Need wireless internet help!!

[supernova1021]

OK.. I am very simple minded when it comes to this stuff so bear with me. I have ONE dsl plug in my new house (don't ask why...the local telephone company said this is the only way they can do it). I have a desktop hooked to it with a belkin wireless N router hooked up to that.

My wireless laptop is in my office across the house and gets a very sh#tty signal. The house is about 4000sq. feet and is about 95% underground. So a lot of the walls in it are actually concrete in the middle. I am guessing this has a lot to do with the bad signal that my laptop receives. I'm tired of having to unplug my laptop from everything and move closer to the damn router.

I am looking for the cheapest way to boost the signal from the wireless router. Do you guys think that replacing the antennas on the wireless router with some of the higher output ones would work? Or just buying one of the antennas with the long cables and running it closer to the laptop in the office?

Just curious if anyone has ran into this problem or has tried changing out antennas on the wireless router before? I found some on ebay that are pretty cheap but not sure how they would work out.

[Redstone2]

Re: Need wireless internet help!!

I have the same problem except with a desktop not a laptop. I bought the Cantanna off of ebay with a very small gain. I've got a cut sheet at work on an antenna with claims a 14 dB gain. I can send a link tomorrow. Thinking about another wireless router at the other end of the house.

[VveTTe917]

Re: Need wireless internet help!!

I hear Belkin isn't a good make, I have a Linksys router and I have a 3000 square foot home and can take my laptops anywhere in the house with an 'excellent' to very good' signal. Or you can get just get another router closer to where you work.

[supernova1021]

Re: Need wireless internet help!!

belkin is garbage. Here is what you need. Trust me:

http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-WGXB102-Wall-Plugged-Wireless-Extender/dp/B0002ZH71S

you just plug it in the wall in between your router and your pc and viola, you've extended the range. Get all netgear stuff though. I have belkin currently and its complete garbage. just too lazy to change it

Well I went ahead and got a (supposedly) high range usb antenna. I did see that on Ebay though Wolfy and thought about it. I will send this antenna back if it does not do the trick and go with that and a netgear router.

Its funny though, because once I step in the doorway of the room my laptop sits in with it it says it has a "very high" signal. So maybe this antenna will do the trick for me. Dunno..

Thanks

[MAK2102]

Re: Need wireless internet help!!

Netgear all the way. Any solid surface will wear or disrupt a signal, the more dense (concrete, metal, etc) the more affect it will have on your wireless signal. I have not tried the antennas so I cannot give any advice from that standpoint. Also, unless I read this thread wrong, you have your PC plugged into the wall and then your router plugged into your PC? swap that.

[snickers1]

Re: Need wireless internet help!!

i had the same issue ? do you have you wireless phone near it ?
my wireless phone was setup near it and messed up signal big time..

another option is get linksys router and sell signal boosters that plug into any outlet in the house and boost your signal

[Redstone2]

Re: Need wireless internet help!!

Here's an access point that pumps out 400mW, IIRC standard output is 50mW. Radio Labs also has several types of antenna. But at 400mW, I'm looking at getting this by itself and using it as a repeater at the other end of the house.

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/networking/high-power-access-point.php

Red