11858 Wi-fi networks and thick walls

Hi
Calling all tech heads.
I was try to set up a wireless network in a friends house, with very thick walls and only got minimum coverage.
As he has 2 telephone extentions, in different parts of the house, I was wondering if any body had tried this.
Hard wire one standard no wifi modem into one ext, and put a wireless modem on the other.........any clues and or ideas very welcome ......................cheers

Category
Building/Renovation

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 08:42

This fella helps.....[url=http://www.ciao.it/NETGEAR_85_Mbps_Wall_Plugged_Ethernet_Adapter_XE103__664356]NETGEAR 85 Mbps Wall-Plugged Ethernet Adapter XE103 : Leggi le Opinioni e compara i prezzi[/url] just plug it into a power spocket (along with anothher one!) and bingo, LAN via the ring-main

[img]http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/images/products/xe102.jpg[/img]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 09:20

[quote=tuscanhills;113136]This fella helps.......... just plug it into a power spocket (along with anothher one!) and bingo, LAN via the ring-main

[img]http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/images/products/xe102.jpg[/img][/quote]

That might only work if your Italian place is wired up with a 'ring main' [UJK style] rather than the 'star' system - I'm not certain, but I'm sure some techie will know

.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 09:32

We have had a similar problem with the Alice/Vodafone wireless system combined with TV and phone service. Our old building in the centro storico with thick stone walls restricted which of the rooms we could use the wireless in. Neighbors who had the same system also experienced this. There are signal boosters available but I am not familiar with the specifics on those.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 10:49

The reason is because when you buy a wireless router or modem, they come in different strengths of signal (costing more for the higher strength). If you have a large house or need to go "through" lots of stone walls, you need a stronger signal.

The other issue regarding phone extensions and internet connections is fairly easily remedied. Here are my recommendations:

1. Plug an ADSL filter into the main socket where the phoneline comes into the house and plug your wireless modem/router into this (this saves a lot in diagnosis if something goes wrong - i.e. it can't be the wiring in your house causing a problem).

2. You may have telephone extensions off this main point but NOT off the line that goes to the modem/router unless you use another ADSL filter on EVERY telephone socket as the telephone and ADSL interfere with each other.

3. If you want to connect a desktop to the modem/router off of a telephone extension, you will need an ADSL filter on that socket AND the original one that comes into the house IF it is a plug-in type extension. It starst getting a bit complicated at this point :yes:

It can be done but it is a case of putting the ADSL filters in the right place and the phone lines/ADSL connections in the correct points.

If any of you are in my area and have problems, I do house calls!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 16:28

If any of you are in my area and have problems, I do house calls!

I like this very well !!

Luckily my wi-fi connection is fine as I TEND to retain a line of sight connection (even outside at times).................I also have an 'extended' aerial on my router (twice as long as normal) acquired locally..........which allegedly increases signal by some 50%+

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 18:09

Don't know about the ring main option - but in theory it's a great idea.

As for wi-fi - if you're not needing always-available wi-fi at all times (i.e. for different people in different parts of the house) I'd simply buy a 2nd router and configure it identically. I'd work on the basis that one of them will generally be on all the time but for the other area of the house when required, I could turn the main one off and switch the 2nd router on. They only take a minute to boot up & connect and you're good to go. It's little different to turning a TV on & off when you want to watch it. The reason I'd go down this route is one of redundancy. When one of them inevitably breaks, you have the other. I keep a spare as it is for that reason since the shops are never open when you most want something & routers do break!!

You can't really connect them both at the same time since your ISP will only assign a single IP address to the connection on your line.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 18:14

[quote=alan h;113144]That might only work if your Italian place is wired up with a 'ring main' [UJK style] rather than the 'star' system - I'm not certain, but I'm sure some techie will know
.[/quote]

These work fine with Italian single-phase mains systems - we used three by Devolo for a number of years. The only problem was that we had to reboot quite frequently, presumably due to mains 'spikes' caused by switching etc. They are certainly the answer to thick walls though.

Another solution is to use a wireless router and get something like an Apple Airport Express to act as a repeater. These work on the the latest 'N' standard and play nicely with Windows as well as Mac.