Looking for a Router to purchase needs to pick up from about 40ft

[marionr26]

This needs to be pretty strong signal. This router will be located in a bedroom a laptop will need to be able to get signal from it about 40ft away and through about 4 walls. The router they are using now they have to come out of there bedroom and go to den with laptop to be able to connect. They have had the router about 6 yrs and they can connect every now and then from the bedroom but not often. I wanted to get her a new router for christmas a up to date with a strong signal. Please post makes and models for me. I dont know anything about how to tell what router is stronger than another.

[redwudz]

It would probably help to give the name and model of the old router for comparison. Most of the newer wireless routers 'should' be able to do what you want. I pick up a strong signal from next door with my laptop from their router that sits on the floor through 5 walls and a hundred feet away .

I would recommend placing a router at about 4 - 5 feet up and away from any large metal objects. Routers that stand up vertically usually have a better signal than the ones that set flat. Router output power is regulated by the FCC, so higher powered ones are rare. Choosing a clear channel also helps if you are in a area with a lot of routers or AP points.

I'm using a Netgear router at present and it works well for me, at about $80. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122334

This one has a bit fewer features, but is about $50US: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122235

You may also be able to find these locally at Best Buy or similar.

[marionr26]

She said it is a Westell 327W is this a older router???? Could it be damaged or is it a either it works or not work?????

[redwudz]

From a quick internet search, that appears to be a ADSL modem and router combination, circa 2005. So by computer standards, that's fairly old. Not to say it might not be able to do the job, but it may have some internal problems or bad settings. But there's usually not much in the way of settings that would affect output power.

I would probably upgrade to a newer router anyway. If I have the correct model and it does have a modem you are using, you should still be able to connect a wireless router to it, but you may want to disable the old wireless part of the router. Or at least set it to a different address so it doesn't interfere with the new one.

[cowboyup910]

Get a replacement from your ISP. I assume that's where you got the Westell one from. I had that like 4 years ago.

I love them Combo modems/routers. I have Comcast now and the's ones made by Motorola are too damn expensive.

[Bjs]

Were using netgear wds setup for a retreat building

WGR602 (line connected to main building via ethenet cable) connected to a WGR614 via WDS ... Line of site is clear between units (50ft) ... covering two floors with a total of 62 guest rooms, lounge area.

Depending on what the structure material is ... timber offers the least resistance ... concrete / brick a lot more.

Two WGR602's with 7 or 9dbi upgraded Antenna's should do the job ... wgr614's require modifying with pigtail cable to allow upgrading of antenna's (cheaper with more ports)

[TimA-C]

Don't forget that you could also use either a wireless repeater or homeplugs + wireless access point to get a wireless signal elsewhere in the house, you don't have to rely on just a wireless router.

[budwzr]

Hawking makes an excellent repeater b/g/n, I have two of them.