Looking to extend Wifi

Cookmeister

Hi, just a quick question. I'm want to extend the Wifi at home and just looking for a bit of advice on making this possible. The position where I want to create an access point doesn't have a phone line or ethernet port.

Is it possible to create a wireless access point using power over line adapters? Or would my best bet be by running an ethernet cable in the attic? Bearing in mind this would require chasing of walls.

All suggestions welcome, thanks

PogMoThoin

A cable will always be the best option. It may be easier to run your cable outside, bore out at skirting level, clip it under the plinth and then cable tie it up the downpipe to the attic.

Son0vagun

Isn't there a thing called a Wi-Fi Extender? That you plug in and it picks up your Wi-Fi and sends out the signal again???

PogMoThoin

Son0vagun wrote: »

Isn't there a thing called a Wi-Fi Extender? That you plug in and it picks up your Wi-Fi and sends out the signal again???

WiFi extenders are terrible, they are laggy and just sitting there it halves the throughput of your wireless network. You are always better off feeding a second access point by another method that isn't wireless.

Saganist

Have you looked into Homeplugs ?

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/network-wifi/3295840/d-link-w307av-powerline-homeplug-av-wireless-n-starter-kit-review/

Hootanany

Any cheaper ones that work.

Cookmeister

Ok so after doing a bit more research today I think I'll buy a 20m roll of Ethernet cat5 cable and run it through the attic to the access point. So if anyone knows of any good (not too expensive) AP's feel free to shout them out here!

Also my ISP is eircom and the modem they provided is a 802.11g. If I bought a 802.11n modem, it would still work with eircom ya?

Wotty

Ethernet over power line is noisy and pollutes the rf spectrum making it noisy for other users.

The devices should be banned.

Wireless wifi can be extended by using external ariels and this can save a lot of hassle running wires all over the place. Although sometimes there is no choice other than to use wires

shanec1928

Cookmeister wrote: »

Ok so after doing a bit more research today I think I'll buy a 20m roll of Ethernet cat5 cable and run it through the attic to the access point. So if anyone knows of any good (not too expensive) AP's feel free to shout them out here!

Also my ISP is eircom and the modem they provided is a 802.11g. If I bought a 802.11n modem, it would still work with eircom ya?

it will.
have a look here for a few examples if your budget can stretch buy cisco.

dub45

Cookmeister wrote: »

Ok so after doing a bit more research today I think I'll buy a 20m roll of Ethernet cat5 cable and run it through the attic to the access point. So if anyone knows of any good (not too expensive) AP's feel free to shout them out here!

Also my ISP is eircom and the modem they provided is a 802.11g. If I bought a 802.11n modem, it would still work with eircom ya?

Remember to get the full benefits of the n standard all the wireless cards on the network will also have to be n.

jesse pinkman

Our house is fairly old with wide stone walls, I have a Trendnet wireless router that is hardwired to both the main work computer & the Xbox which is located in the part of the house where there's currently no WiFi signal available, I'd like to rectify this so the kids can have WiFi for their tablets there. So my question is, can I add another wireless router to the end of the cable where the Xbox is located, then simply plug the Xbox back in to any new router?

Confused yet? . . I bleedin am.

Also if it is possible, what type of router would be compatible with this Trendnet one I have?

PogMoThoin

You need an access point, set it to the same SSID (name) and encryption (security type and password) as the existing wireless but on a channel well away from the other router and your devices should roam from one to the other

jesse pinkman

Thanks PogMoThoin, I was hoping it was simply a case of buying something & pluging it in, sounds a little technical for me, I'd need to get someone who knows what their at . . I think.

jesse pinkman

Well, as it turns out, I went to the computer clinic & they sold me one of these for €59 quid, just plugged it in & it worked straight away.

PogMoThoin

jesse pinkman wrote: »

Well, as it turns out, I went to the computer clinic & they sold me one of these for €59 quid, just plugged it in & it worked straight away.

That's a router. You do not want another router (double nat) as it may create issues for stuff that needs to open ports, Skype, online gaming etc. If you're just browsing you will probably be fine

Wotty

Did you try plugging an ariel into the xbox. That way the signal may be increased enough to overcome the thick walls you have described.

I don't know if this will work, but I do know that if you have a high gain ariel it may amplify the signal enough for things to work.

jesse pinkman

Its working grand now thanks Wotty, didn't know there where ariels for X Box's.

snaps

I'm going to jump in here, as I've a similar problem. I want to extend my WiFi to the back of the house, I've my main Vodafone router at the phone point at front of house. I don't want to run any cables as it really isn't possible without them being visable. I've an old lynsys w54 router which works fine and if I use a cable it repeats my WiFi grand. But want to position it in the kitchen, but instead of supplying it with an ethernet feed, I've an old WiFi bridge from a device I used with it(receives WiFi and outputs it to an ethernet cable) what would be the disadvantages with plugging this into my lynksys router to repeat my WiFi. As far as i know it works.