Looking for high-performance no-trouble wired wireless access point

bposert · Oct 13, 2013

I need to extend the range of my wireless network.

Here's my current situation:
There's not a good place to get good quality access to the current wireless network, but I do have wired access at a good point.
So I believe I need a wireless access point that will accept a wired connection.
Right now I have a netgear N150/WN604 set up like this (using the same SSID), but there are two problems:
1. The range of the device is not that good.
2. My win7 laptop connects fine, but a macbook air and android phones have an odd problem: They show connected forever, but after a few minutes no data goes through. You have to disconnect and reconnect to actually get data through.

What I would like:
1. A high-power solution to get through walls etc.
2. It keeps working reliably.
I have a software development background, so I'm pretty technical. But definitely not a network expert.
I look on Newegg and Amazon but am just overwhelmed by the manufacturers and choices and limitations.

I'd really appreciate any recommendations - thanks!

Gareth Wall · Oct 13, 2013

I had this exact same problem in my house, What I did is buy a device named a "switch"

A switch is like a router (the look of it with 4 slots at the back with 2-4 antenners)

what it does is connect to your router via Wifi and allows you to connect to the internet through it using a cord.

now you can get one for $100-300 with really good range, you can even connect through some of them VIa Wifi I believe...

An alternative is a higher powered Router that can get through walls....

Well I tried Belkin... worst brand for the home I have ever used.. lovely 3-10m Wifi Radius but hard as hell to setup...hate them.

Netgear Are the best In my own oppinion, I have used other brands but none come close to as simple Netgear are.

now i just spent $300 on mine (N600 DGN D3700v2)

This gets through 4-5 Walls and offers Wifi from my room to my parents room to the kitchen/diningroom/garden and even the Lounge.... literally everyone can access it.

Also offers access control to only let in devices you allow so Neighbors can't steal your wifi.

I hope my 1st ever answer on here is a helpful one!

Best of luck.

Gareth

dzuvela · Oct 14, 2013

Regarding iPhone/Android phones, first try to disable any encrtipion on netgear, then try connection with those. If connection keeps OK, then try to set other option seting encription type. WPA/PSK WPA2....

Regarding highpower and trough walls penetration.
It is hard to say if WiFi (radio) signal actually goes trough walls or it goes trough doors. Concrete wall is hard to pass trough by Ghz signal. However this signal has excellent abillity of multiple reflections from walls. This is the how signal goes trough the house. Zig-zag back and forth.
At other side, signal from AP antenna has to be that high as signal coming from client device. If AP has high powered signal while tinny phone has low powered, this is poor combination for good connection.
In fact this is usual situation. So AP devices are equiped with better antennas. Antennas are generally the best "signal" amplifiers because they are amplifying transmiting as well receiving signals with low noise.

If antenna at your netgear is detachable , try to find stronger one and attach it to.

dzuvela · Oct 14, 2013

Gareth Wall :

Gareth, this totally wrong. Switch role is "switching" . It switches data between several cables (network nodes) . It is used to connect several clients to same network segment and/or up-level segment. Switch has nothing with routing, and definetly has nothig with WiFi.
It is true that switch is build in some routers or even W iFi routers , tipically 4 ports switch as extra functionality. This is practical for small networks, you don't need to buy separate switch.
Such device, WiFi router with 4port switch you can connect by cable with your internet router and get WiFi somwhere else plus 3 remaining ports for cable clents connection, or...
.. you can connect those two by WiFi and get 4 ports somwhere else available for clients (cable only of course).
Some software setting here is necesseary.

bposert · Oct 14, 2013

Thanks Gareth. I already have something like this downstairs, but it just doesn't reach upstairs, so I need an additional access point.

dzuvela · Oct 14, 2013

bposert :

Same SSID is OK, just you have to set different channel then main WiFi router. Set 3 channel difference at least, also check that there is no neigbour signals at the same channel. Stay away from those channels. Use them if you have to, but only if they are really poor.
If both APs same SSID working at the same channel may produce confusing at some clients, repeateadly switching from one to another.
Also set same encription type and options on both.
Clean up saved connections at clients and start again adding your SSID. Clients should switch from one to another AP smothly if you are walking trough the house.

You said that you have wire at the "good point". What do you mean by that?
I understand that point is somwhere away from your main router, closer to other rooms you wish to cover with WiFi.
If you can't get signal strong eough from your second AP, seems that this "good point" isn't so good.
Assuming that your Netgear is working properly.

bposert · Oct 14, 2013

dzuvela :

Thanks - I'll look at the encryption. Hadn't even considered it. This AP seems really low-powered. The longest distance is going through three sheetrock walls for a distance of 30 or 40 feet total. It would be great if an antenna fixed it. But I'm thinking of getting something higher-powered; maybe 600mw instead of 100mw. Have you had good experience with a particular model?

dzuvela · Oct 15, 2013

bposert :

Seems you didn't understand my previous post. Power, and even more power will not solve the problem. WiFi is two ways comunication. Assume that you really need 600mW to get trough, then your phone, macbook and notebook also should have same power how they can talk back to AP. It is not likely that those gadgets will ever had such powerfull transmiters.
It is normal that you signal is not at 100% in another room as it is in same room with AP. If you get between -60dbm and -70dbm signal and -85dbm and lower noise its still very usable.
It is important to know here: signal level closer to zero is better. -30dbm is better then -60dbm.
For noise level is oposite: -90dbm is better then -80dbm
Basically, WIfi runs on difference between the two. Greater diff. better connection.
Install on android "wifi analytics" . It is quite usefull for signal comparison and measurement.
Then go to your netgear web setup. Look if it has power setting, and adjust it to 100mW or 20dbm if it was lower.
Try to move your netgear from wall , up or down and see if any changes in signal strenght outside the room.

No, I never seen that model you have, but have expereance with plenty others.

For testing your device, pull it outside when you can have clear sight of eye and see how signal drop down with distance. If you can reach 30 meters usefull signal it is standard. If you reach 50 meters it is great.
If not, try another anntena. If still not good, trough it into garbage and look for another one. As simple as possible. You need AP functionalitity only. So one antenna and one rj45 port is the best. Devices up to 150Mb/s are reasonable. 300 Mb/s are better but more expensive. TP-Link, Airlive, Ubiquity!!!, D-link and plenty others.

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