Hi all,
I live in an apartment that was built when they used old plaster walls and I'm having a heck of a time setting up a decent network. The problem is that the modem for our internet is in the middle room of the long apartment and my room is at the end of the apartment with the bathroom (mine and my third roommates separate, but side by side in the floor plan). I get terrible reception in our apartment from my room and have tried using DD-WRT for the current D-link router that we have set to broadcast G and N and having another Cysco router repeat that signal in my room.
I was "happy" with that arrangement, but it wasn't terribly fast but never saw dips in at least the download speeds.
The one caveat? Since updating to Mountain Lion and even in Lion, I get periodic drops in my internet connection. Not sure if anyone has heard of this issue, but I've discussed it in this forum at length: https://discussions.apple.com/message/19357636?ac_cid=tw123456#19357636
I tried everything they said to fix my problem. Deleted the System Preferences folder, changed the MTU, changed my location name. I even called Apple and they said that I did everything they knew that could typically "fixes" this known issue, so they sent me to a Genius to see if it were my antenna in my laptop. I made an appointment, and they told me my computer was fine and that Apple doesn't support older routers and said that I wouldn't have any problem if I were to buy an Apple Express and just use that.
Okkkkk. I was a little hesitant, but I figured I would give it a try. I tried repeating the signal from the D-link, but no dice - only a feature with other apple routers. I tried to connect the router directly to the D-link but then that router freaks out and turns on and off and never settles. However, I was able to switch cables, change ports and get it to connect, but in the end the signal strength still sucks in my room.
Two options at this point:
1) Powerline networking: I bought one at bestbuy, didn't work and exchanged it for an inferior specs (500 mbs Actiontec that didn't work vs 85 mbs Netgear) but superior brand that did work, but was getting only 6mb/s. I'd rather just use my current crappy network. Would buying a more expensive, higher rated (500 mbs) work any faster or am I only going to see minimal gains?
2) Drill a freaking hole in the side of the apartment, string ethernet cable outside (remember i have two bathrooms in between my room and where the modem is) and bring it back into my roommates room. I would then be able to have a sure connection and create a separate AE network that would actually work with my stupid ML OS. Problem is, although you can get the cable, crimper, and connectors for $30 on Amazon, the stupid drill bit will cost me almost that much in order to get through the entire wall of the apartment.
Annnnnyyyy thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
I live in an apartment that was built when they used old plaster walls and I'm having a heck of a time setting up a decent network. The problem is that the modem for our internet is in the middle room of the long apartment and my room is at the end of the apartment with the bathroom (mine and my third roommates separate, but side by side in the floor plan). I get terrible reception in our apartment from my room and have tried using DD-WRT for the current D-link router that we have set to broadcast G and N and having another Cysco router repeat that signal in my room.
I was "happy" with that arrangement, but it wasn't terribly fast but never saw dips in at least the download speeds.
The one caveat? Since updating to Mountain Lion and even in Lion, I get periodic drops in my internet connection. Not sure if anyone has heard of this issue, but I've discussed it in this forum at length: https://discussions.apple.com/message/19357636?ac_cid=tw123456#19357636
I tried everything they said to fix my problem. Deleted the System Preferences folder, changed the MTU, changed my location name. I even called Apple and they said that I did everything they knew that could typically "fixes" this known issue, so they sent me to a Genius to see if it were my antenna in my laptop. I made an appointment, and they told me my computer was fine and that Apple doesn't support older routers and said that I wouldn't have any problem if I were to buy an Apple Express and just use that.
Okkkkk. I was a little hesitant, but I figured I would give it a try. I tried repeating the signal from the D-link, but no dice - only a feature with other apple routers. I tried to connect the router directly to the D-link but then that router freaks out and turns on and off and never settles. However, I was able to switch cables, change ports and get it to connect, but in the end the signal strength still sucks in my room.
Two options at this point:
1) Powerline networking: I bought one at bestbuy, didn't work and exchanged it for an inferior specs (500 mbs Actiontec that didn't work vs 85 mbs Netgear) but superior brand that did work, but was getting only 6mb/s. I'd rather just use my current crappy network. Would buying a more expensive, higher rated (500 mbs) work any faster or am I only going to see minimal gains?
2) Drill a freaking hole in the side of the apartment, string ethernet cable outside (remember i have two bathrooms in between my room and where the modem is) and bring it back into my roommates room. I would then be able to have a sure connection and create a separate AE network that would actually work with my stupid ML OS. Problem is, although you can get the cable, crimper, and connectors for $30 on Amazon, the stupid drill bit will cost me almost that much in order to get through the entire wall of the apartment.
Annnnnyyyy thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
