Best Wireless Signal Booster?

[Merovingian]

I'm sure the question has been asked before but I'm looking for a way to boost the signal on my wireless router from linksys. This is actually for my parents house which is a 14k sq ft home with a current wireless coverage of about a third of that. Also, they are running FIOS with a 30Mb/s down connection. Lastly, I'm not at all opposed to a system that isn't FCC cert so long as it doesn't screw up any household appliances or cost too much provided it gets a better signal as the property is large enough that it won't (shouldn't) be able to reach the neighbors. Thank you for your time.

 

[VOdka1000]

Same here my friends.

What kind of range can i get using good quality wireless antenna?? indoor - outdoor??
Any help will be very appreciated.
Have 1 on me>>>>>>VOdka:beer:

 

[JackMDS]

No General Best.:shocked:

The best Method to Extend Wireless Coverage depends heavily on the Specific Environment.

Look at these pages they describe most of the options that are within the means of Entry Level users, and choose the one that fits you environment best.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / Network.

Link to: Hi Gain Antenna for Entry Level Wireless.

:sun:

 

[Atheus]

Another solution not mentioned yet - the linksys (unless it's a version 5) can take many types of 3rd party firmware which will let you increase the transmit power. Combined with a good antenna to help with reception this can be very useful.

 

[promposive]

You can get 1 watt amplifiers pretty easily, 500mw as well. These will run you about 100-150$.
500mw is fcc legal for point to multipoint, 1watt is legal for point to point.

search ebay for wifi amp*
or 2.4ghz amp*
Get a good external antenna , place it somewhere good outside, and you should be good to go...

 

[VOdka1000]

Any idea what kind of range are we talking about ?

 

[Merovingian]

Question is, even if you can get jiggawatt 2.4 ghz amp, how is the computer going to ask it for data at such a distance?

I think the antenna will need size to recieve the standard transmittion from say, my laptop.

One solution would be access points with omnidirectional antennas but at that point I'm nearing the cost of having cat-5 installed, hmm.

 

[JackMDS]

Indoors Antennae and boosters are rarely the right solutions (and it is not cheap either).

It is a mentality that comes form Over Clocking and Video Frame pushing but it is not necessarily a solid Wireless Solution.:shocked:

Multiple units with few cables or WDS are better for to control indoor coverage.

:sun:

 

[furballi]

1.Try moving the router/transmitter up to the 2nd floor or ceiling away from walls. Put the router in the middle of the house.
2.Use a directional antenna at the PC (so so performance).
3.Try a repeater/range extender (will lose some speed).
4.Try the newer router with extended range technology (multiple antennae).

Unless you have extra thick and shielded walls, a modern high-end router situated on the attic in the middle of the house should be able to cover the 120' x 120' home.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833127058

 

[Atheus]

Could you run cat5 or is this for laptops? Could be cheaper than buying lots of extra wireless kit and faster too.

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Indoors Antennae and boosters are rarely the right solutions (and it is not cheap either).

It is a mentality that comes form Over Clocking and Video Frame pushing but it is not necessarily a solid Wireless Solution.:shocked:

Do you have any more info on this Jack? Is it because of signal/noise?...

 

[Merovingian]

For laptops in my case. I'm leaning closer and closer to cat-5 with access points.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: AtheusDo you have any more info on this Jack? Is it because of signal/noise?...

Yeah, boosting the signal an RF output amplifier that was not design for higher power boosts dramatically the Noise as well.

As an example a WRT54G native output is 33mW, once you boost it over 45-50mW the signal becomes very noisy and thus not very useful for longer distance. Given indoor envioroment with obstructions that absorb the 2.4GHz signal, 33mW to 45-50mW would not produce a big range boosting.

Higher dbi Omni directional antennas are not very efficient by the nature of their design. Directional Antenna is very useful when you need a narrow directed signal (which is not usually the case indoor).

WIFI was designed with business and industry in mind, the Wireless Home market started as a sidekick to it. The initial design was counting on network of low transmitting Access Points to reduce local noise so that multiple Networks and other types of Wireless devices can leave together.

:sun:

 

[VOdka1000]

How about a Super Cantenna Wireless Booster any feedback on that gadget ??
I hope posting this will be ok>>>>>>>

http://cgi.ebay.com/Super-Cantenna-Wire...6QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: VOdka1000
How about a Super Cantenna Wireless Booster any feedback on that gadget ??
I hope posting this will be ok>>>>>>>

http://cgi.ebay.com/Super-Cantenna-Wire...6QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

This is a Good Antenna if you need the pattern of transmission that it provides.

http://www.cantenna.com/howtouseit.html

:sun:

 

[VOdka1000]

Thanks Jack,,,,,
Any idea about the range for it. As you probably figure it out I'm still on dialup and it SUCKS.....max about 40Kbps.
I'm trying to get and share a signal from my "neighbors" - "house" using a wireless connection.

 

[JackMDS]

With Clear line of sight and Antenna outside facing one the other it can go beyond a mile.

Otherwise it is anybody guess, depending on the enviroment.

:sun:

 

[VOdka1000]

Thanks for all your help

 

[furballi]

Ask the neighbor to use an outdoor antenna. It would be rare for you to pickup the wireless signal 3 houses away. The norm is 1 to 2, depending on lot size.

The directional "CAN" antenna should give you an addition two bars of signal. If you're getting one bar with the standard PCI card antenna, then the CAN antenna will usually be sufficient. Note that the antenna cable is not very long. This is by design because a long cable will significantly degrade the signal.