ethernet to the Wireless Router, and an Ethernet leaving the Wireless router and travelling around the outside of the house and into the lounge.

I've then insalled my new Ethernet Switcher in the lounge and plugged the Ethernet cable from the Wireless Router into port 1, then the new ethernet cable in port 2, and wired the new ethernet cable through to the bedroom and connected to the rear of the PC.

All works fine, however i'm a little dissapointed as was kind of hoping the internet would be quicker.

Its stuttering on BBC Iplayer, Netflix plays fine but with a little slooooow down, but not suttering or stopping, you can just notice the images slowing down slightly and not playing fluidly.

Any ideas how i can speed things up?

I have a 20MB Connection and checkd the bedroom PC and getting between 8-10MB.

I've just checked the main PC and only getting 10.88MB!!

Any ideas how i can speed things up?

I have 2 x children, one of them i have purchased a Digital Aerial and Freeview box today for their room (as they have a LCD TV to connect with), but my other child only has a monitor connected to their pc, hence why i'm keen to try and get Netflix and BBC I Player running well as they don't have the option of connecting Freeview to their monitor due to a VGA connection only available on the monitor.......

Edit: just done another test on the main PC and only getting 4.48MB!

[alphamale]

when you have to distribute signal in a great big home and have several levels. a wireless domain is an answer for many. internet comes in on one side of structure setup distribution and put a access point on the ouside with a pieplate antenna, 2, one facing the other and run ethernet off the second to the basement of the home. saves a lot of time. deck usually gets great coverage, patio, etc from those antenna as well.

an idea to speed things up would be to move to kansas because you sound like you are going to be sucking bandwith. which is fine

[controlle]

I bought this...

Netgear Universal Dual Band WiFi Range Extender (WN2500RP)

http://www.amazon.co...ils_o02_s00_i00

Wireless router was on one side of building. Would constantly get disconnected when trying to use the internet on the other side of building. Everything is nice and stable now. The ethernet ports are quite useful too.