Wireless LAN Questions

[Sakuya]

I use the Netgear Wireless Router WGR614v5 for my internet. It's working great. But I am wondering how far this wireless area reaches? Where can I check? Is it impossible to surf the web on a laptop about 33 feet away from the router? Are there any routers capable of doing that?

[jagabo]

Anywhere from 0 to 200 meters depending on what's between the two ends. 33 feet should be OK unless there are a lot of walls, obstructions, or electronic noise. You'll probably get reduced throughput.

[gadgetguy]

Generally wireless is good to about a hundred feet, but that assumes a clean environment and not too many walls. If you are having trouble at 33 feet (unobstructed) then there is probably some interference going on from another type of wireless device.

[Sakuya]

There are only 2 walls but in between the router and my far-away laptop, there's another computer as well as the TV and DVD players. Is there a method or device that can keep down the interference?

[jagabo]

You can try a better antenna or an antenna extension cable.

http://www.netgear.com/Products/AntennasandAccessories/IndoorAntennas/ANT24O5.aspx

http://www.netgear.com/Products/AntennasandAccessories/OutdoorAntennas/ANT2409.aspx

http://www.netgear.com/Products/AntennasandAccessories/Cables.aspx

Or move the router around, higher is usually better.

[TJohns]

I think the current world record for 802.11g using "standard" equipment (a Netgear wireless AP with custom firmware to boost the transmitter power to about 180mW from memory) thru a pair of 2.4 m dish antennas is about 280 km !!

[Sakuya]

You can try a better antenna or an antenna extension cable.

http://www.netgear.com/Products/AntennasandAccessories/IndoorAntennas/ANT24O5.aspx

http://www.netgear.com/Products/AntennasandAccessories/OutdoorAntennas/ANT2409.aspx

http://www.netgear.com/Products/AntennasandAccessories/Cables.aspx

Or move the router around, higher is usually better.

They don't work with my Netgear model unfortunately. Are there other devices that can enhance the range? Or maybe a new Netgear router that is stronger and has a bigger range than mines?

[jagabo]

I guess you can try the Pringles can technique!

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

[Sakuya]

I guess you can try the Pringles can technique!

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

Interesting. Thanks, I'll try putting my router in a high place first before attempting that.

[Richard_G]

Radio, particularly at 2.4 GHz where Wi-Fi operates, works by line of sight. It will bounce around corners due to the short wavelength, but this will drastically reduce the overall range. Position the Router as high as practical and, if you only want range in a certain direction (in a garden for instance), next to a window (glass attenuates far less than brick or stone).

I have problems in a 300 year old cottage built of stone with a high iron content and postioning of the various Wi-Fi components is important. If you get really stuck, a range extender placed where it can 'see' both ends may be worth looking into.

Range will be reduced by operating in the same area as other 2.4 GHz devices. These are numerous and include video senders, cordless phones (in the US but not Europe), microwave ovens and other Wi-Fi networks.

[Nelson37]

When WiFi fails at such a short range, first thing is firmware updates on both router and card.

Second is to place both antennas as high as possible.

Next would be to replace router and/or card with a different make or model. I usually have these in stock or my parts guy exchanges very easily. Defective units are quite common.

When the problem is environmental, and constant rather than intermittent, an antenna extension cable has ALWAYS solved the problem. The extension itself is less important than the ability to try different positions. These often come with the "hi-gain" antennas, which also may help. But the antenna without the extra cable almost always fails, or is not enough improvement. The cable with the standard antenna, on one or both ends, has worked every time. Pricewise the extra antenna with the cable is only a little more than the cable itself. I now have a collection if different "hi-gain" antennas, which I continue to test in such situations. The cable is really the key. They are available for all antenna connector types, unless yours is permanently attached. Avoid such units.

I have seen the "reflectors", one commercial model does look remarkably like a Pringles can cut in half both ways and lined with tinfoil. These may well work, I don't need one in my home/office and they just look too Rinky-Dink to try for a customer.

When you say the unit is "working great", how do you define that? Can you verify both wired and wireless connections, when the laptop is in the same room, for instance? Can you identify a particular corner or wall that cuts off the signal?

Hi metal content in an intervening wall is usually the problem, crossing a kitchen is usually bad, but have NEVER had a home that wireless could not be made to work in. Twice in very large homes, what I would call a mansion, have had to use repeaters of some sort. Distances well over 100 feet at an estimate.