High Gain Antennas vs Range Extender

[Lord Athlon]

Ok so i have a little problem with the strength of my wireless signal and i would like to know which of these 2 solutions you guys think is the best for my situation before i invest $$$ in either one of those.

Basically my main desktop is located upstairs with a WRTG54S router plugged in it. My second PC is downstairs at about maybe 50 feet from the router. Signal is great on my laptop in my bedroom upstairs (1 room away from the router) but **** on the PC downstairs. I'm getting a very weak signal most of the time. It's enough to browse the web and even some minor downloading but i'd like it to be better.

Did minor researches on High Gain Antennas vs Range Extender but i keep reading conflicting reports. Some people say that the RE cut speed by half while others say the opposite. Same goes for HGA.

Any advice ?

 

[JackMDS]

Repeater/WDS cut the Bandwidth into half but in many cases this half is more Bandwidth than the signal resultant from other solutions.

However if you want to start modest get an High Gain Directional Antenna (6-8dbi) and connect it to the Downstairs Desktop placing the Antenna high above the system.

In general
Extending Distance - http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html

Wireless Modes - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Modes.html

Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

Hi Gain Antenna - http://www.ezlan.net/antennae.html

 

[Lord Athlon]

So , what you're saying Jack is that i should buy an HGA for my client and not my router ? Interesting because i thought it would be the opposite. Just show you how much i know about wireless networks .

Always was a wired man until not long ago .

 

[Lord Athlon]

Btw what about Power over Ethernet ?

Is it worth it ?

 

[JackMDS]

High Gain Omni directional Antenna are sort of a "wash". Putting High gain directional Antenna on a Router would restrict the Signal to one narrow band in one direction.

POE is a way to supply the working DC to a Network device that is not close to wall outlet.

It might be that getting rid of the lame WRT54GS and using High Power Router like the Buffalo would solve the problem.

However since Wireless depends so much on the environment One can never know until One tries, and Try might cost extra few $$.

 

[Riverhound777]

I use a directional antenna on my PC, works wonders. I have a D-Link one, but they don't make it anymore for some reason.