Large home wireless network

[greennick]

Hi,

I need a wireless network to cover a large area. Right now I can only get wireless through about half the house.

How should I go about this? I currently have a Netgear WGT624 v2. I need to run .11g for the laptops.

I was thinking about getting a few more wireless routers and spreading them throughout the house as repeaters. Is there any specific ones I need to buy to do this? Would it be best if I just invest in a whole new setup? Or do I have the totally wrong line of thinking?

Cheers,
Nick

 

[beaumont911]

I know .11n covers a larger geographical area, but that is in the last draft stage. You can buy the draft n routers and stuff (which work fine, and all), but n wont be finalised for another month or two, from memory.

You could always buy another .11g router or two and use them as bridges to extend the network.

 

[jim boy]

Another option to consider is using ethernet over power as your bridges. I had a similar issue and found this solution worked well.

 

[greennick]

Another option to consider is using ethernet over power as your bridges. I had a similar issue and found this solution worked well.

That is where you plug it through the power, right?

That may work good, cos one of the problem is the massive double brick walls we have. I can then spread them throughout the house and get good coverage without the thick walls being an issue. I will need to investigate how our power system is set up, as I know in the past when we have lost power, it has only happened in parts of the house at once. I assume I will need to make sure that all outlets which are used as the ethernet are "connected"?

If I have multiple wireless routers running over the power, will I be able to move seamlessly from one to the other? Or do they all operate seperately and require the wireless manager to switch between them as if they are new connections all the time?

Cheers

 

[Valve Bounce]

I just watched an ad on TV from Bigpond earlier tonight for internet through a large house. Not that I would ever use Bigpond, but you might like to ask them how their system would work in your house.

 

[jim boy]

That is where you plug it through the power, right?

That may work good, cos one of the problem is the massive double brick walls we have. I can then spread them throughout the house and get good coverage without the thick walls being an issue. I will need to investigate how our power system is set up, as I know in the past when we have lost power, it has only happened in parts of the house at once. I assume I will need to make sure that all outlets which are used as the ethernet are "connected"?

If I have multiple wireless routers running over the power, will I be able to move seamlessly from one to the other? Or do they all operate seperately and require the wireless manager to switch between them as if they are new connections all the time?

Cheers

Yes, plugging an adaptor directly into a power socket. Ideally they will be on the same circuit but even if they are not, it should work. You want to get the adaptors plugged directly into the wall socket as opposed to a daisy-chained power board.

AS for seemless transfer, I'm pretty sure its not a big issue. You have to configure one router as your primary router and disable the functionality of the modem, dhcp etc on the downstream routers.

 

[VanBerlo=God]

Yes, plugging an adaptor directly into a power socket. Ideally they will be on the same circuit but even if they are not, it should work. You want to get the adaptors plugged directly into the wall socket as opposed to a daisy-chained power board.

AS for seemless transfer, I'm pretty sure its not a big issue. You have to configure one router as your primary router and disable the functionality of the modem, dhcp etc on the downstream routers.

not much point having multiple routers then is there.
better off running switches w/o dhcp, or just run additional wireless access points with ethernet over power. easiest way to get the best of both worlds.

its just way too expensive to use bridged networking, unless you have the gear already.

 

[jim boy]

not much point having multiple routers then is there.

True, but as far as I can make out, the devices that are just switches with wifi aren't out there. I haven't looked very hard though.

 

[VanBerlo=God]

True, but as far as I can make out, the devices that are just switches with wifi aren't out there. I haven't looked very hard though.

easier to run the additional wireless access points, seeing as routers usually cost >$120 and access points >$5

 

[greennick]

OK, so I am thinking of running it with 2 additional routers and 2 ethernet over power adapters to get them working. So, probably less than 500 all up. This kind of level of expenditure doesn't really bother me. Would this kind of set up work well? Any tips on routers I should get? Any better ideas?

I was thinking routers so that I could then plug the PS3 and mediagate directly in to improve their transfer rates.

 

[Jafa]

One router - the rest in Access Points. Routers are meant to route traffic and using them as simple Access points means having to switch a bunch of stuff off. Just get some cheap 5 port switches to plug into the Access points.

Personally I would be trying something like a WG302 to see if I couldn`t get full coverage with one AP.

 

[VanBerlo=God]

OK, so I am thinking of running it with 2 additional routers and 2 ethernet over power adapters to get them working. So, probably less than 500 all up. This kind of level of expenditure doesn't really bother me. Would this kind of set up work well? Any tips on routers I should get? Any better ideas?

I was thinking routers so that I could then plug the PS3 and mediagate directly in to improve their transfer rates.

wasting a lot of money there if you get more than 1 router.
a lot of money...

as has been described - 1 router, use 1 or more switches w/o dhcp (you can buy these without it, they're the real cheap basic switches or even just a hub, exactly what you need), and multiple access points.

the reason you don't want dhcp is because everytime you move between access point regions, you will be assigned a new ip address - not good.

 

[seanoff]

ANTENNA.

get a 9DB gain antenna from Netgear. See if your local computer shop has done it for someone else. This will add serious range to your router and is less likely to be a pain in the ass.

believe me, multi router wireless installs are best left to professional equipment and installers. Anything else, you will destroy your soul and you will destroy your equipment from frustration.

 

[Jafa]

Never once seen a switch with DHCP built in - doubt you could buy a hub nowadays (except maybe from Cash convertors).

 

[greennick]

ANTENNA.

get a 9DB gain antenna from Netgear. See if your local computer shop has done it for someone else. This will add serious range to your router and is less likely to be a pain in the ass.

believe me, multi router wireless installs are best left to professional equipment and installers. Anything else, you will destroy your soul and you will destroy your equipment from frustration.

I have a high gain antenna, but it hs done SFA, I think I have a 5db DLink one, maybe I should get the bigger Netgear one. However, it is a seriously big house with double brick walls throughout, so it may not work too well because of that.

 

[greennick]

One router - the rest in Access Points. Routers are meant to route traffic and using them as simple Access points means having to switch a bunch of stuff off. Just get some cheap 5 port switches to plug into the Access points.

Personally I would be trying something like a WG302 to see if I couldn`t get full coverage with one AP.

wasting a lot of money there if you get more than 1 router.
a lot of money...

as has been described - 1 router, use 1 or more switches w/o dhcp (you can buy these without it, they're the real cheap basic switches or even just a hub, exactly what you need), and multiple access points.

the reason you don't want dhcp is because everytime you move between access point regions, you will be assigned a new ip address - not good.

Yeah, that is the main thing I want (the not changing from network to network), maybe I will just go with the ethernet over power to the tv room with a hub running off that for the ps3 and mediagate, with a wireless access point thrown in there too for the laptops down that end of the house.

Cheers for your help everyone!

Now, off to EBay.

 

[Jafa]

Yeah, that is the main thing I want (the not changing from network to network), maybe I will just go with the ethernet over power to the tv room with a hub running off that for the ps3 and mediagate, with a wireless access point thrown in there too for the laptops down that end of the house.

Cheers for your help everyone!

Now, off to EBay.

Switch - Hubs are sooo nineties.

 

[greennick]

Can someone give me some more help on configuring this shit. I have a power over ethernet kit, going to a wg302 in another room from the wg624 in the computer room. I have been playing around with it for an hour or two with limited success. What is the best way to set this up? Any help would be much appreciated to preserve my sanity.

Cheers,
Nick

 

[seanoff]

You need to setup a bridge, which connects 2 lans.

this is effectively your setup.

So you have two LANS.

read this http://kbserver.netgear.com/inquira...iles/N101496.asp&answer_id=501453#__highlight

you need to setup the inbound one as the main beast and bridge the other one. The diagram explains it all.

good luck.