Wireless Range Problem

[stlsailor]

An AT&T U-Verse modem/wireless router was just installed (1st floor) and the wireless signal does not reach to the opposite corner of the 2nd floor where a computer sits. I need advice on extending that range. Here's what I've done so far.

1. I had an ASUS AC68U router which I positioned on the second floor and configured it as a range extender. It connected but was unacceptably slow.

2. I then configured the ASUS router as an access point. But that meant I needed to connect it via wired ethernet to the AT&T modem/router on the other floor. So I ran an ethernet cable from the AT&T modem/router across the floor to an ethernet wall plug from which a cable runs to a plug on the second floor. I ran a cable from that plug to the ASUS router on the second floor thus connecting it via wired ethernet to the AT&T modem/router. Now the computer connects at acceptable speeds. BUT...I have an ethernet cable running across the floor. I'm looking for less expensive options than putting a cable in the wall.

3. The AT&T Modem/router has a phone line connector but there is no phone line outlet anywhere close enough to be feasible.

4. The AT&T Modem/router has a coax connector and a nearby coax outlet, but there is no coax outlet anywhere close to where the 2nd floor computer is located.

5. I originally thought a powerline adaptor could work -- connecting the second floor computer to the powerline adaptor, then plugging the wifi adaptor into an electrical outlet on the first floor in the room with the AT&T router/modem so it could connect wirelessly to the AT&T modem/router.. However all the descriptions I read said the powerline adaptor had to be connected via cable to the router (not the computer) -- or just backwards from what I envisioned.

Thus, at this point, putting the ethernet cable in the wall seems like the only practical option.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.

Dale

 

[XLer8or]

I suggest the power line adapter to the asus router if you still have it. The att modem sucks, Id bridge it. When you connect the asus router, put it central and connect to it from now on. Its packed with range and features that the you could only dream about with the att modem/router. The power line adapter needs a cable on both ends. Just plug it in the same outlet where you plug the modem/router. Some come with a pass-threw outlet on the adapter.

Connect like this: Att modem/router>cable (ethernet)>powerline outlet>powerline outlet>cable(ethernet)>WAN on Asus router>wifi to PC and phones ect.

Also note that I saw power line only do about 30Mbit/s but that was a few years ago.

 

[sdifox]

Is there coax on the second floor? Try moving the box to second floor and see if it covers your house better.

So move the cable modem up to second floor, disable the wifi on the cable modem and use your Asus as a WAP.

 

[stlsailor]

I suggest the power line adapter to the asus router if you still have it. The att modem sucks, Id bridge it. When you connect the asus router, put it central and connect to it from now on. Its packed with range and features that the you could only dream about with the att modem/router. The power line adapter needs a cable on both ends. Just plug it in the same outlet where you plug the modem/router. Some come with a pass-threw outlet on the adapter.

Connect like this: Att modem/router>cable (ethernet)>powerline outlet>powerline outlet>cable(ethernet)>WAN on Asus router>wifi to PC and phones ect.

Also note that I saw power line only do about 30Mbit/s but that was a few years ago.

Ah, that's a configuration I'd not thought of. I will probably give that a try. It sounds workable and there is an electrical outlet at all places where one is needed. Thanks much for the suggestion.

 

[stlsailor]

Is there coax on the second floor? Try moving the box to second floor and see if it covers your house better.

So move the cable modem up to second floor, disable the wifi on the cable modem and use your Asus as a WAP.

There is coax on the second floor (thought it remains hooked to cable now as I'm trying to get this setup satisfactorily working).

On the other hand the AT&T U-Verse modem/router I'm told must stay where it is, and can't be moved to the second floor. If it could, that would solve the problem, I believe. The second floor is where my ASUS is now and I'm using as a WAP even though I haven't disabled wireless on the AT&T unit. I'm thinking that the reason it can't be moved may be that the U-Verse connection is only in the location where it's currently placed. Of course I could have another U-Verse outlet run perhaps, but then again running cable a long distance is what I'm trying to avoid. If the AT&T U-Verse modem/router could be moved, I think your plan would work great. Thanks for suggesting it.

 

[sdifox]

There is coax on the second floor (thought it remains hooked to cable now as I'm trying to get this setup satisfactorily working).

On the other hand the AT&T U-Verse modem/router I'm told must stay where it is, and can't be moved to the second floor. If it could, that would solve the problem, I believe. The second floor is where my ASUS is now and I'm using as a WAP even though I haven't disabled wireless on the AT&T unit. I'm thinking that the reason it can't be moved may be that the U-Verse connection is only in the location where it's currently placed. Of course I could have another U-Verse outlet run perhaps, but then again running cable a long distance is what I'm trying to avoid. If the AT&T U-Verse modem/router could be moved, I think your plan would work great. Thanks for suggesting it.

all they mean is they won't support it if you move it since they did not do that line, they don't want to be liable for it. Just try it to see if it works.

 

[XLer8or]

AT&T does only 2 techs. Fiber and various versions of DSL. Sounds like you got fiber as the modem has a coax. Thats for broadcast tv which can go threw the fiber then to coax. I dont think they use it for any kind of cable tech like DOCSIS. The Coax is for broadcast tv if you had the service, not data. Data would require expensive modems on each end.

 

[stlsailor]

I suggest the power line adapter to the asus router if you still have it. The att modem sucks, Id bridge it. When you connect the asus router, put it central and connect to it from now on. Its packed with range and features that the you could only dream about with the att modem/router. The power line adapter needs a cable on both ends. Just plug it in the same outlet where you plug the modem/router. Some come with a pass-threw outlet on the adapter.

Connect like this: Att modem/router>cable (ethernet)>powerline outlet>powerline outlet>cable(ethernet)>WAN on Asus router>wifi to PC and phones ect.

By bridging it, do you mean simply the connection you outline above, or do you mean configuring it as a bridge? The ASUS was easy to configure as either a repeater or an access point. I've looked at the ATT and don't see any options to reconfigure the operation.

 

[stlsailor]

Is there coax on the second floor? Try moving the box to second floor and see if it covers your house better.

So move the cable modem up to second floor, disable the wifi on the cable modem and use your Asus as a WAP.

There is coax on the second floor, but the plug into the house is DSL/Broadband which is not on the second floor.

 

[stlsailor]

all they mean is they won't support it if you move it since they did not do that line, they don't want to be liable for it. Just try it to see if it works.

Not sure how I'd connect it to the DSL/Broadband plug on the first floor?

 

[stlsailor]

AT&T does only 2 techs. Fiber and various versions of DSL. Sounds like you got fiber as the modem has a coax. Thats for broadcast tv which can go threw the fiber then to coax. I dont think they use it for any kind of cable tech like DOCSIS. The Coax is for broadcast tv if you had the service, not data. Data would require expensive modems on each end.

The modem has a coax connector but no cable. The wall plug is wired to the DSL/Broadband connector on the modem.

The way I'm getting to the second floor now is:

Wall Plug-->DSL/Broadband on ATT modem-->Ethernet on ATT modem via loose ethernet wire-->ethernet wall plug on 1st floor-->ethernet wall plug on 2nd floor-->ASUS router configured as wireless access point which then provides adequate wireless service to the 2nd floor. It would be fine if it weren't for the loose ethernet cable running across the first floor to the plug.

 

[stlsailor]

I appreciate the helpful replies. They have triggered two options at this point, in no particular order.

OPTION ONE: There is a coax panel in the basement. I wonder if I could simply disconnect the white cable that is the input on the panel. Then on the first floor I leave the ATT modem router connected to the wall plug where it gets the DSL/broadband signal, but also connect the coax connector to the coax wall plug. Then on the second floor I connect the ASUS router to the coax wall plug and leave it configured as a wireless access point. I wonder if that would work. If the AT&T modem/router passes the signal through to its coax connector, it seems like it would.

DSL/Broadband wall plug-->ATT modem-->coax wall plug 1st floor-->coax panel-->coax wall plug 2nd floor-->ASUS router

OPTION 2: Get a powerline adapter. On the first floor connect it via ethernet to the AT&T modem/router. Then on the second floor connect it to the ASUS router remaining configured as a wireless access point.

DSL/Broadband wall plug-->ATT modem-->powerline 1st floor-->powerline 2nd floor-->ASUS router

It seems like either option ought to work.

Which solution would work better?

 

[sdifox]

if it is dsl, you just move the dsl modem to the second floor where there is a phone jack. I am not sure what you are trying to do with the coax.

 

[stlsailor]

Perhaps I'm falling victim to tunnel vision here and not seeing something. It wouldn't be the first time <g>.

I have a DSL/Broadband plug in an exterior wall where the signal enters the house. It appears to not be connected to anything but the modem. All the TV sets have been set up with wireless boxes rather than plugging into phone lines, which would seem to confirm that to me. The other thing that seems to confirm that to me is the fact that we still have our landline phone line because the alarm system uses it, thus the phone plugs connect to it, not the DSL.

So the problem I think I have is that I've got a DSL/Broadband signal coming into the house at only one spot, and I somehow have to connect the AT&T modem to it, which seems it would prohibit me from moving it upstairs unless I had a way to connect the signal from the plug to something the modem could connect to upstairs (coax, powerline, etc.) That's why I've been thinking of using the ATT modem/router as a conduit for getting the signal upstairs in some way.

If my blind spot is beating me to death, let me know!

 

[sdifox]

Perhaps I'm falling victim to tunnel vision here and not seeing something. It wouldn't be the first time <g>.

I have a DSL/Broadband plug in an exterior wall where the signal enters the house. It appears to not be connected to anything but the modem. All the TV sets have been set up with wireless boxes rather than plugging into phone lines, which would seem to confirm that to me. The other thing that seems to confirm that to me is the fact that we still have our landline phone line because the alarm system uses it, thus the phone plugs connect to it, not the DSL.

So the problem I think I have is that I've got a DSL/Broadband signal coming into the house at only one spot, and I somehow have to connect the AT&T modem to it, which seems it would prohibit me from moving it upstairs unless I had a way to connect the signal from the plug to something the modem could connect to upstairs (coax, powerline, etc.) That's why I've been thinking of using the ATT modem/router as a conduit for getting the signal upstairs in some way.

If my blind spot is beating me to death, let me know!

Err phone lines have two pairs. Your line one is on the first pair and dsl is on second pair. Assuming you have a phone jack on second floor, you can just swap the pair connected to the box or get a dual jack box and then you can have both your phone and your dsl modem at the same location.

 

[XLer8or]

If your att modem/router looks like this its VDSL which is based on fiber:

If you choose to do Powerline Id like to add that it has many devices. When many device it can be heck when it needs fixed. You might need to reset all devices if there is one that crashes for instance.

Bridging is disabling the router for these types of devices. Its just a modem and all passes through it. Think of this, The asus will handle you IP address only and all routing/nat. I did a cable modem for someone and the settings was many to do so. Its may not be straight forward. Just try googling the device you have with "bridging" and there might be a tutorial to do so.

No problem about helping you as I never paid attention to VDSL. Learn something new...

Edit Correction: It can be fiber or DSL (ONT and DSL) If the device is connected on green plug then DSL. DSL can be moved to other places in household that have a jack(removing filters). If its red one it cant be moved.

 

[XLer8or]

Perhaps I'm falling victim to tunnel vision here and not seeing something. It wouldn't be the first time <g>.

I have a DSL/Broadband plug in an exterior wall where the signal enters the house. It appears to not be connected to anything but the modem. All the TV sets have been set up with wireless boxes rather than plugging into phone lines, which would seem to confirm that to me. The other thing that seems to confirm that to me is the fact that we still have our landline phone line because the alarm system uses it, thus the phone plugs connect to it, not the DSL.

So the problem I think I have is that I've got a DSL/Broadband signal coming into the house at only one spot, and I somehow have to connect the AT&T modem to it, which seems it would prohibit me from moving it upstairs unless I had a way to connect the signal from the plug to something the modem could connect to upstairs (coax, powerline, etc.) That's why I've been thinking of using the ATT modem/router as a conduit for getting the signal upstairs in some way.

If my blind spot is beating me to death, let me know!

Never-mind bridging if you got tv service too. just use as you say, asus as a AP. bridging it may kill your tv service.

 

[sdifox]

If you have cos going from where the modem is to second floor, you can use MoCa 2.0 which works better than power line stuff.

 

[piasabird]

So what kind of a network adapter does the computer have? Maybe upgrade it or get one with a high gain antenna. That may be the weak point. If you had a tablet or a lap top you might be able to walk around and test the signal strength. I have at&t DSL and are using their DSL modem wireless N and I am using an Edimax 600 AC dual band USB2 network adapter. Of course I have a small ranch house and the wireless is in the basement and I am on the first floor. I have another computer on the the same floor with a centrino AC dual band wireless card on my Gigabyte MB. Both computers work fine when streaming video.

I did elect to have DSL third service level.