Wifi problem

TrustMe · 26 Nov 2016

Hi ICIT2LO,

I believe you are still confusing wifi extenders with power line adapters. Wifi extenders (just one) are usually placed half way between your router and the room where you want to use your computer. What they do is extend the signal of your router. It may be possible to use 2 wifi extenders but I never heard of it.

Think of a power line adapter as a network cable running from your router to the room with your computer. It's like you ran a physical network cable but they use the power lines in your house. You should do a YouTube search on Power Line adapters and their installation.

If you used a power line adapter, you could just use a network cable from the adapter in the computer room to your laptop. If you still want to use wifi, like chitownbob said, I think you need a access point. I've never used a access point so I'm not sure how they work but again I would do a YouTube search.

chitownbob · 26 Nov 2016

Yes its possible to run multiple extenders.

chitownbob · 26 Nov 2016

Yes its possible to run multiple extenders.
wireless networking - Is it possible to have multiple repeaters in a network with just 1 uniform SSID? - Super User
But a few points.
First, most extenders are inexpensive and have one radio to send and receive. If you have multiple extenders this could add significant latency. A way around this would be by purchasing more expensive dual band extenders (aka boosters), with two radios capable of sending while receiving.
My preference is still to add a WAP if possible, but sometimes cabling cat5e or cat 6 ethernet to your required location is impossible.
Powerline is a viable option although I have heard speed can be unreliable if your wiring is poor. But its cheap enough to take a chance on.

Layback Bear · 26 Nov 2016

John I would suggest that using a outlet tester first. The outlet needs to be correct.

Some examples:

Amazon.com: outlet receptacle tester

torchwood · 26 Nov 2016

just bought a really cheap extender on Ebay.

Roy

ICIT2LOL · 26 Nov 2016

Layback Bear said:

John I would suggest that using a outlet tester first. The outlet needs to be correct.

Some examples:

Amazon.com: outlet receptacle tester

Ok Jack mate I have one of those testers knocking around somewhere and yes the house wiring is - well complicated at best

because over the years the old place (125 years old) has had numerous additions to the electrical setup some I have done (via guidance from my ex brother in law's instructions) but while I have done exactly as he has said to do there are things I find that have been done well before my alterations that would not be something I would even contemplate, and even have had to correct myself.
I know for a fact that there are three separate wiring systems throughout the old place and the circuits I have not put in personally I have found to run wherever some lunatic has decided to put them.

Now the power circuit to the room where the machine is - is run off a different circuit breaker than the circuit breaker for the computer room but I am guessing if these systems are essentially connected together if taken back to the power company's main power board the signal I want to run via the power lines should in theory work - of course I stand to be corrected though.

What I have learnt though from the feedback (much appreciated to all of you folks:)) is that what I thought was going to be just a simple matter of putting in extenders in fact turns out to be one can use one of three different methods of doing what I want to happen.

I believe you are still confusing wifi extenders with power line adapters.

Yes I thought they were one and the same as mentioned above

I would rather use the power line method as first choice because of the less need to run extra cables.

Well better get looking around for those now, and thanks to you all for the heads up.
John:)

ICIT2LOL · 26 Nov 2016

torchwood said:

just bought a really cheap extender on Ebay.

Roy

Yes have seen that one and all in nice Lego plastic

ICIT2LOL · 26 Nov 2016

Ok had a look around and it seems to me that there are a lot of things that will affect the powerline method not least the state of the wiring in the house.

I see there are the kits that have an Ethernet cable at each end which is an option but not exactly what I would like. Another is one adaptor that connects to the router and the other that will use a wifi function - more what I would like.

The only thing that I am concerned about now is that one has to plug the adaptors into unprotected outlets as I am thinking what would happen if they got hit with a power surge is that going to backtrack to my modem router and the system as such and / or fry the adaptors??

Layback Bear · 26 Nov 2016

With a old house with questionable wiring I understand your concern.
How far away will the cable have to be to hard wire your extended computer?
That very well might be your best option.

Jack

ICIT2LOL · 27 Nov 2016

Yes Jack well mate it would be at least 30 - 40 metres and it would entail draping the cable through doorways and across walls etc it certainly would not be pretty if not pretty unpractical. I could even run the cable through the roof space I suppose but not being young and fit anymore it would be quite an undertaking for me.

I shall keep trying different solutions and hopefully the new modem router when it gets here will have a decent signal strength it is one with three aerials ( hopefully high gain ones) as the one I currently use only has one and that I only have had installed for the last few months. The current modem is also really quite old now and I have used it with just Ethernet cabling up to now.

Now I suspect in what you did in your career you might have some experience with aerials and could offer some tips. As it is I have built yagi and phase array aerials (for TV reception) in the past and have a little knowledge of wave frequencies and working out the element measurements for those sort of aerials. I did think of maybe I could even build a reflector system to direct the wifi signal if I could work out dish dimensions and the like. It too would not be pretty but less so than draping cable through the house.
Anyway I shall research that line of attack to see what I can come up with.

As of now I think my options are the two adaptors one being wifi and installing the old modem in that room because it only entails boring through the wall from the line access point as in my pic then hopefully given no hiccups it would fill the room with wifi - plus I was thinking maybe it could be hooked to the TV as well by cable.