[kwlug-disc] Extending WiFi Range

[William Park]

Hmm... could be RF interference or weak signal to begin with.  If
antenna placement doesn't help, then it's time for upgrade.  I've been
hearing good things about Linksys WRT1900AC/ACS.  Let me know how it
performs. :-)
-- 
William

On Wed, Mar 29, 2017 at 08:28:04PM -0400, Khalid Baheyeldin wrote:
> The router is in the centre of the basement. Almost touching the basement
> ceiling. So as high as it can be.
> 
> There are lots of cables underneath is (its power supply, Ethernet, router,
> switch, modem, ...etc.) as well as beside it (furnace to thermostat, a few
> Ethernet cables, ..etc.)
> 
> I want to avoid the move upstairs because of the UPS, and because I need to
> run more cables. Also, don't want clutter on the main floor.
> 
> On Wed, Mar 29, 2017 at 8:18 PM, William Park via kwlug-disc <
> kwlug-disc at kwlug.org> wrote:
> 
> > Where in your basement is your router?  At the floor, near wall, etc?
> >
> > I used to have a router at the basement corner where all wires (phone,
> > cable, electricity) would come in.  Reception at the opposite corner of
> > the house wasn't that good.  So, I bought 2 external antennas (TP-LINK
> > TL-ANT2408C), and place them away from the corner.  Reception got
> > better.  Eventually though, I moved the router to upper floor, at the
> > centre of the house.
> > --
> > William
> >
> > On Wed, Mar 29, 2017 at 07:29:33PM -0400, Khalid Baheyeldin wrote:
> > > WiFi reception in my house, using the OpenWRT powered D-Link DIR-835, is
> > > generally adequate, but could be better in some spots. Reception is
> > > intermittent in the backyard, where I am pondering a project that would
> > > need it. Perhaps the basement's concrete is interfering?
> > >
> > > I like OpenWRT and plan to stay with it. Also the router itself has lots
> > of
> > > storage (flash) and RAM, so will be here for the future. It is in the
> > > basement, near the cable modem, and other equipment, and connected to the
> > > UPS in there.
> > >
> > > Moving it to the main floor is not likely since it would involve finding
> > a
> > > power outlet and running Ethernet, as well as losing the UPS connection.
> > >
> > > So, my questions are:
> > >
> > > 1. What does one do in this case? Do you buy another router, possibly one
> > > capable of running OpenWRT and turn off the router features, and keep it
> > > only as a WiFi hotspot and put it near the spots where good reception is
> > > needed?
> > >
> > > 2. If so, what are good routers that you tried this on?
> > >
> > > 3. How did you turn off OpenWRT routing ...etc. on it?
> > >
> > > 4. Does the new WiFi hotspot have its own SSID or can it use the same
> > SSID
> > > as the main router?
> > >
> > > Any other thoughts/ideas welcome.
> > > --
> > > Khalid M. Baheyeldin
> > > 2bits.com, Inc.
> > > Fast Reliable Drupal
> > > Drupal optimization, development, customization and consulting.
> > > Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. --  Edsger W.Dijkstra
> > > Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. --   Leonardo da Vinci
> > > For every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple, and
> > > wrong." -- H.L. Mencken
> >
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Khalid M. Baheyeldin
> 2bits.com, Inc.
> Fast Reliable Drupal
> Drupal optimization, development, customization and consulting.
> Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. --  Edsger W.Dijkstra
> Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. --   Leonardo da Vinci
> For every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple, and
> wrong." -- H.L. Mencken

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