Range extenders

Discussion in 'Networking and Computer Security' started by Anjistar, Jul 25, 2006.

  1. Anjistar

    Anjistar Geek Trainee

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    hi,
    I have Netgear Rangemax equipment on my Wireless Network - DG834PN Router/modem and WPN111 Adapter on my main PC, fantastic signal, never seems to drop

    My son has a Belkin USB adapter on his PC (up the stairs, turn right). His signal is weak and drops often.

    My daughter has a laptop ( which works fine in the same room as the main PC), and she gets no signal whatsoever( upstairs, turn right, second door along).

    I don't want them both moving into my den with me so can I do anything to improve the situation?

    I have heard of Range Extenders, but looking on the Netgear Products pages left me more confused than enlightened.
    Can anyone clear away the cobwebs?
    Cheers
    Anji
     
  2. donkey42

    donkey42 plank

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    check these cheap enough, where are you based (country) ?
     
  3. Anjistar

    Anjistar Geek Trainee

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    Thanks for your reply!
    Prices are in sterling so that's right.
    But they are all different! 5 dBi, 8 dBi, Omni-dlink, SMA fern, Rp-TMC
    What does it all mean?
    How do I know which is the right one to work with my Wi-Fi hardware?
    Regards
    Anji
     
  4. donkey42

    donkey42 plank

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    to be honest i don´t know, but if i were to guess, i´d say the dB stand for Decibels (frequency) and i guess 8 dB is obviously more powerful than 5dB,
    it just a small threaded coaxial (similar to thin tv aerial cable connector, but better, cos it´s ¨digital¨ :rolleyes:) conection (a bit like BNC)
    check your wireless adapters manual for ideas, it will probably give you a detailed specification, then just match the extender you think and compare the specs of your hardware to the specs of the extender, when you get a match, Bingo, thats the one you want
     
  5. Anjistar

    Anjistar Geek Trainee

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    Thankyou! I think!
    I shall try to work my way through that lot, then amd see what transpires....
    many thanks
    Anji
     
  6. xboxsoli

    xboxsoli Geek Trainee

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    i dont think that the netgear router allow you to remove the antennas so i think you will have to go with a range extender. Netgear antennas used to be RP-SMA (reverse polarity) i think before they decided to make them un-removeable.
     
  7. Anjistar

    Anjistar Geek Trainee

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    Do you mean that the suggestions made in the previous reply all required the aerial to be changed?

    If so, you are quite right. My router/modem has an internal omni-directional aerial.

    It's just not coping with cottage walls.

    So I need a range extender. Can you make a suggestion? Just so I know roughly what I am looking for, then I can go research.

    Many thanks
    Anji
     
  8. xboxsoli

    xboxsoli Geek Trainee

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    there are a few companys making them. the one i have is a dlink dwl-g710 and i paid $29.50 for it refurb. linksys also makes a WRE54G. there are a bunch of others. i think there mostly the same though. it probly would be a good idea to stick with the same brand as the wireless router though. netgear makes a WGXB102 but i dont know anything about it. the dlink took maybe 10 mins to install and its working great.

    hope that helps
     
  9. Anjistar

    Anjistar Geek Trainee

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    Thanks for that- it sounds exactly what I need. I looked it up on Netgear and
    it also says that I need an ethernet bridge.

    :confused:
    I am experiencing some difficulty in working out whether I need both.
    The WGXB102 http://www.netgear.co.uk/pdfs/WGXB102_DS.pdf
    suggests I do, but
    the Ethernet Bridge XB102 http://www.netgear.co.uk/pdfs/XE102_DS.pdf
    doesn't explain whether I need one of each, or if just a bridge, or several bridges will do the same thing.


    I don't suppose you have the time to unravel this?
    Cheers
    Anji
     

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