Increase WiFi range of home computer? Any tips

[Ranger111]

Got everyone in the family new Verizon Iphone 5s for Christmas (except me).

First time for smart phones in the family.

So, does anyone know of a budget way to increase our WiFi range in house so the kiddies' phones can use the WiFi to conserve our pooled bank of Verizon data?

At the moment the range in the house is pretty small. We live in the mountains and the closest neighbor is at least 1/2-mile away, so I none of those worries.

 

[runwad]

Funny you should ask this question, we just got and installed this in our house last night:
http://www.amazon.com/ZyXEL-Wireles...1419889431&sr=8-2&keywords=wifi+booster+zyxel

We live in a split level and our modem and wi-fi is in our family room. The signal would not be very strong on the upper floors. Now it works great and this was very easy to do. It came with directions and an url for a youtube video. Easy Peasy.

 

[willowsnn3]

My dd just bought 'NetGear' but we haven't hooked it up yet.
Hope it works.

 

[jrmasm]

I researched boosters earlier this year. Everything I read said they are not the solution. The solution is a better router.

 

[gshumaker]

Been looking at this one...

http://www.ampedwireless.com/products/tap-ex.html

 

[aliceindisneyland]

Last year we were living in a 3500 sq ft 2-story home. The lame cable installer put the internet downstairs in the far front living room so we only got a signal as far as the kitchen (cue Weird Al's "First World Problems"!) We used a plug in wifi range extender (plugged in upstairs) and it worked perfectly...got strong wifi in every corner of the house and a fair signal out to the front and back yards.

 

[SplashMo]

I just purchased the Netgear D3700 v4 from amazon. Not the top of the line. Purchased it with breakage protection for 7 dollars...

Our last one of this exact model lasted over three years. It was a v2 though...

Place the router in the center of the house and on the top floor if possible. Do not have any clutter on the desk etc around the router...

 

[Marionnette]

I researched boosters earlier this year. Everything I read said they are not the solution. The solution is a better router.

Most cheaper repeaters/extenders are not going to be satisfactory for streaming and online gaming. Too slow and a lot of lag.

Unfortunately, with Verizon you are stuck with their crappy Actiontech modem/router unless you bypass the router part and piggyback your own router on their modem. (Been there and it worked better than their router). Of course, that means that you need a quality router to hook up.

 

[sherlock14]

Indeed, the placement info mentioned here is extremely important! WiFi signal drops downward in a cone shape. Wireless router in the center of the house assures all rooms below will have equal signal.
You also need decent hardware in regard to modem, wireless router and the WiFi adapter on each computer.

Place the router in the center of the house and on the top floor if possible. Do not have any clutter on the desk etc around the router...

 

[sksjasams]

We bought a stronger router two years ago and it made a huge difference. The signal now gets upstairs and even out to the road in front of our home.

I had never heard of the downward cone analogy for router signals, but I am curious. If our desktop computer is on the main floor, how would I hook up the router upstairs so that the signal could flow downward. Upstairs it would also be closer to DS's PS4... thanks for your help!

 

[DizMe]

Is it possible to get our wifi signal to go as far as a MIL unit on the property? It is a separate apartment and it is a fair distance from the main house. It is set up for cable/internet but we'd love to avoid getting more Comcast bills. Current wifi does not extend that far but we have a smaller Netgear router on the opposite side of the house.

 

[Marionnette]

Is it possible to get our wifi signal to go as far as a MIL unit on the property? It is a separate apartment and it is a fair distance from the main house. It is set up for cable/internet but we'd love to avoid getting more Comcast bills. Current wifi does not extend that far but we have a smaller Netgear router on the opposite side of the house.

That will depend on the strength of the signal. I can see my neighbors' wi-fi routers when I look for connections. Just make sure that your signal is password protected and do not leave the router with a default setting. Even if you don't care about people using your wi-fi, it could slow down everyone's connection if someone jumps onto your connection and begins to stream a lot of data.

 

[sherlock14]

We bought a stronger router two years ago and it made a huge difference. The signal now gets upstairs and even out to the road in front of our home.

I had never heard of the downward cone analogy for router signals, but I am curious. If our desktop computer is on the main floor, how would I hook up the router upstairs so that the signal could flow downward. Upstairs it would also be closer to DS's PS4... thanks for your help!

Well, modem & router is on upper floor and you run an "Cat 6 Ethernet cable" (150' of cable that has the connectors already installed on the two ends of the cable....costs about $22+-. ) from the router down to the desktop computer. Another way to do it is to have your router upstairs and install a USB WiFi Adapter (also called a wireless dongle) on your desktop computer so it to has WiFi capability. Installing a WiFi dongle on your desktop requires little more then plugging the purchased dongle into a USB port on your computer. Gives your desktop wireless capability.

 

[sherlock14]

Is it possible to get our wifi signal to go as far as a MIL unit on the property? It is a separate apartment and it is a fair distance from the main house. It is set up for cable/internet but we'd love to avoid getting more Comcast bills. Current wifi does not extend that far but we have a smaller Netgear router on the opposite side of the house.

Comcast charges you a monthly fee for the limited ability router and also $ for the modem you are using. Your best bet $ wise and for optimal WiFi is to buy your own modem and router and use them. Comcast will no longer charge you for the modem and router. Buy yourself a top notch modem that is known to be compatible with Comcast and also buy a top notch, 802.11ac Wi-Fi router. This combination will give you terrific WiFi range and WiFi that will penetrate walls, etc. better. Of course, if the WiFi adapter on the laptop, etc. is poor then even a great modem and router will not make things better. Remember, the placement of your router is extremely important! WiFi signal drops downward in a cone shape. Wireless router in the center of the house assures all rooms below will have equal signal. This placement will even help the range to that out lying house you mention.

.

 

[sksjasams]

Well, router is on upper floor and you run an "Cat 6 Ethernet cable" (150' of cable that has the connectors already installed on the two ends of the cable....costs about $22+-. ) from the router down to the desktop computer. Another way to do it is to have your router upstairs and install a USB WiFi Adapter (also called a wireless dongle) on your desktop computer so it to has WiFi capability. Installing a Wifi dongle on your desktop requires little more then plugging the purchased dongle into a USB port on your computer. Gives your desktop wireless capability.

Thank you for your help! Running the long ethernet cable won't work in our house. We would have to run the wire across the living room, up the stairs, down the hall and into a bedroom. We rent, so we can't go thru the walls.

The wirelss dongle sounds like it would work though!

I'm sorry, but I'm still not getting how the router could be hooked up upstairs without the computer. Don't they need to be connected together with the modem? I'm a little challenged by technology (obviously!). So, I would just un hook the router from the modem and plug it in upstairs, or would I need to move the modem too? Thanks again!

 

[sherlock14]

Thank you for your help! Running the long ethernet cable won't work in our house. We would have to run the wire across the living room, up the stairs, down the hall and into a bedroom. We rent, so we can't go thru the walls.

The wireless dongle sounds like it would work though!

I'm sorry, but I'm still not getting how the router could be hooked up upstairs without the computer. Don't they need to be connected together with the modem? I'm a little challenged by technology (obviously!). So, I would just un hook the router from the modem and plug it in upstairs, or would I need to move the modem too? Thanks again!

Yes, router connects to the modem. SO, you have to have the modem in the upstairs with the router together or you would have the modem downstairs and it's connected to the router upstairs with a Cat 6 Ethernet cable. As for a computer.... no, a computer itself does not have to be hooked up to a modem in order for a modem/router combo to provide internet. IF, your desktop that does not have a WiFi adapter is to have internet, then it does need an Ethernet cable running from it to the router.

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[sherlock14]

snipe:

So, I would just un hook the router from the modem and plug it in upstairs, or would I need to move the modem too? Thanks again!

sksjasams, Do consider buying a WiFi dongle for your desktop computer so your desktop has WiFi capability. After doing this, move the modem and router to your Son's room and attach it to the cable connector he has there. Have your Son hardwire his computer/PS4 to the router for top notch speeds. You and other's not so dependent on the high speeds use the WiFi. WiFi travels downward in a cone so you all should have aok WiFi and your Son will be thrilled with speed that he could only obtain with a hardwire connection. Note, a decent USB WiFi adapter is inexpensive. To try what I mention is an easy task. Worse case scenario is you return the WiFi dongle and get you $ back. For the record, I am pretty well versed with WiFi so I am not just spewing crapola.

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[jedijill]

BTW, if you have Comcast as long as you don't have the landline service, you can buy your own modem instead of renting.

Jill in CO

 

[sherlock14]

BTW, if you have Comcast as long as you don't have the landline service, you can buy your own modem instead of renting.

Jill in CO

Yes, true. IF you have landline phone then you keep their modem and tell them no to their router. Buy yourself a more capable router and reap the benefits. Just keeping the Comcast modem and replacing the router provided by Comcast will improve your WiFi capability.

.

 

[sksjasams]

snipe:



sksjasams, Do consider buying a WiFi dongle for your desktop computer so your desktop has WiFi capability. After doing this, move the modem and router to your Son's room and attach it to the cable connector he has there. Have your Son hardwire his computer/PS4 to the router for top notch speeds. You and other's not so dependent on the high speeds use the WiFi. WiFi travels downward in a cone so you all should have aok WiFi and your Son will be thrilled with speed that he could only obtain with a hardwire connection. Note, a decent USB WiFi adapter is inexpensive. To try what I mention is an easy task. Worse case scenario is you return the WiFi dongle and get you $ back. For the record, I am pretty well versed with WiFi so I am not just spewing crapola.

.

I never doubted you So, we have DSL, not cable internet. Unfotunately, its the only service that is available where we live. I would plug the modem into a phone jack upstairs, then plug the router into the modem, and the plug the PS4 into the router? Then add a USB WiFi adapter to the desktop, and we'll be all set? Thanks so much for your help!