Boosting WIFI

[talos]

Does anybody know of a home network booster for a WiFi system.?
                           Mine was working fine until recently, the signal at the far end of the house was weak but usable, but someone appears to have fitted a system fairly close to us, and it appears to be swamping mine in fact broad-banding me, if that's possible.  Ive seen various repeaters for sale, but they seem quite expensive and complicated to set up.
                                        Any suggestions??

[Glenn]

Bob, would these be of any use? http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopSearch.asp?CategoryID=336

[Steve]

I think Glenn's suggestion is the simplest and cheapest. Wireless repeaters or extenders unless you take the Apple AEBS / Time capsule route lose speed,security and increase latency.

[talos]

Bob, would these be of any use? http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/ShopSearch.asp?CategoryID=336

Thanks Glen
                             But they would mean starting over with a new system, I already have a Belkin WiFi router, and just need to boost the power a bit.

[talos]

I think Glenn's suggestion is the simplest and cheapest. Wireless repeaters or extenders unless you take the Apple AEBS / Time capsule route lose speed,security and increase latency.

Speed is not so important, I only get 100 mbps now.

[Steve]

Not sure it's a different system it's just gives you an additional wireless access point networked to you Belkin. Things you can do with your current router is obviously try and move it to the middle of the house, if it's dual band N use the 2.5Ghz instead of the 5Ghz bands and try first off to pick a channel which doesn't compete with your neighbour .

[Glenn]

It doesn't replace your router, just allows you to boost the signal. Plug one in to the router via a network cable, the other one in to the room/area you want the signal, then configure it.

[talos]

It doesn't replace your router, just allows you to boost the signal. Plug one in to the router via a network cable, the other one in to the room/area you want the signal, then configure it.

                      But

A HomePlug Ethernet Adapter is then required to connect to an existing wired or wireless router from any vendor

A touch expensive.

[Rik]

You can use cable or a mains unit, Bob.

[Glenn]

The setup would go something like this; Existing router > Homeplug via network cable > Wireless Homeplug via house wiring > laptop via wireless

[talos]

The setup would go something like this; Existing router > Homeplug via network cable > Wireless Homeplug via house wiring > laptop via wireless

My existing router is wireless,  I suppose the easiest is to move the router nearer to the laptop, or visa versa, but I would need a longer network cable
                          Is there a limit on how long a ethernet cable has to be?

[Rik]

100m in any one segment, Bob.

[Glenn]

But if the router is wireless only, why would you need one?

[Tacitus]

I think Glenn's suggestion is the simplest and cheapest. Wireless repeaters or extenders unless you take the Apple AEBS / Time capsule route lose speed,security and increase latency.

You don't need to go the AEBS route.  Try the much cheaper Airport Express which simply plugs into the mains.  Sit it near the HiFi and you can play internet radio through your system.   

Can't see how you would lose security by using an AEBS unless you mean it's only a NAT firewall rather than SPI.

[talos]

But if the router is wireless only, why would you need one?

The desktop comp is connected by cable,  the laptop I use wirelessly

100m in any one segment, Bob.

That'll do, dont need anywhere near that much

[talos]

You don't need to go the AEBS route.  Try the much cheaper Airport Express which simply plugs into the mains.  Sit it near the HiFi and you can play internet radio through your system.   

Can't see how you would lose security by using an AEBS unless you mean it's only a NAT firewall rather than SPI.

                             Problem with Airport Express is the price £81, from Apple store.

[Steve]

You don't need to go the AEBS route.  Try the much cheaper Airport Express which simply plugs into the mains.  Sit it near the HiFi and you can play internet radio through your system.   

Can't see how you would lose security by using an AEBS unless you mean it's only a NAT firewall rather than SPI.

Re explanation: You can extend the wireless network without compromising on throughput using the Apple route and keep WAP security if you use a wireless distribution service I think it only operates at 'g' level and is only WEP secure.

[Tacitus]

Re explanation: You can extend the wireless network without compromising on throughput using the Apple route and keep WAP security if you use a wireless distribution service I think it only operates at 'g' level and is only WEP secure.

AFAIK the current Airport Express uses 'n' and WAP; the base stations certainly do although they don't do SPI just NAT.  Unfortunately I can't check since my AExpress went belly up a while ago and I haven't bothered replacing it.

The one thing the AEB does do is connect to a USB drive, which, if your main router acts as a VPN endpoint makes a useful means of sharing files across multiple machines.  I know there are services such as DropBox, but each to their own.

Much as I'm an Apple fan, when I see what's currently available I'm not sure I would buy another AE basestation.