Wireless range extender
mikey86uk
Posts: 5,657
Forum Member
✭
Hi Guys
I need WiFi in my loft conversion and also out in the garden, but my WNDR3700 doesn't reach.
I have an Ethernet cable hidden away all the way to the top floor connected to a hub, but WiFi would be handy.
Is there something out there which i can connect my Ethernet cable to, to gain at-least 2 wired ports and also gain WiFi?
PC World dont seem to have anything instock and Maplins are confusing.
i dont mind spending a little extra to go out and pick it up today.
Thanks
I need WiFi in my loft conversion and also out in the garden, but my WNDR3700 doesn't reach.
I have an Ethernet cable hidden away all the way to the top floor connected to a hub, but WiFi would be handy.
Is there something out there which i can connect my Ethernet cable to, to gain at-least 2 wired ports and also gain WiFi?
PC World dont seem to have anything instock and Maplins are confusing.
i dont mind spending a little extra to go out and pick it up today.
Thanks
0
Comments
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edimax-EW-7228APN-150Mbps-Wireless-Extender/dp/B004JV42A0
Great little devices, does everything you want and more
Hi
Thanks for the reply, would this device use my already wired Ethernet port to gain internet? or would it only work over WiFi?
only reason i ask is, i would like it to be placed in the top floor and if it needs to connect to my router via WiFi then i doubt it would work
setting these things up is perhaps a little easier said than done.
but you need to set it in wireless AP mode, (not range extender mode.) if you use the same SSID and password as the main router downstairs, set the channel numbers some distance apart then devices will connect to which ever is nearest.
Connect new router to lan hub via internet socket on router. Not wan socket if it has one usually yellow.
Main trick is to set ip address static in same subnet as main router. Eg main router has ip 192.168.1.254 say
Then new router should be set 192.168.1.xxx. where xxx is number eg 65. Dhcp should be turned off.
Then set wifi as previous user says.
Search web for
Linking two routers
You will find many guides. Each routers menus differ a bit but principles are always same.
The above method can be extended to 3 or more.
Thanks
I'm using one now (to connect wirelessly to my router), and we use four at work (in various modes).
I recommend them VERY highly.
I'm with Virgin cable . Would I need a specific 'extender' as it's cable or will any do the job?
More information needed really. If you already have a wireless access point attached to your cable modem, then yes, any other wireless access point will do.
You might want to consider HomePlugs though unless you specifically need the wireless in two areas.
Hi
Thanks for the swift reply !!
I already have a router that I got from Virgin
I would like the range extending so I can get wifi in the garden (about 15metres)
Not sure what homeplugs are (am doing a search for info now)
homeplugs carry the 'internet' signal over the mains wiring.
understand that in the case of the OP he didn't actually want a wireless range extender. a wireless range extender is something that sits in the wireless signal of your original router and relays to increase the range.
the problem with range extenders is, well they're crap. what works much better is if you can wire an ethernet cable to a wireless access point. which is what the OP wanted. it'll be faster and work over a greater range.
wireless access points and range extenders, wireless bridges are all actually the same device. just in different modes.
depending on how elaborate you want to get you can get devices specially for the garden. depends how much you want to spend, and how big the garden is.
It's mainly for using the iPad and laptop in the garden which is , at it's longest, about 70 feet from the router in the house.
We don't play online games and is mainly for browsing and iplayer
probably best to go for a wireless n one. the one linked above would be fine. though you don't actually need the four ethernet ports. anything labelled as a wireless access point or range extender will be fine.
Off to the shops........
i would think about buying online.
Good call
Just been to Curry's and Maplins
Twice the price
Thanks . Have just ordered the one in the link
I got a couple of Devolo D-lan adapters on amazon for under £30, which work fine.
it won't help in thearden, but it might in the roofspace!
Anyway, I really want something to extend my wifi range (I'm currently using a Sagem Sky router) to get a decent signal in the bedroom. I've seen lots of devices which look ok but one thing I have never been able to find out is how do you actually install them.
Do I need to physically connect the repeater to a computer, and if so, what sort of things will I have to do. All I really want it for is using my iPad in the bedroom and I very rarely use a computer so am not that good at using them.
ethernet is just the wired networking. looks like a thick telephone cable and the sockets look like a big telephone socket. there will be 4 of them on the back of the router.
there is no need to connect anything to a computer no. nothing to do with networking.
what is best for you will depend on your setup and requirement.
a simple wifi range extender would be placed somewhere in the house in between where your current wifi router is and where you are hoping to get signal to. somewhere in the range of your current wifi.
it would then pickup that wifi signal and rebroadcast it. it doesn't need to be connected to anything other than power once it's set up. and if you just want to browse in bed on your ipad then this might well be fine.
there are a few caveats. that you have a location in your house where you can place it. somewhere that is in range of the current wifi and the place where you are hoping to get signal.
a better solution is if you can run an ethernet cable from your current router into the room where you want signal.
Alas, no way I can run a cable upstairs.
When I plug extender in, is there anythign else that needs to be done. I assumed you needed to configure it somehow to pick up the signal and repeat it, but from what you say does it just pick up all signals it finds and repeats them and you just connect to the right one? (thinking of neighbours house signal interfering).
Also, does the password security stay in tact (I don't want someone outside the house being able to tap into my wifi).
Thanks.
All security is the same as directly connecting to the router.
You only extend the signal that is coming from the router.
you need to configure it yes. and it will only extend your own network.
it'll be in the instructions. but you basically connect it to your computer using a wired ethernet cable. then from your browser you will be able to set it up.
you set it to repeater mode, put in your password and network name and you're good to go.
it's not completely trivial but it will be explained and you can always come back and ask.
Ok, so I assume it just connects via a USB for configuration and then just follow the Wizard instructions. After that I can just plug it into the socket.
(sorry to be so thick about this).
The wizard could be configured via WiFi but usually it is via an Ethernet cable connected to a PC network card.
Once configured the extender can be used standalone in any power socket as long as it is in range of the routers WiFi signal.