Wireless internet signal boosters

[Transcend]

Nope i tried upgrading the one in mine to find it firmware locked so i just left it at that and used the homeplugs.

The pcadvisor forum is really good for this kinda stuff

[Alex]

Laptop using its standard built in wireless network adapter (intel I think). Apparently you can get some better "high gain" usb or pci (for laptop) adaptors but dunno if they're any good?

When I get my desktop back that'd be using a netgear wg311t pci card which doesn't pick up the signal at all.

No, it isn't the laptop's fault. Either your router sending the signal is very weak or the house walls are just too thick.
I would try moving the router or maybe putting a cable to the router. Some of them allow you to hook a cable right into them. If you can hide the cable somewhere behind furniture or so that would be the cheapest solution I guess.

I am not so sure about booster solutions, never heard anything about them.

[_tom_]

Well I finally got round to sorting something out. Firstly I tried an Edimax wireless range extender/repeater and it was awful. PITA to set up and it worked for about a day. So I sent that back for a refund. Just received some Novatech Homeplug-esque things and they worked first time, plug + play :D So if it works for more than a day they were a great buy!

What do I need to do about security just in case the mains circuit runs to my neighbours houses as well?

[Transcend]

Im pretty sure the mains circuit wont be running to there house otherwise you'd be paying for their electric bill or vice versa.

just some general network encryption will work though.

Or set upa  simple password to connect to the connection

[mikeluke]

+1 for homeplug solution - I got some BT vision ones from the Bay and they work just fine - just a shame that BT can't open up a fatter pipe to my house - too far from the local exchange

[ToneMonkey]

It's not that bad Mike.  I live next door to the phone exchange and because I'm so close, I have to pay an additional cost (about £8 per month) if I want to move from BT to another broadband provider apparently.

Ay more opinions on Homeplugs...... I want some for my new telly.

EDIT - I wouldn't worry about the signal potentially going to the neigbours.  They will be on a different phase, so if they are connected together, broadband will be the least of your worries as things may start to explode  :lol:

[Roobubba]

I've been using homeplugs for years now. Absolutely great. I use the netgear ones. 85 megabit, but they're 4-port switches too, which has proven VERY useful when transferring gigabytes from laptop to main PC for backup etc. I use them for my telly, DVD player, main PC. I also use wireless in the house, but the homeplugs really are the main feature :)

I've not been able to hack across houses (and yes, I have tried when I had a neighbour who I knew used them). That's not to say it isn't possible, but I couldn't find any evidence of network 'leakage' outside of each individual home's power supply.

Roo

[ToneMonkey]

I've not been able to hack across houses (and yes, I have tried when I had a neighbour who I knew used them). That's not to say it isn't possible, but I couldn't find any evidence of network 'leakage' outside of each individual home's power supply.

Roo

You would have to try the house that's three house away (two house between you and it) as they will be on the same phase.  But it's highly unlikely they'll pick anything up.

What size plugs would you suggest?  I want a nice clear signal with no iteruptions to the telly (from the wireless router).

[Roobubba]

I've not been able to hack across houses (and yes, I have tried when I had a neighbour who I knew used them). That's not to say it isn't possible, but I couldn't find any evidence of network 'leakage' outside of each individual home's power supply.

Roo

You would have to try the house that's three house away (two house between you and it) as they will be on the same phase.  But it's highly unlikely they'll pick anything up.

What size plugs would you suggest?  I want a nice clear signal with no iteruptions to the telly (from the wireless router).

Ahha, good point!

Personally, I have great results with the 85Mbit plugs, and with 4 ports each they are REALLY useful. When you need to copy between machines, cable the machines through the same homeplug, and you'll have enough bandwidth to copy many GB without taking an age. Any more bandwidth is of course nice, but not necessary and does get quite costly. Streaming from PC to telly across that works great in my hands, also TV's internet connection through the homeplug via Virgin router (cable) is also superb (Philips TV).

Roo

[_tom_]

I'm using these 85Mbps ones from Novatech - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/networking/powerline/NOVATECH85MBPSPOWERLINETWIN.html (Read the reviews, there are no complaints from anyone!)

Haven't had mine long but they seem to work well and installation was just as simple as plug into the router/mains then plug the other one into the socket in my bedroom. Bargain for £40!

[Ol]

Better yet, buy some Home Plugs, and use your spare BT router as a wireless access point plugged into the home plug.

INTERNET --- ROUTER --- HOMEPLUG :::::::::: HOMEPLUG --- SpareROUTER

If you set the spare router up with the same SSID and security key, but different channels (e.g. one on 1, and the other on 11), you'll have a "poor man's" wireless distribution system. Once you have connected to your main router wirelessly, then when you go into your room, it will find the stronger signal on the spare signal, and the wireless configuration is identical, it will connect to the stronger signal.

Ol.
BKP

[Dmoney]

Is this a good device for boosting your wireless?

[mikeluke]

No - that will not work as it has a 'European' plug!


You need a good old British 3 pin version!


:-)


Mike

[Modular1]

my apple airport express does the job nicely. plus it plugs into my bedroom stereo and lets me stream my itunes to it :P (which is actually the reason i purchased it)