Improving wireless range?

[Dean Roddey]

So, since folks have been after me to get support for Plex in place, I've started working on that. I've been trying to get some actual use out of it for myself as well, but I have an issue that my (wireless) router is at maximum distance from my bed, which is where I'd most likely use it to watch movie or documentary before going to sleep or something. I might also use in the 'home theater' at some point as well, but just trying to get a basic setup going first.

So, what would be best to deal with that? I can't move the router. Should I just disable the wireless transmitter in the router and put in a separate on somewhere at the halfway point? The TV is there and there's a switch there I could plug it into.

That should, I would hope, get reasonable coverage to both ends.

At the router, I get 144Mbs. It drops off to 100 past the TV, and by the time I'm in the bedroom it's bouncing around between 30'ish to 50'ish. The router is set to high power. It's N mode only since I only have two wireless things and they bother N band stuff.

What would be a cheap but hopefully good solution for that?

[jkmonroe]

can you wire to the middle?

if so, just grab a regular old Linksys/Netgear for $20/$30, disable the DHCP server, and plug it in via the LAN port and not the WAN port.

[wuench]

You can either buy a new AP and turn off the router one, or use your existing router as an AP and replace the router. Or you can get an extender but that would cut the bw in half.

You could run a little test and move your router to see if it gives you enough bandwidth where you need it as an AP and replace the router with something super cheap.

I tend to like the ASUS routers. Either way N stuff should be fairly cheap these days now that AC is out.

[Dean Roddey]

I can't move the router since the cable comes in at the current location. I'm assuming just use a separate one, which can go elsewhere. What's a good AP for a setup without any sort of legacy requirements?

[royalj7]

Dean,

Could you use powerline to extend the range? You could put one receiver by the router and then another close to the point of use.

For a cheap, not AC compatible, router I would go with TP-LINK TL-WDR3600 at $50. For some future proofing, the Archer C7 at around $95 is well reviewed.

--Jamie

[Dean Roddey]

I'm not sure what powerline extension implies?

[sic0048]

I'm not sure what powerline extension implies?

Allows you to send signals over the high voltage power lines (110v). You need an injector/adapter at each end.

I would highly suggest getting a separate router/wireless access point and turning off the built in wireless access point on the cable system. Personally I use ASUS routers like the http://www.amazon.com/RT-N66U-Dual-Band-...GT390NB4WJ

[jkmonroe]

I can't move the router since the cable comes in at the current location. I'm assuming just use a separate one, which can go elsewhere. What's a good AP for a setup without any sort of legacy requirements?

i like this site. they seem to do a top notch job in the reviews:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/charts/router/view

id just go from the top down until you find a price that you like.

[Dean Roddey]

I think it would probably be a joke to use the power lines for anything here. My UPS clicks and the lights dim every time the fridge starts running or the microwave oven cycles on.

So, with that one, just don't plug in the WAN, connect to the LAN, and disable DHCP? Anything that would just be the equivalent wireless part of that so I don't pay for a second router I don't need?

[jkmonroe]

check out Ubiquiti or Engenius. Both are under $100, but while I know that Engenius can be used standalone, im not sure on the Ubiquiti (it might need a controller).