wireless network extender

[Rick]

What does it do exactly?

My guess is if it detects a signal, even if weak it will bottle it back up and broadcast it at full power further along the line?

So say you need to go 800ft and the signal only goes 600 but with an extender it can see the signal it could possibly re bottle and send the other 200 feet at original speed?

[BeefStew25]

It is like viagra for your linksys.

[Day1BroncoFan]

What does it do exactly?

My guess is if it detects a signal, even if weak it will bottle it back up and broadcast it at full power further along the line?

So say you need to go 800ft and the signal only goes 600 but with an extender it can see the signal it could possibly re bottle and send the other 200 feet at original speed?

You're more or less right. It connects to your wireless router or access point and boosts the signal.

[Rick]

Maybe I am confused here.

Wife's boss bought a hp laptop that has wireless N capabilities.

They own a greenhouse and live on the property.

They need to have a router in the greenhouse for security reason and want to be able to use the same internet at home.

I told them to buy a wireless N router and they bought the linkcys E1000 wireless N.

I originally placed it in the greenhouse next to their security system and did site check at their home but signal was not strong enough.

Kept moving it as close to the outside wall as I could but still not strong enough to reach house.

I placed the thing outside still not strong enough.

What gives?

Wireless N boasts 800ft outside and i couldn't even get it to stay connected at 170ft outside.

there something here I am missing?

[BeefStew25]

Wait, do they grow cucumbers?

[Rick]

Maybe something else... :)

[BeefStew25]

Okay. Well cucumbers interfere with some wifi spectrums. Just trust me on that.

[BroncoJoe]

Maybe I am confused here.

Wife's boss bought a hp laptop that has wireless N capabilities.

They own a greenhouse and live on the property.

They need to have a router in the greenhouse for security reason and want to be able to use the same internet at home.

I told them to buy a wireless N router and they bought the linkcys E1000 wireless N.

I originally placed it in the greenhouse next to their security system and did site check at their home but signal was not strong enough.

Kept moving it as close to the outside wall as I could but still not strong enough to reach house.

I placed the thing outside still not strong enough.

What gives?

Wireless N boasts 800ft outside and i couldn't even get it to stay connected at 170ft outside.

there something here I am missing?

Heat can affect a router/modem. Was it pretty hot in the greenhouse?

Sounds like a job for Thnikkaman!

http://www.hrwiki.org/w/images/thumb/1/1e/Thnikkaman.png/220px-Thnikkaman.png

[Rick]

For testing I placed it outside as well. Even outside could only get maybe 170ft.

My guess is out of the box antennas don't have the power. The technology can go 800ft but unless get separate antenna won't get that far.

No idea though.

[Tned]

For testing I placed it outside as well. Even outside could only get maybe 170ft.

My guess is out of the box antennas don't have the power. The technology can go 800ft but unless get separate antenna won't get that far.

No idea though.

A couple other factors could be radio interference from another device or trying to force a connection at the highest speed vs. letting it automatically select the speed.

I'm going from memory here, but I think as you stretch out the distance it typically has a weaker signal and reduces the speed. Obviously, if you have both set to auto speed this wouldn't be an issue.

[Day1BroncoFan]

I have had times when wireless just plain wouldn't work.

If the power to the greenhouse and the home is the same you could try using that.

Something like this (http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=533).

[Thnikkaman]

Maybe I am confused here.

Wife's boss bought a hp laptop that has wireless N capabilities.

They own a greenhouse and live on the property.

They need to have a router in the greenhouse for security reason and want to be able to use the same internet at home.

I told them to buy a wireless N router and they bought the linkcys E1000 wireless N.

I originally placed it in the greenhouse next to their security system and did site check at their home but signal was not strong enough.

Kept moving it as close to the outside wall as I could but still not strong enough to reach house.

I placed the thing outside still not strong enough.

What gives?

Wireless N boasts 800ft outside and i couldn't even get it to stay connected at 170ft outside.

there something here I am missing?


So some things to take in consideration. Wi-fi and metal grids do not mix. This may be part of the issue you are having with the signal strength not being able to make it from the greenhouse to the living quarters.

I would suggest installing a 3rd party firmware such as dd-wrt or tomato, but it does not look like those are available yet. You could find a cheap wireless N router on e-bay and install dd-wrt or tomato on it, and give that a try.

You could also find a wireless bridge and install it in the home someplace that it see's the signal. This could be costly and might not give the desired result.

Finally, you could just get another wireless router, and install it in the home off of the same internet connection. You would probably need to run conduit from the greenhouse (if that is where the connection is coming from) and run cat-5e cable into the house and install the router.

Is there a network resource that he needs access to that is in the greenhouse, or does he just need to be able to get on the internet?

[Rick]

They are state mandated to have security system accessible from out side the network because....of the...type...of cucumbers that are grown there and then they will share the net at the house.

The router being used is a N, and I tried it outside as well and could get only about 150 ft to the house.

Talked to the people at linksys and they said turn it to channel 9 and it got it about 50 more feet and that seems enough for them to stay connected but it just confuses me as N is supposed to go 800 feet, is that then just with the proper antenna?

[Thnikkaman]

They are state mandated to have security system accessible from out side the network because....of the...type...of cucumbers that are grown there and then they will share the net at the house.

The router being used is a N, and I tried it outside as well and could get only about 150 ft to the house.

Talked to the people at linksys and they said turn it to channel 9 and it got it about 50 more feet and that seems enough for them to stay connected but it just confuses me as N is supposed to go 800 feet, is that then just with the proper antenna?

It could be a variety of things like the transmit power, if the frame of the greenhouse is metal, how much metal is around the access point.

Yes, Wireless N has a standard of transmitting to 800ft, but it seems that the manufactures only ensure that the 52Mb/s is met (I think that's the rate), and feel like 600-800 feet is good enough. That is why I was suggesting dd-wrt or tomato. Keep your eyes open on their sites for when they are able to successfully install that firmware on that device. The firmware adds extra functionality like the ability to control the transmit power.

[Rick]

It could be a variety of things like the transmit power, if the frame of the greenhouse is metal, how much metal is around the access point.

Yes, Wireless N has a standard of transmitting to 800ft, but it seems that the manufactures only ensure that the 52Mb/s is met (I think that's the rate), and feel like 600-800 feet is good enough. That is why I was suggesting dd-wrt or tomato. Keep your eyes open on their sites for when they are able to successfully install that firmware on that device. The firmware adds extra functionality like the ability to control the transmit power.

Thanks I will look for those. Has to be something with the power as when I tested it outside there was no metal. Both router and laptop were outside.
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