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Extend Wireless Range

Tags:
  • Wireless
  • NAS / RAID
  • Wireless Network
  • Ethernet Card
  • LAN
Last response: in Wireless Networking
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September 26, 2014 7:02:49 AM

Hi

I would like some advice on the best way to extend our wireless network.

We have a Synology NAS and router in a downstairs utility cupboard. Nas connected via ethernet to the NAS.

In the upstairs office we have a wired ethernet socket in the wall. A desktop Mac is connected to this so it can access the NAS via a fast wired connection.

However we need wifi over the rest of the house The range is poor due to the router being in the utility cupboard downstairs as the NAS needs to stay connected to it and it is so noisy.

I'd like to know if there is a way to extend the Wifi. Possibly by installing a device (router extension?) into the ethernet socket upstairs and connect the desktop mac by ethernet to it too?

Is this the best way to do this and are there any products or types of products that can be recommended?

We have tried the plug in wifi extenders and they don't seem to work at all.

Thanks

More about : extend wireless range

a c 146 F Wireless
a b X LAN
September 26, 2014 7:06:25 AM

Yes the device you are looking for is called a AP. But any router can be used as a AP, there is a sticky on this forum as to how.

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October 13, 2014 10:52:09 AM

bill001g said:
Yes the device you are looking for is called a AP. But any router can be used as a AP, there is a sticky on this forum as to how.



Thanks so much, I have seen the sticky now. A few follow ups if thats ok?

Which router is best to get? ADSL/Cable or doesn't it matter? I see mostly Belkin, Netgear and TPLink in Argos. Budget is around £30/£40. Any recommendations? The original main router is a BT Home Hub 3.

By setting the router up as an access point like in the sticky, will the other Ethernet ports in the new access point router also pass through as well to the original router - as we have a synology server connected in to the home hub and I want to connect a desktop mac for a fast wired connection to that too on the new router? (it currently connects to the ethernet socket I will plug the new access point into)

Should i set up different SSID/Channels or set up as exactly the same? I've seen that its possible to have the same but that sometimes computers don't necessarily connect to the strongest signal?
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a c 146 F Wireless
a b X LAN
October 13, 2014 11:02:31 AM

It would be a waste of money to buy any router that contains a modem. You are not using the wan port or many of the features of the router. Most the software features do not work when you run as a AP so it does no good to spend money on them.

A AP is basically a wireless switch. The lan ports act as a small switch so you can hook to them and the wireless is best looked at as a second wireless chip in the main router even though it is in a completely different box.

You want to use different channels to avoid contention. SSID is a personal preference. If they are different then the person controls when and where things are connected if they are the same you let the PC do its best to select. It mostly depends on if you want to bother with messing with it to get the optimum performance or just make it work most the time.
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