Wireless performance home network

[angusmdmclean]

I have Comcast Cable and a Linskys router WRT54G (V4) upstairs in my home office: In summertime I move downstairs, where it is more comfortable. I have to move my desktop computer , monitor and printer downstairs. My router and cable modem has to remain upstairs, since the Comcast Cable is directed there. I do not have a Comcast cable near where my desk is downstairs. So downstairs I use the wireless option to get the signal from the router. I am looking to optimize on the signal to noise ratio from my router and also to have a way of assessing the performance by virtue of measuring the signal received. There is a series of vertical bars that you can see in Windows denoting the signal strength and this measure has looked excellent downstairs. Nevertheless after a couple of days I lost my signal downstairs so I had to move all the equipment upstairs again and reconnect to the Internet with an Ethernet cable again. So I am back upstairs now. With the Ethernet Cable disconnected in the wireless mode upstairs it looks OK, but the vertical bars were not any different from when I was downstairs.

I am looking to optimize the wireless signal and quality downstairs so suggestions are welcome,

Angus

 

[herqulees]

I have Comcast Cable and a Linskys router WRT54G (V4) upstairs in my home office: In summertime I move downstairs, where it is more comfortable. I have to move my desktop computer , monitor and printer downstairs. My router and cable modem has to remain upstairs, since the Comcast Cable is directed there. I do not have a Comcast cable near where my desk is downstairs. So downstairs I use the wireless option to get the signal from the router. I am looking to optimize on the signal to noise ratio from my router and also to have a way of assessing the performance by virtue of measuring the signal received. There is a series of vertical bars that you can see in Windows denoting the signal strength and this measure has looked excellent downstairs. Nevertheless after a couple of days I lost my signal downstairs so I had to move all the equipment upstairs again and reconnect to the Internet with an Ethernet cable again. So I am back upstairs now. With the Ethernet Cable disconnected in the wireless mode upstairs it looks OK, but the vertical bars were not any different from when I was downstairs.

I am looking to optimize the wireless signal and quality downstairs so suggestions are welcome,

Angus

I'm a strong supporter of Alfa wireless, and have used them for years, even used one of their cards in a custom made WiFi satellite dish to pick up WiFi from, if I remember correctly, up to almost 3/4 a mile away with their USB b/g card, was a long time ago I did that. To say the least it never failed over the year or two I used it and that's an indoor card sitting out in the sun, rain, wind, etc powered on 24/7. May sound like I'm recommending some over priced overpowered thing but they don't cost too much ($26 on their Amazon store). ALFA NETWORK Inc.

 

[angusmdmclean]

Thanks for the advice: I will contact Alfa. This is a puzzle since the vertical bars indicated that my Network signal strength was "exellent" downstairs. Last year I was able to do this and I did not have a problem.

Angus

 

[herqulees]

Thanks for the advice: I will contact Alfa. This is a puzzle since the vertical bars indicated that my Network signal strength was "exellent" downstairs. Last year I was able to do this and I did not have a problem.

Angus

Generally three bars is unstable, two bars is very unstable to unusable, and one bar is the same as being disconnected, it depends on the WiFi card and what you're doing but with all the computers I've used it averages out to a chart like that. So how many bars did you have downstairs and upstairs? Also have you thought of just buying 50ft+/- of coaxial cable and running it against the wall to downstairs during the summer so you can bring the modem with you? Or setting up power line ethernet?
75feet coaxial cable ($17.99): STEREN 208-440BK - Newegg.com
Powerline Ethernet kit ($29.99): Tenda P200 Powerline Mini Adapter Kit - Newegg.com

 

[crankypenguin]

You can try a free DYI parabolic wifi booster. This page has a .pdf file instructions on how to make it. All you need is tin foil and paper. DIY WIFI Antenna Reception Booster

 

[angusmdmclean]

There was no difference : upstairs it was 5 bars and downstairs it was also 5 bars.{ I am gong to check this work again!}. I have considered a Netgear product that uses the wiring in the house: you connect a Netgear module to the router upstairs and the wall socket and a second module to the computer and wall socket downstairs using ethernet cables (cost $100). I do have a Comcast signal downstairs in the family room and I guess I could run a cable from the to the living room (underneath the floor in the basement and bring it up in the family room}. Now that woud involve drilling holes in floor at calculated precise locations and would be a bit of work.
I really need to check out that it fails again or how much it fluctuates across the day downstairs, but this is a painful process. I am a consultant and I am very busy this week. Also I could try the aluminium foil approach

 

[herqulees]

There was no difference : upstairs it was 5 bars and downstairs it was also 5 bars.{ I am gong to check this work again!}. I have considered a Netgear product that uses the wiring in the house: you connect a Netgear module to the router upstairs and the wall socket and a second module to the computer and wall socket downstairs using ethernet cables (cost $100). I do have a Comcast signal downstairs in the family room and I guess I could run a cable from the to the living room (underneath the floor in the basement and bring it up in the family room}. Now that woud involve drilling holes in floor at calculated precise locations and would be a bit of work.
I really need to check out that it fails again or how much it fluctuates across the day downstairs, but this is a painful process. I am a consultant and I am very busy this week. Also I could try the aluminium foil approach

If you are getting five bars then you are having an issue somewhere besides the signal getting to and from your computer. Does it happen to all computers in the house or just this one?

 

[angusmdmclean]

I only have two computers on the network: the one I am referring to is the desktop computer. The network was set up on this computer. I first noticed that the wireless signal was lost on my lapatop computer, which is ustairs. When it stopped getting the signal I went downstairs and notced theat the signal l was lost on the desktop. So I moved teh desktop back upstairs. I need to check this again.

 

[PeaB4YouGo]

After this last post, I'd say it's time to replace your router.

Newegg.com - 2.4GHz & 5GHz Concurrent Dual Band Wireless-N Router 300Mbps with 4-port LAN Switch (Integrated) could be just the thing you're looking for. It's fairly inexpensive and it looks like it should handle everything you've described as needed. The only issue might be the brand name.

Of course, that's if someone doesn't come up with a GREAT solution, here.

 

[Shadowjk]

+1 ^^

If I was looking for a home router then the above has all features and more (VLANS, etc) with it

My only issue is bandwidth though I tend to use a bit more than the average user so in all honesty I think it would work great

Josh

 

[angusmdmclean]

I think I must check my observation and move my computer downstairs first and reevaluate if I can work downstairs.

Angus

 

[PeaB4YouGo]

One more Q.?

Have you ever taken a look at the webpage built into your router? I'm assuming you went there at least once to check your wireless security settings. Just browse that, and see if anything looks abnormal or out-of-place since the last time you were there. If you're not familiar, then this might not be a great suggestion, but if you trust yourself. (BTW, that address is usually https://192.168.1.1 on your router model.)

 

[herqulees]

I think I must check my observation and move my computer downstairs first and reevaluate if I can work downstairs.

Angus

If all computers in the house are loosing Internet and the router is not notifying you of an issue with Internet service then it sounds like it's time for a new router. Did you restart the router and the problem was still there or no?

 

[chev65]

I have Comcast Cable and a Linskys router WRT54G (V4) upstairs in my home office: In summertime I move downstairs, where it is more comfortable. I have to move my desktop computer , monitor and printer downstairs. My router and cable modem has to remain upstairs, since the Comcast Cable is directed there. I do not have a Comcast cable near where my desk is downstairs. So downstairs I use the wireless option to get the signal from the router. I am looking to optimize on the signal to noise ratio from my router and also to have a way of assessing the performance by virtue of measuring the signal received. There is a series of vertical bars that you can see in Windows denoting the signal strength and this measure has looked excellent downstairs. Nevertheless after a couple of days I lost my signal downstairs so I had to move all the equipment upstairs again and reconnect to the Internet with an Ethernet cable again. So I am back upstairs now. With the Ethernet Cable disconnected in the wireless mode upstairs it looks OK, but the vertical bars were not any different from when I was downstairs.

I am looking to optimize the wireless signal and quality downstairs so suggestions are welcome,

Angus

Sounds like this router requires a hard reset.
The 30-30-30 Hard Reset Rule for Routers

There is also the DD-WRT firmware for this router that may improve performance. Just type in the model number at the following page. This firmware is much improved over the original and may help your router be more stable.
Router Database | www.dd-wrt.com

 

[angusmdmclean]

The router is a very common one (WRT 54 G v4) and I have restarted it and checked the settings https://192.168.1.1 on the WEB. Right now the wireless network is oK and functioning well on both computers upstairs in my home office. The ferocious weather in this area (Wasington DC) has now abated considerably so it is not too uncomfortable now. I plan to move the DESKTOP downstairs again to see if it will hold the signal. Nevertheless I am attracted to pursuing actions that will assist stability.

 

[chev65]

The router is a very common one (WRT 54 G v4) and I have restarted it and checked the settings https://192.168.1.1 on the WEB. Right now the wireless network is oK and functioning well on both computers upstairs in my home office. The ferocious weather in this area (Wasington DC) has now abated considerably so it is not too uncomfortable now. I plan to move the DESKTOP downstairs again to see if it will hold the signal. Nevertheless I am attracted to pursuing actions that will assist stability.

If the router's stability doesn't improve it may be worth trying the DD-WRT firmware which is very popular for these old routers. Be sure and get the version 4 firmware obviously enough.