Computer Modem/ Range Extender

[Instrument 41]

Folks, my parents, who arn't the most computer savvy are having some issues and thought there would be some solid "USER FRIENDLY' advice...for those of us that are also the way of the parents. Moms laptop has problems holding the signal from the wireless modem, that is supplied by ATT. Brought it back to where it was purchased to have the laptop checked out and was found to be operating correctly but suggested to call ATT and see if the modem they have is an older model. Checks out that they have the latest version. So then Dad goes out and buys a Netgear Range Extender. After a few choice words its not operating at all. So, anyone ever used a Range extender or what I would call a repeater? The modem is in the next room, no brick walls to impede signal.

On a side not the wife and I are in a major remodel and are currently living here with them......nothing else said!

[WPOZZZ]

I tried a Netgear and D link and could not get them to work.

[id10t]

Yup, both short range (to get to my desktop system) and long range/house wide (at mom's) and I chat with the network guy at work that is responsible for keeping 10k people on 20 acres connected.

Unfortunately each one is different in how it can be set up and operate. Not counting enterprise level stuff best is a Belkin I got at wally, it extends the same SSID (network name) whereas the other's I've used all want to create a new network. Either will work for your system.

Basically, you reset the extender to factory defaults (via button and paperclip), plug in with a laptop or desktop, and get an IP via DHCP. You'll then be able to connect to the device (usually at the .1 of the subnet your DHCP addy is in) via browser and configure it, first for what network it connects to and then to set up the new/extended network.

[RKDinOKC]

It is terrible how short ranged all these wireless bases are now. Remember when I could take my laptop almost a block away and still get good internet. Now can't hardly get across the house without some kind of repeater.

Yep, I have my wireless router in the middle of the house with another wireless router in each end setup on the same network name as "Extend a Wireless Network"

To work best is to run wire between the wireless bases and have them operate a bridges for the base that has the connection to the internet.

[John Rogers]

Because my house is a tri-level house with lots of metal heating ducts in the crawl spaces, I have 3 extenders even with the strongest box Asus makes. First extender is about 15 feet away right next to the front door so my Ring doorbell has a signal, next is just up the stairs around a corner and last one is in the bedroom to give a signal to my smart phone and weather station.

I started by reading the instructions for the main router to see how they wanted it setup, then extender instructions and proceeded with the next two. The first gets it's IP address from the main router, second extender one gets it's IP address from the first one and so on. The main and extenders are never turned off and if power is lost I have to bring them on the same way as initial setup.

[wdfifteen]

I have a Hawking repeater type range extender. It was easy to set up and it works, but it is MUCH slower than the wifi router. It also needs to be manually connected to my phone. So when I move from one end of the house to the other I have to reconnect my wifi. It sucks.

[RKDinOKC]

Yep, wireless extender tends to carry whatever speed over it's network area that your computer would get if placed in the same place as the extender. So typically you would want to place the extender in the closest position to the base as you can get it and still get good signal on the computer from the extender.

[gprsh924]

Forget range extenders. They don’t work well and they are slow. If you have some savy, you can follow id10t’s advice.

For ease of use, get one of the new mesh network systems. Range is vastly improved, speed is great, and it is one network name across the whole house. I use Eero and I love it, but there are about 10 different options now.

[cabmandone]

I have tried designated repeaters with little success. I have setup routers to function as wireless repeaters and it has worked okay. Best bet is setup a wired access point where you use Cat5 between the main router and the AP. I have my main in my basement with a wired AP on the first floor. I use the 5ghz signal for all streaming and the 2.4ghz for internet access.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I have tried designated repeaters with little success. I have setup routers to function as wireless repeaters and it has worked okay. Best bet is setup a wired access point where you use Cat5 between the main router and the AP. I have my main in my basement with a wired AP on the first floor. I use the 5ghz signal for all streaming and the 2.4ghz for internet access.

Spent 3 days one "winter" in here in Florida wiring my house with CAT5. None of the jacks are anywhere near where we have computing devices 15 years later...

Next house I'll be lazy and over do it, and just put one any place there is an electrical outlet.

[cabmandone]

With remodel boxes and a bit of skill you can have CAT5 jacks wherever you want them on interior walls. In my case, I live in an old farm house that has 8x8's under several interior walls so I poked a hole in the floor behind a desk and that's why my tplink AP is located. Luckily it is central in the home and on the 5ghz channel I'm getting about 90mbps on the second floor which isn't bad when you consider my service is 100mbps. The only reason my FIOS modem isn't on the first floor is the size of the thing. It's about the size of a Xbox

[KFC911]

^^^^ good move.

Wireless has "flexibility" benefits, but will NEVER compete with hard-wired infrastructure in performance...unless something is seriously messed up. Leave wireless for the "last hop"... if possible.

[rfuerst911sc]

What I did may be an option for you . My issue was zero signal in my detached two car man cave which is about 80 ' from the house . The man cave has metal siding and a metal roof and the house has a metal roof so a tough environment for wireless WIFI to conquer . But I didn't want to run additional hard lines out to the garage . I went to Best Buy and talked with a very knowledgeable guy and he set me up with a Netgear Powerline WIFI booster/repeater . It is Model # PLW1000 and it was $119.99 .

Because the man cave is powered by the home 200 amp circuit breaker box this worked for me . As I understand it this device makes all of your house current wiring a hard wired network . There is a " main unit " that plugs into an outlet near the home router . There is a hard line that goes from the wall unit to the modem/router . Then in the man cave is a 2nd unit that plugs into a wall outlet , that 2nd unit has two small antennas on it . To set up this new network you just follow the instructions and voila you have internet !

I have been using this now for over two months and so far it works great ! We have DSL as our internet source and it's not the greatest , but we are able to stream our TV content with no issues in the house and the man cave . Also our cellphones are Google phones which use wifi as the main source for communication then switch to LTE if wifi is not available , so far we have run 100 % on wifi . So I can go out to the man cave and power up the TV and watch a race or football game . At the same time I can scan the internet on my laptop and be on the phone as if I was sitting in my house . I am completely happy with the setup .

[jyl]

Get an eero mesh Wifi system - a base station and two satellites. Plug into your modem. Done.

Seriously, I futzed around with multiple Airports connected via powerline networking, to get good signal everywhere in my house. It worked but was a pain to set up and I ended up with mutiple different networks. The eero did it in a flash. Good speed, single network throughout house, can add satellites wherever there is an AC outlet. I do not really understand the intricacies of networking and I am too lazy to learn.

3000 SF house, three stories + basement, detached garage, treehouse - eero gives good signal everywhere.

Other mesh wifi systems like Google, Plume, Netgear etc apparently work fine too. Google's is a little cheaper. Netgear is bulky. Plume is speedy.

[drcoastline]

I have the same issues. I have bought various signal boosters and extenders over the years. I have found this works best.

[Rtrorkt]

https://www.amplifi.com
this did it for me. great range on my wifi