Best wireless router to blast through plaster?

[ViviTheMage]

Replacing parents wrt54g what's good at blasting B/G through plaster on 2.4? Need something better then this old guy!

 

[azazel1024]

Most newer routers will be better. No N devices? That is so 2008.

In general you'll want to look for something with external antennas, though not a guarantee of sucess.

Try looking on smallnetbuilder's router ranking, specifically the range area.

When it comes down to it, nothing is good with plaster and lathe (or concrete) and if you want truely good coverage you'll likely need to look at multiple access points spread through out.

 

[ViviTheMage]

yeah, their hardware is old, and they want the old stuff to work ... B/G :s

I have 4 AP's, I am just trying to keep it to 4 AP's, but stronger ones.

 

[alkemyst]

Range? Hard to go wrong with the Asus RT-6xU series or anything with external antenna that's reputable.

smallnetbuilder.com has excellent reviews and specs on gear.

 

[alkemyst]

Most newer routers will be better. No N devices? That is so 2008.

In general you'll want to look for something with external antennas, though not a guarantee of sucess.

Try looking on smallnetbuilder's router ranking, specifically the range area.

When it comes down to it, nothing is good with plaster and lathe (or concrete) and if you want truely good coverage you'll likely need to look at multiple access points spread through out.

I had a WRT54G that dropped off in range prior to upgrading to a e3000 (sucked) and then a e4200 (excellent)...now I run a Cisco C819 enterprise ISR

 

[ViviTheMage]

what about throwing in a range extender? Those things any decent? They just need signal ... they are just browsing the web, no streaming really, maybe some youtube.

 

[JechtShot]

What's their budget? I use a Netgear R7000 which has external antennas and Beamforming. I can get full bars anywhere on the 2nd floor (router is downstairs). 2.4 should be great as well. Its overkill and its expensive but so worth it

 

[alkemyst]

what about throwing in a range extender? Those things any decent? They just need signal ... they are just browsing the web, no streaming really, maybe some youtube.

extenders half your speed or more. Some people tolerate 1Mbps surfing the web, some need 10+ to be happy.

 

[Elixer]

Replacing parents wrt54g what's good at blasting B/G through plaster on 2.4? Need something better then this old guy!

Hmm, for 2.4, that router is just fine...as long as your ISP is below 20Mbps.
You can do a firmware update to ddwrt, and then increase the power if you need more...

 

[ViviTheMage]

Hmm, for 2.4, that router is just fine...as long as your ISP is below 20Mbps.
You can do a firmware update to ddwrt, and then increase the power if you need more...

I am using ddwrt already. I did not want to muck with the power settings because these things are old!

I do not mind halfing their internet, seriously, they don't care ... they just want signal. I am hopign 50-60 per device.

 

[CubanlB]

If the plaster is backed by a wood lath, higher gain antennas might help more than more power. A higher gain whip antenna gives more of a disc shaped coverage pattern as opposed to a doughnut with a standard 2.4 dBi whip.

If it's chicken wire backed plaster it's substantially harder to increase coverage.

More power doesn't help if the clients can't match the power output, but higher gain antennas help with Tx and Rx.

Standard Dipole (whip/rubber ducky antenna)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipole_antenna#mediaviewer/File:L-over2-rad-pat-per.jpg

Higher gain dipole antennas flatten out this shape.

N on 2.4 alone might help as multi-path issues are lessened but only for MIMO radios iirc.

Repeaters should work, it might just take quite a bit of trial and error to get them positioned.

Hope you're doing well though!

 

[ViviTheMage]

I have 4 wrt54g's, so they're external anntanae's. Do you have any advice on some I could try to plug in?

They're wood lathe luckily, not chicken wire.

 

[CubanlB]

something like this, though I have never used these antennas so might be rolling the dice.

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Power-Su...hz+antenna+tnc

wrt54g series has RP-TNC antenna connectors. Maybe a patch antenna might work for some locations depending on placement.

Doesn't look like there are a lot of reasonably prices patch antennas around on amazon though more hunting might yield positive results.

Are all 4 54g's installed already? Might have a lot better luck with something that is at least 802.11n capable.

 

[ViviTheMage]

something like this, though I have never used these antennas so might be rolling the dice.

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Power-Su...hz+antenna+tnc

wrt54g series has RP-TNC antenna connectors. Maybe a patch antenna might work for some locations depending on placement.

Doesn't look like there are a lot of reasonably prices patch antennas around on amazon though more hunting might yield positive results.

Are all 4 54g's installed already? Might have a lot better luck with something that is at least 802.11n capable.

They only have B/G devices, so N wouldn't really give them much help....

All 4 wrt54g's are installed, running ddwrt, and plugged into a main router with Ethernet.

Those linked Antennas are cheap enough i may try them, do you think we'd gain inches, or feet by trying them out?

 

[ViviTheMage]

or maybe 12-16dbi?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12dbi-16dBi...RPTNC-WIFI-For-Router-USB-Modem-/181038218915

 

[CubanlB]

thats a good 10 - 14 dB higher gain than a standard whip which is roughly 10x more gain than a 2.4dBi antenna.

Possibly could be quite a substantial gain if the ratings are correct.

Thats a lot more gain than most patch antennas are rated at (6 - 12 dBi gain) so it might not be quite accurate.

 

[ViviTheMage]

yeah, I am with you, which do you think is more accurate haha your link or mine?

 

[CubanlB]

They are probably made in the same factory... either is going to be a significant increase in antenna gain. I'd go with the ones I though would arrive more quickly, but neither look like they are going to get shipped really quickly!

 

[ViviTheMage]

They are probably made in the same factory... either is going to be a significant increase in antenna gain. I'd go with the ones I though would arrive more quickly, but neither look like they are going to get shipped really quickly!

Hello fellow Twin Citiesan .

Yeah, i'll probably just grab the ebay ones, they're cheap enough!

If these fail me, think a more powerful radio would be enough? I will also attempt to position them a little better and map out the coverage as well.

 

[CubanlB]

You'd have to figure out the max TX power of the clients in question and try and match that. 40mW seems to be pretty standard for PCs.

This is also a very specific Twin Citiesan, search the memory banks!

We miss the Dude.

 

[ViviTheMage]

The dude you say ... mr lebowski?

 

[CubanlB]

"Okay sir, you're a Lebowski, I'm a Lebowski, that's terrific..."

Anyway, what clients are you looking to get better coverage for? If its a Desktop PC a directional antenna could be put in place for that. No 802.11n clients boggles my mind.

 

[ViviTheMage]

mostly laptops, tablets, etc.

drastic price difference, is the N66U worth the extra price if they're going to be on B/G mostly?

http://www.amazon.com/RT-N66U-Dual-B...srch_res_rtr_1


http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-N450-W...srch_res_rtr_1


looking for penetration power vs speed

 

[s44]

Keep the ancient router, get a pack of UniFi APs.

 

[Burpo]

If you're running ddwrt. just crank up transmit power. I have same router & my back room had 2 bars, cranked up transmit to 150 and now have 4 bars thru lathe & plaster..