Wireless Network Range?

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Stetwin

Stetwin

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 8, 2007
273
0
England - Co-Durham
At the moment I’m using a router that came with our broadband supplier when we signed up last year, the router is fine for the ground floor of my house but when upstairs I get atrocious signal levels if any at all! Is there any way to increase my signal strength on the first floor of my home?
 
I

Igantius

macrumors 65816
Apr 29, 2007
1,240
1
The reason for my abruptness was that's basically the limit of my knowledge!

However, I think (if memory serves me right) they tend to be around the £50 mark, but I'm sure there will be some cheaper ones. Really can't recommend any as I haven't used any! There might be compatibilty issues with using another make - who made your router?

Sure you've probably tried this, but a friend had similar trouble but managed to avoid getting an extender by moving the router (as in placing it somewhere else, not waving it about).
 
Maui

Maui

macrumors 6502a
May 18, 2007
869
0
You didn't list what type of router you have. Assuming it is 802.11g, you could consider getting an 802.11n router instead. They are advertised as having 4x the range of g routers, and my experience with the Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Router bears that out. You could try a range extender, but they are finicky and cost almost as much as an n router.

Before you do anything, move your g router around a bit. Moving it even one foot left or right can in some cases make a big difference.
 
Stetwin

Stetwin

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 8, 2007
273
0
England - Co-Durham
Maui said:
You didn't list what type of router you have. Assuming it is 802.11g, you could consider getting an 802.11n router instead. They are advertised as having 4x the range of g routers, and my experience with the Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Router bears that out. You could try a range extender, but they are finicky and cost almost as much as an n router.

Before you do anything, move your g router around a bit. Moving it even one foot left or right can in some cases make a big difference.
Click to expand...
Will an n router still work with everything i have connecting to my current g one?

Also what do people think of the Apple routers?
 
Maui

Maui

macrumors 6502a
May 18, 2007
869
0
Stetwin said:
Will an n router still work with everything i have connecting to my current g one?
Click to expand...
Impossible to say, since you haven't listed what "everything" devices you are asking about, but the answer is probably "yes." Every pre-n router I have seen is backward compatible with g and b devices (but not necessarily a devices). My Linksys pre-n router connects to my wife's computer at pre-n speeds (about 275 Mbps) because her computer has a pre-n network card. The same router connects to my work Thinkpad at g speeds, and connects to my old HP printer at b speeds.

So, assuming you buy a pre-n router that is compatible with g and b, and assuming your other devices are g and b devices, yes, it should work.
 
Stetwin

Stetwin

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 8, 2007
273
0
England - Co-Durham
Maui said:
Impossible to say, since you haven't listed what "everything" devices you are asking about, but the answer is probably "yes." Every pre-n router I have seen is backward compatible with g and b devices (but not necessarily a devices). My Linksys pre-n router connects to my wife's computer at pre-n speeds (about 275 Mbps) because her computer has a pre-n network card. The same router connects to my work Thinkpad at g speeds, and connects to my old HP printer at b speeds.

So, assuming you buy a pre-n router that is compatible with g and b, and assuming your other devices are g and b devices, yes, it should work.
Click to expand...
The other devices are mainly games consoles such as Nintendo Wii, xBox 360 and PS3 but the PS3 is more important then the others

Are the new macbooks and macbook pros -n compatible or are they still -g?
 
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