Getting better range from Wireless AP/Router
 

In order to not threadjack the wireless travel router topic anymore, I thought I would start another thread to pose this question.

I have a Linksys WRT54G in my upstairs home office. I generally use my laptop downstairs in a room separated from office by about 50 feet and one wall. My signal strength downstairs is low, and even in my upstairs bedroom, 25 feet away, it is low.

Has anyone had experience improving signal strength with a Linksys product? I have tried moving the antenna position, but it does not make much difference.

Would appreciate any assistance, tips, advice on other products, etc...

FDuvall

You can use a modified firmware that allows you to adjust the signal strength. I use the wifibox firmware found here. It is very stable, and allows you to boost the transmit power.

I would stick with HyperWRT instead. It is entirely based upon the LinkSys code and simply opens up some stuff that was hidden, include upping the transmit and/or receive power, antenna select, more security options, etc. It's really easy to flash and works great. It's a lot newer too as it's updated each time the codebase is upgraded from LinkSys.

You can also buy 2 new antenna with higher gain if this does not work well enough, but that's another 20-30 bucks for a box that only costs 45 after rebate now.

Download here: http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.p...ownload&cid=31

Went to local BestBuy and Circuit City...antennae were $65.00 for the package. Where do you see the lower price? And I have heard on DSLReports that it doesn't do much.

The HyperWRT firmware solution sounds promising. Will give it a try. Not sure what version I am currently running. Maybe Linksys also has an update. thanks.

FDuvall

I used the combination of Sveasoft and the antenna upgrade, boosted the unit to 100mW and things are now great.

Yea, but w/ Sveasoft you have to pay, it's really extended software, and it's not for newbies. C'mon, Scott... you probably debug C# via your Sling Blade while in Uzbekistan on a Treo... ;)

fduvall... can't remember where... they were 3rd party and I have no 1st hand experience. Try HyperWRT -- at 70% transmit strength it solved all our issues.

Actually, I upgraded it when it was still free :)

HyperWRT is vanilla linksys with a few things enabled. Notably the power. IIRC (and I'm not near the router), the default is 40mw. I think you can take the radio to 250, but anything about about 80mw (again, IIRC) will require external cooling of some sort.

I recommend that if you want the Sveasoft features without the attitude of the author, take a look at dd-wrt (http://www.dd-wrt.com/).

ScottC - Any cooling issues at 100mW? Looks like I have a weekend project...

FDuvall

No issues at all, the recommended power is 80mW, so I figured that 100mW would be fine too :D

and my Router isn't exactly in a good location either, it is under a table surrounded by other heat sources :D

I use a Linksys WAP54G Accesspoint as a repeater and is 2 floors away from my Linksys WRT54GS. The signal is consistent and appropriate in strength and quality.

The techie at Linksys stepped me through the set up in about 30 min.

So your WAP54G is just plugged into power supply 2 floors away? If so, this might be the cheapest solution for me. Do any other Linksys devices work as a repeater?

FDuvall

Does anyone know if there are similar firmware upgrades available for D-link wi-fi routers?

re: plugged in 2 floors away? -- exactly. Not a difficult configuration. Set up the WRT, then configured the WAP as a repeater 2 floors away. I have not had a problem in over 8 mos.

re: other linksys devices as repeaters? -- don't know. Might be some info on the Linksys site.

There are plans for an antenna signal director here:

Tin can
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

Tin Foil
http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/

Never tried it, don't know it if it works or not.