[FAQ] Using two routers together/ Extending Wi-Fi

elephantine

My router: Thomson TG585 v7; IP address 192.168.1.254.
If I can't connect via an ADSL filter to my spare phone socket, how do I place my secondary router on another floor without using long cables?

mickevh

You can't - you need to run a UTP (network/ethernet cable) between the two routers to establish a "backhaul" link.

If both routers support something called WDS, you could maybe use wi-fi for the backhaul, but that will at least half your wi-fi bandwidth so I wouldn't go that way unless you had no choice.

If running a cable isn't an option, have a look at the FAQ in this forum on "HomePlugs" which allow you to piggy back ethernet (wired LAN) over the domestic mains.

DrGekko

Hi folks. I have a Netgear DGN2000 router (linked to main pc via ethernet).

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-DGN2000-Wireless-N-Router-Built/dp/B001E1UGOE"]Netgear DGN2000 Wireless-N 300 Router with Built-in ADSL2/2  Modem: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & [email protected]@[email protected]@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/[email protected]@[email protected]@31UmFKkMyOL[/ame]

I wish to improve the wi-fi signal around the house, especially for use with iPhone. So I bought a couple of Netgear WN2000 repeaters:

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-WN2000RPT-Universal-Range-Extender/dp/B003JHQ3ZW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1355999967&sr=8-2"]NETGEAR WN2000RPT Universal WiFi Range Extender - Wireless network extender - 802.11b/g/n: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & [email protected]@[email protected]@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/[email protected]@[email protected]@31yScJqiRuL[/ame]

I wasted about 2 hours last night trying to set the bloody things up! No idea what I'm doing really, tried following instructions online and youtube videos. But all I can manage to do is log in to the repeater! I honestly thought it would be a simple "plug and play" action - that it would recognise my network and boost the signal.

I followed the instructions and basically it recognises my current "Netgear" network - but if I then select this via my laptop or iPhone, it simply logs back on to the router set up page! No google etc! Driving me mad!

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

mickevh

I can't offer much insight into the specifics of those devices because I've never used them.

However, if you've not already done so I'd suggest things like setting them up one at a time with the router, repeaters and client with a metre or two of each other to "get them working" and thereby eliminate radio signal issues from the equation, thence move the repeaters to the target location.

Remember that the repeaters need to be "in range" of both the coverage hole and your router so that it can "hear" the router and clients well enough to repeat their transmissions. If you co-locate the repeaters with the dodgy coverage point, it's going to have exactly the same problems as any client in that area hearing your router (and vice-versa.) Received wisdom has it that you place the repeaters "half way" between router and clients.

So, not this   DGN------------RPT--Clients
but this        DGN-------RPT-------Clients

Repeaters are also going to at least half your wi-fi bandwidth (speed,) with two of them maybe even as low as a quarter (though that depends on some of the minutia of how they work that I haven't investigated.)

DrGekko

I can return them to amazon. What would you suggest instead to provide better wi-fi coverage in other rooms around the house? What do they do in hotels?

mickevh

By far the best way to avail larger wi-fi coverage areas is to create a "cellular" coverage pattern using multiple Access Points with the AP's cabled to the main wired infrastructure (ie your router in a little SOHO LAN.)

Last wi-fi install I built was at a college and I deployed approx. 250 AP's across the campus including the dormatries. "Big" hotel's (as opposed to little B&B's) doubtless do something similar. For some reason hotels seem to have a fettish about hanging the AP's in the corridors (cover most rooms with fewest AP's) though I would argue they would be better in the rooms. Have a look next time your in one - see if there are any "things" hanging from the ceilings (either in the rooms or the corridors) that look a bit like smoke detectors, but aren't. Maybe they are wi-fi AP's.

If installing network cabling from outpost AP's back to your router (the "backhaul") is going to be problematic, then have a look a HomePLugs (FAQ in this forum) which allow you to tunnel ethernet over the domestic mains. There is even a type of HomePlug that has a AP built-in for the outpost end. I don't have any, but they are (mostly) well spoken of here.

DrGekko

Yes it will.

Ok, now this sounds more like plug and play to me... so with the HomePlug with built in AP - would I simply plug it in the room I want better wi-fi and it will simply connect wirelessly to my existing network????

I think this may be the answer... ordered 3 of them!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0055Y6PUA/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1

mickevh

No I doubt it's quite as simple as that.

Let's take wi-fi out of the equation for a moment and just consider regular wired ethernet. You need to connect one HomePlug near your router and cable it to a spare "LAN" ethernet socket on your router. Then you'd need another HomePlug at the remote end that you connect to a remote device there. THe HomePlugs thence "talk" to each other across the mains to ship data to/from your router and the remote outpost.

So you need at least two "normal" HomePlugs to start with, one for your router and one for the remote end. If you thence (say) want to avail a second remote outpost, you add another HomePlug there (no need for another at your router) and so on.

Now let's add wi-fi back in: At the "remote" ends we would have HomePlugs that combine HomePlug & Wi-fi AP. No need for the "router" end HomePLug to have wi-fi because your router already avails wi-fi there so there's no benefit adding any more in that locale.

I believe you can buy a "starter kit" that include a "normal" HomePlug for the router end and a HomePLug/Wi-fi variant for the remote end. Thence if you want additional "remote end" HomePlug/Wi-fi you just buy them one at a time.

It's likely that the AP's built in the HomePLugs will need a little "setting up" (SSID name, security, passphrase, etc.) just as any other wi-fi AP would. Unfortunately, I doubt it will be completely plug and play - wi-fi rarely is.

granty_

Thanks for this guide - I think it appears to have saved me a major headache.

I have got a set of turtle beach xp500's which when turned on meant I couldn't use any wireless devices in my bedroom.

I've been bashing my head against a wall recently, but it would now appear a quick set up of my old router has solved this and the router (or AP) upstairs now has a dominance over the turtle beach.

Happy days

DrGekko

Worked a treat!