Wireless Router Relay?

[danlisa]

Is it possible to create a relay between two wireless routers. I'm asking because my current wireless router is quite far from my PC and the signal is not good.

This is my setup....

Connected to the phone line (the only one in the house) I have a Wanadoo Live Box (this runs my VOIP aswell, so must stay where it is.)

Can I then connect a D-Link DSL-G604T Wirless router to the back of my PC via a network cable or PCI wireless card and 'piggy back' my internet connection and thus boost the signal to my PC?

I think that the cause of my low signal is the PCI wireless card at the back of my PC which is at the back of a computer desk and fairly close to the wall. I reached this conclusion after my laptop (which is wireless enabled) has a full strength signal in the same room.

[3Jane]

Looks like you can boost the signal with an extender.


http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesstips.mspx

[danlisa]

Thanks 3Jane :sunny:

An excellent info page.

replace your PC card-based wireless network adapter with a USB network adapter that uses an external antenna.
:hmm:I have one of these on a 2m dock, I'll give that a go. At least I can move it about to see if I can get a better signal strength.

[tycho102]

Sure. It's called a "bridge". Some routers will do bridging, and others won't. And then there is always a question of performance with encryption and/or different clients.

However, you might want to give consideration to an "ethernet bridge (http://www.amazon.com/Technology-AirStation-Wireless-Converter-WLI-TX4-G54HP/dp/B000BNDEZY/sr=8-3/qid=1165346023/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-8476444-5450401?ie=UTF8&s=electronics)". It will only do WPA1-AES, but you can slap a 12dB "Cantenna" on it, and get a huge range boost. There's also 18dB flat-panels about the size of a shoe-box in surface area. Getting a router that can take external antennas and slapping a Cantenna on there will also give you far greater range. You have to be careful about interoperability between brands, but I've paired up with lots of different AP's using that Buffalo client. Some routers put out more power than others, or can be re-flashed with a "hacked" firmware to put out more power.


Unless you know that you really do need a "bridge" AP (such as if you're going to be serving lots of people in your neighborhood), you're better off getting external antennas and a high power client (ethernet bridge).

[Iceman]

I think that the cause of my low signal is the PCI wireless card at the back of my PC which is at the back of a computer desk and fairly close to the wall. I reached this conclusion after my laptop (which is wireless enabled) has a full strength signal in the same room.

This is exactly right...the higher the better...obsticles such as wood or low to the floor will decrease signal strength.

This is a great site also that may help ya alot. http://practicallynetworked.com/networking/