On Wed, 31 Aug 2005 10:27:44 -0400, "Zeppo" <zeppo_m@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I have a small wireless network I've just moved into my new house. I had a
>desktop hardwired to a Linksys WRT54G, with a desktop and a laptop
>connecting to the wireless network at my old house.
>
>At the new house I'm connecting 2 more laptops and my wife's desktop via
>wireless and I've run into a snag. The router is at one end of the house
>downstairs and wifey's desktop is upstairs at the other end of the house.
>She connects, but it reads low signal and wavers between 12 MB and 24 MB a
>second per the linksys utility.

12MBits/sec will give you about 6Mbits/sec thruput. This is faster
than the typical DSL although it may cause problems with a faster
cable modem connection. However, I suspect that going through the
floor of the house results in an unreliable connection, which is the
real problem.

>It seems my options to remedy this are running cat5, a range extender,
>stronger antennas, or a wireless access point.

1. Run CAT5 upstairs to the computers.
2. Run CAT5 upstairs to a 2nd wireless access point.
3. Setup a 2nd WRT54G and use WDS to repeat the signal. This might
be a problem as you can't seem to go through the floor with a wireless
client, there's no reason to suspect that it can be done with a
repeater.
4. Setup a wireless repeater. Same problem as #3.
5. Use the power line to act as a link upstair and setup a repeater.
This tends to be limited by the speed of the power line link at about
2Mbit/sec thruput.
http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGXB102.php
6. Run coax cable upstairs with a 2nd antenna. This is lossy, but if
the cable lengths are short, it works quite well. This is what I do
to deal with the upstairs/downstairs problem at my platial domicile.
7. Install a directional antenna or reflector on the WRT54G and hope
that it penetrates the floor. This is probably the cheapest and
easiest solution. A panel, patch, or biquad antenna would probably
work. I'm not a big fan of coffee can antennas, but if you can
tolerate the aesthetics, that will also suffice. Also:
http://www.freeantennas.com
8. Move the WRT54G to somewhere near the middle of the house or at
the base of the stairwell. Wireless goes through air much easier than
through floors. If your floor is poured concrete, I don't think any
form of positioning will help.

>Running cable is a last
>resort as it could be tough getting to the area of the bedroom that needs
>the feed as it is under a the lowest point of the attic.

Run it to the attic and then to over the bedroom. Install an 2nd
access point or wireless router setup as an access point over the
bedroom. Ceilings are usually not as heavily built as floors.

>The antennas seem a
>dubious investment. Not sure if the wireless extender thing will really
>work.

Wireless extenders, repeaters, WDS repeaters, and mesh networks all
have a small problem. If you need high thruput, they cut your maximum
bandwidth in half. That's probably not a problem if you just want to
share a DSL or cable modem connection. However, your wireless to
wireless thruput will be slow. Methinks you could live with it.
Repeaters and extenders are also very specific as to what chipsets and
devices they will work with. The newsgroups are full of disappointed
users that discover their new wireless repeater doesn't work with
their access point or wireless router. WDS is more of the same, but
you already have half the puzzle. The WRT54G with Sveasoft Alchemy
replacment firmware supports WDS. Buy a 2nd WRT54G to act as a WDS
repeater. You can also plug client computahs into the 2nd WRT54G and
it will act as a bridge to the first. If you have good connectivity
between WRT54G boxes, this is probably the most vesatile and useful
arrangment. Unfortunately, it's also the most expensive and
complicated to setup.

>Would the WAP do the same thing as the extender?

A WAP (wireless access point) can be wired with CAT5 to the first
WRT54G and supply coverage upstairs. You can also use a wireless
router as an access point by ignoring the WAN port and router section.
You'll find that wireless routers are also cheaper than WAP's. Unlike
the extender or repeater, the CAT5 connection is fast, stable,
interference free, and always works. A 2nd WRT54G would do the job or
just about any wireless device.

>It seems to be a
>better investment as I could reconfigure it if I need to reconfigure the
>network in the future.

Your decision. I would play with location and antennas first. Then
decide on the more expensive alternatives if that fails.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
AE6KS 831-336-2558