Wi-Fi signal strength

[Lons]

I'm with BT broadband and have one of their latest hubs but for some reason (presumably solid walls), we can't receive an adequate signal throughout the house.
The hub is situated in my office (pit :lol: ) connected to my desktop and a wired connection upstairs to my wifes' study and it would be problematic to re-locate.

I know there are extenders / repeaters ? out there to boost wi-fi signals so my question is has anyone experience of these, recommendations or just opinions to offer?

( My wife is giving me a hard time 'cos she can't use her laptop, whilst cooking and doing a jigsaw - multitasking :? ) - sad eh?

cheers

Bob

 

[Titus A Duxass]

These work surprising well for boosting your reception http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIFI-Antenna-Reception-Booster/ and a decent external antenna will help with the router output.

I use a TP-Link TL-ANT2409A and have no problems with reception even when I'm in the cellar.

 

[Mcluma]

I have switched the wireless off my home hub and have this one hooked up

http://www.netgear.co.uk/wireless_acces ... WPN802.php

I have been using this for about 4 years, and works great, goes from the ground floor two floors up, and all arround the grounds outside

if you want you can combine the two, you can set one up as a wireless extender

 

[Peter T]

I had the same problem with the wireless router provided by my ISP, BE There.

I threw that one away and went to a Netgear router and now I get full signal strength everywhere in the house.

Good luck,

 

[Deejay]

Hello Bob

I'm with BT broadband and have one of their latest hubs but for some reason (presumably solid walls), we can't receive an adequate signal throughout the house.

Assuming you have HH version 2, have you looked at the Wireless Channel options under settings / wireless ?

Worth a try?

Cheers

Dave

 

[9fingers]

Wireless propagation can be very variable according to house construction.
One possibility is to add a homeplug link (works down the mains wiring) to your hub and then experiment with a second homeplug unit and wireless access point by moving this round the house until you find an approximate centre to the wireless coverage. Note that this is highly unlikely to be in the physical centre of the house.

Bob

 

[OLD]

This info may be of interest to you.
http://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/4566-bt-home-hub-3-to-launch-at-end-of-february.html

 

[Chataigner]

Get a decent aerial on the router. The difference is remarkable.

 

[Lons]

Many thanks one and all - that's given me food for thought

Mcluma - I used to have a Netgear router and I like the quality so looks interesting - will cost it out.

Titus - Does the DIY solution really work? The TP-Link TL-ANT2409A is interesting and cheap but not quite sure how it works - will look closely

Deejay - I have the home hub 2 (v.2 type A) - What wireless chanel options would I choose?

9fingers - Are you saying to buy an extender / access unit but add homeplug links as well? - Would this increase the signal even further?

Old - Didn't know a version 3 was on the way. I need to check my contract expiry anyway as I'm considering switching to a cheaper provider

Chataigner - Can't see anywhere on the hub to connect an external ariel

cheers

Bob

 

[9fingers]

Many thanks one and all - that's given me food for thought


9fingers - Are you saying to buy an extender / access unit but add homeplug links as well? - Would this increase the signal even further?



Bob

Not quite. I was more thinking of turning off the BT box wireless link and, using the homeplug link as a method of experimenting and eventually installing an access point at the best location in your house. The homeplug simply replaces the cable run that you said was awkward.

If however, your house is too big for a single antenna to cover it adequately no matter where you put it, then use the accesspoint on your BT box as well as using homeplug to get to the other end of your house where you put a second access point. All computers then need to be configured to use either access point so you can wander between the two.

Hope this is a bit clearer

Bob

 

[RogerS]

Not sure of your location, Bob, but whatever you end up with, make sure it's locked down to stop anyone outside accessing your WAN.

 

[Deejay]

Hello Bob

What wireless chanel options would I choose?

Have a look here ....

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/deta ... a_id/13598

You can access the relevant page from

http://bthomehub.home

then 'Settings'

then log in and go to 'Wireless'

There are several posts about wireless problemsmhere ...

http://community.bt.com/t5/forums/searc ... ssage-list

HTH

Cheers

Dave

 

[Lons]

Many thanks one and all - that's given me food for thought


9fingers - Are you saying to buy an extender / access unit but add homeplug links as well? - Would this increase the signal even further?



Bob

Not quite. I was more thinking of turning off the BT box wireless link and, using the homeplug link as a method of experimenting and eventually installing an access point at the best location in your house. The homeplug simply replaces the cable run that you said was awkward.

If however, your house is too big for a single antenna to cover it adequately no matter where you put it, then use the accesspoint on your BT box as well as using homeplug to get to the other end of your house where you put a second access point. All computers then need to be configured to use either access point so you can wander between the two.

Hope this is a bit clearer

Bob

Thanks - clearer now

It's quite a large house with solid walls and because my office is at one side I need the desktop there. My wifes' study is upstairs and like mine her desktop doesn't have wi-fi so the hub needs to be near my desk to connect with both (usb & ethernet)

We both use laptops and a kindle in other rooms as well as my wife's iphone which seems better on wi-fi than 3g. So it looks as if an access polint is likely the way to go but I'll keep an open mind for the minute.

Dave

Thanks for the links, I'll check it out when I have time tomorrow and see if I can get an improvement.

Roger

Yep it's fully secured and I've been out in the street to try and access it, so hopefully!

cheers

Bob

 

[Chems]

Assuming you have HH version 2, have you looked at the Wireless Channel options under settings / wireless ?

Worth a try?

Yes try this first. The amount of items in the home and other peoples home that use the same wireless protocols now means that the airwaves are awful crowded and that interference can stop the strength of the signal.