What to do for best network range in home and backyard area?

[TonyH]

HI,
I'd start with surveying the yard moving around with a laptop running an inSSIDer to see
signal levels around your house. Then you can use an AP box placed properly to have good coverage or maybe you can just get by by relocating the router in the house.

 

[stevech]

That indoor AP will probably fail in a year, if placed outside. This is because humidity, rain spray, etc. will get inside and corrode things.

Again, if you want excelled outdoor coverage, put an outdoor AP out there, on the house or patio cover. Run its cat5 cable into the house. You can get super-thin flat cat5 cable that can be worked into most windows without drilling. You can use powerLine (but you need to weather-protect the outdoor one).

You can put a small AP inside the house mounted at a window, if you can beautify the cabling. And so on. It's not really difficult.

 

[Fish]

Thanks for all the great tips guys. I guess I'm looking for a simple plug and play type of device, or devices, that will work for my situation (can't hard wire, not sure I can configure a Powerline, etc...).

it sounds like there just really isn't a simple plug and play option.

If that's the case, I guess I will have to go with the original suggestion of going using a Powerline (and hoping for the best when setting up), and then connecting one of the outdoor EnGenius AP's via Ethernet.

I'll go this route and possible post back with any potential issues I come up with.

Thanks again for all the great information and suggestions guys!!!

 

[Fish]

Hey guys,

I was able to get everything sorted out and just had a couple final questions.

I went with the suggestion of getting a PowerLine and an Access Point from EnGenius.

When setting up, I set up the EnGenius ENH200EXT with the same SSID and password as my current WiFi network. I just reread this thread and forgot someone suggested I set it up with it's on SSID and password. Is this important enough for me to worry about going through the settings again (which I'm not very good with) and setting it up on it's own SSID? Or would you just leave it as is?


I was having issues with the current router from Comcast so they gave me a basic Netgear (WNR1000v2) wireless router. They turned my current router into a bridge and I'm using this basic Netgear router for my WiFi network.

I was surprised to see how cheap this Netgear router is selling for ($32). This had me wondering if I should upgrade to something better. Would you upgrade, or is this one fine for a home wireless network with my setup (bridge, and access point)?


Thanks again for all the help everyone!!!

 

[stevech]

Engenius - I'd use the same encryption password as the main WiFi router, assuming that's a prudent password. I'd give it a different SSID so the WiFi device user can choose "best" - because WiFi clients don't choose "best" - not automatic as we wish it was.

As to cheap WiFi routers... it's probably 11g/n, without the high speed options of 11n. That's almost always good enough, unless your ISP is giving you more than about 30Mbps, and few do, and at some $$$.

 

[Fish]

Thanks again stevech!!!

Okay, I will make sure I change the SSID of the EnGenius network so I can select between them both. Thanks!


Just did a speed test at speedtest.net and the results were 27.51Mbps download and 9.73 upload. This seems fast to me.

1.) Would I actually notice a difference in speed getting a better wireless router with the 11n option?

2.) Would a better wireless router produce a little better range (within the house) than this inexpensive Netgear one?

 

[stevech]

Thanks again stevech!!!

Okay, I will make sure I change the SSID of the EnGenius network so I can select between them both. Thanks!


Just did a speed test at speedtest.net and the results were 27.51Mbps download and 9.73 upload. This seems fast to me.

1.) Would I actually notice a difference in speed getting a better wireless router with the 11n option?

2.) Would a better wireless router produce a little better range (within the house) than this inexpensive Netgear one?

Firstly: What downstream (to you) and upstream (from you) speeds are you paying for from your ISP? They offer different speeds at increasing monthly prices. Your speeds are good for an ISP in the US charging $50 or so. The upstream speed of 9.78Mbps is unusually fast.

Of course, your wired or WiFi speeds to/from the internet can't be faster than your ISP's service speed. And your method of measuring speed can affect things. Speedtest.net is popular, but choice of which host to test with, and time of day, etc., affect things.

When grading your ISP vs. their billing promised speed, use a PC that's wired. A WiFi connected PC will vary widely due to noise, interference, the goodness of your client device, etc.

Your client WiFi devices limit WiFi speeds, usually. They often have lesser specs than the router, or at least no better. Such as what 11n speed options the client(s) do/don't support.

 

[Fish]

I'm on a plan with up to - 50Mbps down and 10Mbps up.

 

[stevech]

nice speeds!
I'm stuck with Time Warner who charges $45+ for 15/1. And much more if I want faster!

 

[tipstir]

I'm on a plan with up to - 50Mbps down and 10Mbps up.

Comcast started to roll-out in some areas double the speed at no extra charges.

25 down and 5 up would be 50 down and 10 up
50 down and 10 up would be 105 down and 20 up
105 down and 20 up would be 210 down and 40 up

Check your speeds @ http://speedtest.comcast.net/

 

[stevech]

Time Warner has a big monopoly here - lots of subscribers.
AT&T U-verse isn't viable competition.
Satellite - some have it, but a small percentage. I price it now and then and it always comes out significantly more expensive, and no digital phone, no usable internet.

The City office that issues Time Warner their monopoly via easements just doesn't care.