Connecting to wireless outside of the router location room. Troubleshooting.

[tom jennings]

Hello everyone

I have Sky broadband (the best one they offer) with the new black netgear router (with no arial). The router is set up by the TV in the lounge and in that room the speed and quality is fantastic, iplayer etc.. all working with no issue via wifi. However in my bedrooms (in a flat so all on the same floor) the signal is not there to pick up. I know the laptop is fine as soon as I go in the lounge it pings back on.

The distance is about 30m from the router to laptop and through 5 walls. Was wondering what advice anyone could give me to improve the signal and get it working. Moving the router more than about 5 meteres form where it is is not an option. I've heard mixed reports of boosters but was wondering if people had had a similar problem and how they fixed it.

Kind regards
Tom

[midsail]

I have use a Netgear wireless extender with very promising results. I can say anything bad about his product. It has work as promise. Follow the link
http://www.netgear.com/Products/PowerlineNetworking/PowerlineWirelessAccessPoints/WGXB102.aspx

[Geek-9pm]

What is the possibility of passing a small  wire through the five walls?
For a moderate distance, UHF will follow a wire with loss of 10 to 20 db.

[rthompson80819]

You said there is no aerial on the router.  Is there an antenna output?    If so you can probably use a fairly cheap antenna.  Can you exchange it for one with built in antennas.  Not having an external antenna has to be a limiting factor for distance.

[rthompson80819]

You said there is no aerial on the router.  It must have an internal antenna or it wouldn't work at all.  Is there an antenna output?    If so you can probably use a fairly cheap antenna.  Can you exchange it for one with built in antennas.  Not having an external antenna has to be a limiting factor for distance.

[tom jennings]

There is no antenna output so I'm assuming it's internal. This does mean I can't add anything though which seems a shame. I'm going to try moving the router slightly more central and then go for the network wireless extender to see if I can get any joy I think.

[tom jennings]

The netgear wireless extender gets horrible reviews on Amazon. Can anyone suggest an alternative? I feel like I'm getting no-where and don't want to buy a load of kit that doesn't work!

Unfortunately drilling holes through all the walls is not an option at this point in time.

[tom jennings]

Is this an option?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-XEB1004-85Mbps-Powerline-Ethernet/dp/B00167D96S/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_1_0

[dahlarbear]

I know the laptop is fine as soon as I go in the lounge it pings back on.

The distance is about 30m from the router to laptop and through 5 walls.

1.  Just curious.  Have you tested to see how many walls it will go through (one, two, three, four, five)?

2.  Powerline is an option, but I have no personal experience with it.

3.  Reference(s):
     a.  Improving Wireless Range: Overview
     b.  Improving Wireless Range: Choosing the Best Locations

[tom jennings]

Good points. Through 1 wall the signal is present but slow and unreliable, through 3 walls the signal is occasionally present but not always and consisently slow and almost unusable. The other options have not been tried as they are bathrooms!

The netgear site is useful but not sure the advice will actually help enough to make a difference.