Help Getting Wireless N to Dead area in house

I replaced my Wireless G with a Linksys Wireless N (WRT150) router in
order to try to get better range but have noticed no difference to my
laptop in the 'dead room'. The laptop uses a wireless G notebook
adapter. Before I waste any more $... will buying a wireless N
notebook adapter have any beneficial impact on my range problem?

Would an access point help me? If so, how? And is an AP complicated
to set up?

Thanks!

James Kaplan <JimKaplan777@aol.com> hath wroth:

>I replaced my Wireless G with a Linksys Wireless N (WRT150) router in
>order to try to get better range but have noticed no difference to my
>laptop in the 'dead room'.

Some basics first. MIMO and 802.11n are not a fix for weak signals.
When 802.11n is faced with a weak signal, it reverts back to the older
and slower 802.11g and 802.11b modes. The slower you go, the farther
you go. What MIMO can do for you is deal with a highly reflective
environment or give greater thruput, but only if you have adequate
signal levels to work with.

Is that a WRT150N ?

>The laptop uses a wireless G notebook
>adapter.

Any particular laptop? Any particular adapter?
(Hint: If you ask your auto mechanic for advice on your vehicle, what
the very first thing he asks you to disclose?)

>Before I waste any more $... will buying a wireless N
>notebook adapter have any beneficial impact on my range problem?

No. If you had some signal to work with MIMO might give you a more
reliable connection if the problem was reflections. However, it
appears that you have no signal.

>Would an access point help me? If so, how? And is an AP complicated
>to set up?

Yes. That will help. It's no more complex than a wireless router.
All an access point is inside is a "wireless router" with the router
section disabled or missing. You can also buy a wireless router and
configure it as an access point. See:
<http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To#Use_a_wireless_router_as_a_wireless_acce ss_point>

You will need to run CAT5e cable between your main router and the
remote access point. The two radios should be on different RF
channels (1, 6, 11) unless you are absolutely certain there is no
possibility of mutual interference. There's some question if you want
to use the same SSID on both radios. If the same, you might be able
to get seamless roaming between radios as you move around. However,
you will not be able to easily select which access point to connect.
For that, you will need to assign different SSID's to each radio.

Note that I did NOT suggest replacing antennas or adding reflectors on
your existing WRT150N. That will wreck MIMO operation. However, you
might be able to attach an external antenna onto your laptop and point
it at the wireless router.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

James Kaplan wrote:
> I replaced my Wireless G with a Linksys Wireless N (WRT150) router in
> order to try to get better range but have noticed no difference to my
> laptop in the 'dead room'. The laptop uses a wireless G notebook
> adapter. Before I waste any more $... will buying a wireless N
> notebook adapter have any beneficial impact on my range problem?
>
> Would an access point help me? If so, how? And is an AP complicated
> to set up?
>
> Thanks!

No... Had the same problem here, and the netgear powerline AP
(http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...essPoints.aspx
) solved it real quick and easy... Plug one unit in by the wap/router
connected via cable to the router part, and plug the other unit in where you
have a dead spot.. Not only use it in the one room with a dead spot, but
during nice weather I tend to hang on the patio in the gazebo, and just have
it plugged in out there..... (ps, both units in one box are available for
under $99, or a bit more $119 at staples).. A bonus is that for some strange
reason, my PDA (Dell xv51) will work with that when I'm at a marginal
distance from the main router

On Aug 20, 9:34 am, James Kaplan <JimKaplan...@aol.com> wrote:
> I replaced my Wireless G with a Linksys Wireless N (WRT150) router in
> order to try to get better range but have noticed no difference to my
> laptop in the 'dead room'. The laptop uses a wireless G notebook
> adapter. Before I waste any more $... will buying a wireless N
> notebook adapter have any beneficial impact on my range problem?
>
> Would an access point help me? If so, how? And is an AP complicated
> to set up?
>
> Thanks!


I use DD-WRT on Linksys wrt54gl. I had some dead spots and had an
extra wrt54gs also w/ DD-WRT. I don't know much about what you are
using but i was able to setup WDS. Maybe your setup has this option?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireles...ibution_System

connecting both routers together wireless.