Extended Range Wireless Router - Follow up
Hi all, I posted a question a few weeks back about our cable modem being put in the basement…. Anyway, I bought a netgear wireless router. It works well, but due to being in the basement, it does not reach all areas of the house. After speaking to the cable company, i finally understand the…
Hi all,
I posted a question a few weeks back about our cable modem being put in the basement…. Anyway, I bought a netgear wireless router. It works well, but due to being in the basement, it does not reach all areas of the house. After speaking to the cable company, i finally understand the situation. Bottom line is that the modem needs to be in the basement due to the alarm. So, I think we would like to purchase some sort of wireless “extender”. Can anyone recommend a model and let me know how we go about setting one up? I dont mind buying two (one for the first floor and one for the second), if that will solve our problems.
thanks so much in advance!
FYI – the internet bridges did not work. My router was faulty. I purchased a powerful Linsys 310 (?) and my tech guy hooked it up directly to my cable and vonage modems…..
Happy days!
K
SJ
Many thanks for your suggestions. I will buy the ethernet bridges x2 and see what happens. The $200 or so will hopefully avoid me having to get my hair colored (again)! I know a friend spent hours on with Cable co and Vonage so I think everything is set up in that respect.
I have Vonage because I can call certain cities in Europe for free for $40 per month. It works off the cable modem.
K
SJ
Many thanks for your suggestions. I will buy the ethernet bridges x2 and see what happens. The $200 or so will hopefully avoid me have to get my hair colored (again)! I know my ex-roomate spent hours on with Cable co and Vonage so I think everything is set up in that respect.
I have Vonage because I can call certain cities in Europe for free for $40 per month. It works off the cable modem.
K
It sounds like using parkslopemom’s setup would work to eliminate your intermittency issue… Keep your current router and try using the plugged internet solution and putting an access point on the floor under your tenant and see if that fixes things. If not, then get another. Also, the equipment may be pricey, but it should be easy to set up. Past that, I am unfamiliar with vonage and how it works. Nonetheless, it seems clear that something is wrong if you need to reboot your modem(s)/router. You could try getting a new vonage modem and see if that helps or get vonage to try to diagnose your problem? Also, it is possible that your router has known problems with vonage so you should do an internets search for your router model and vonage and problem or conflict to make sure that is not the problem. Also, you should make sure that your router’s firmware is up to date by logging into the web interface and checking its status.
SJ and others,
I forgot to mention that I am the most technically challenged person this decade, at least…would nominate myself for “Darwin” award but would not qualify since I am aware of my shortcomings!
Unfortunately I cannot move router around since the cable modem wire and vonage modem wires come up from the basement to hall table.
With regard to cable modem, Cablevision gave me a new cable modem a number of months ago. My router is also new. Should I try to get a new Vonage modem?
The netgear stuff is expensive. Is it difficult to set up? Should I purchase the adapter and give that to my tenant? Ethernet bridges? Are these the simplest way to get more range?
Thx
Kate
You can’t imagine the frustration.
Again – we have used access points on each floor using wall plusgged ethernet bridges – no need to run cables or drill into walls. Most friends on my block use the same sort of set-up.
wireless can be difficult in buildings that are made of concrete or stone, since they heavily attenuate the signal.
you can try to blast through with a directional antenna, pointed in the direction you wish to receive the signal. this may be required by both the wireless router and the computer you are trying to connect, as the wireless signal is 2-way.
unfortunately, you will most likely be plagued with dead spots and poor reception areas, the only true solution is hard wired, but will limit the connections unless you have an access point.
a more elaborate solution would be, to hard wire the router to an access point on each floor, and that way the coverage will be excellent, and you only have to run 1 wire (via switch), but get multiple connections.
Kate,
It sounds like you have two problems:
1. Intermittent signal: Get someone to stand in the bad spots with a laptop and monitor the signal strength while moving your wireless router to different spots on the ground floor to see where you get the best all around coverage. Hopefully, you will find a good spot on the ground floor where the signal is strong.
2. Internet down: It sounds like your cable modem is not getting enough signal coming into the house from the cable company and/or your vonage modem and cable modem are taking too much bandwidth and/or your vonage modem and your cable modem may not be properly configured to work together and/or your cable modem may be defective and need to be replaced. Call time warner and tell them that your cable modem keeps going down and that they need to come and check it as well as the signal strength coming into the house.
my situation is driving me crazy.
I have a cable modem in basement (below ground) along with my Vonage modem. I moved my Linsys router (WRT54G2)to the ground floor just by halldoor. The signal is very erractic. My tenants on top floor – 2 floors up (3 from basement) – use internet much more than I do and we usually have to disconnect cable/vonage modems and router then re-connect them and internet goes on for a while. Any simple solution to this problem? Shall I get cable modem and/or Vonage modem moved to hallway beside router on ground floor?
Thx
Kate