Recommend a new router, please

[lucyanna girl]

We have AT&T Internet and an old (I can't remember when we got it) router. It is a D-Link.

It seems as if the further away the computer is from the router the slower (and at times almost nonexistent) the signal is.

I am hoping the solution may be as easy as a new router. Any suggestions or help? We live in an older home and the room where the router is set up (and must remain) has oak plank walls and ceiling, I don't know if the thickness could effect the signal or not.

Thanks,

Penny

 

[formill]

We have a second router for that problem......use it as an access point to get better wireless at other end of house......bought second router- run cable to it from first router.....set up to use as access point only so we can still all be on same network use same printer/share files etc-works great have excellent connection at other end of house now... just depends how easily you can run the wire from first router to second......-you can also get something called a wireless repeater and that is supposed to help boost your signal too.

 

[sbell111]

I went with a Dewalt DW618PK. It goes through wood like butta.

Seriously, we had the same problem and solved it by replacing the router's dinky little antenna with a mondo one.

Another solution is to pick up a range extender/repeater.

 

[lucyanna girl]

Thanks. I am going to have to do something, the slowest computer will drive you NUTS waiting.

Penny

 

[bicker]

If it is an 802.11g router (the most common, at this point still), signal contention could also be causing this, i.e., lots of neighbors who have their wireless router on the same channel, or one of the five surrounding channels, as the channel your router is set to.

There are tools you can use to figure out which channels are most heavily occupied in your local area, and from there you can figure out which channel would be the best for you to use. I have two routers (one 802.11g and one 802.11n), and found that channels 1, 6, and 11 were horribly over-used in my area, so I'm using channels 4 and 9.

 

[love2disney]

Go for a N router. IF ur tech savvy any will do Netgear is what I use and have had nice experiences. If ur not very techie then you can get the Valet its easy setup.

On a side not ask ur ISP if they provide a router, mine did at no cost to me.

 

[BunsenH]

If it is an 802.11g router (the most common, at this point still), signal contention could also be causing this, i.e., lots of neighbors who have their wireless router on the same channel, or one of the five surrounding channels, as the channel your router is set to.

There are tools you can use to figure out which channels are most heavily occupied in your local area, and from there you can figure out which channel would be the best for you to use. I have two routers (one 802.11g and one 802.11n), and found that channels 1, 6, and 11 were horribly over-used in my area, so I'm using channels 4 and 9.

bicker,

Do you have any links to these tools? My cordless phone interferes with my Linksys router. A channel change might help the situation.

Thanks

 

[bicker]

Go for a N router.

Keep in mind that most 802.11n routers are not much advantage if you don't have exclusively 802.11n devices. If you have one 802.11g device in your home, then most 802.11n routers will treat all devices in your home as if they're 802.11g devices. Having said that, the difference in price between 802.11n and 802.11g routers, these days, is so small, that it is worth getting the more advanced router, just for future-proofing.

Do you have any links to these tools?

I use ComView for WiFi.

My cordless phone interferes with my Linksys router. A channel change might help the situation.

Yes, but do be aware that the tools wouldn't detect that, unless your cordless phone is actually a valid wireless LAN device. It won't detect other interference.

 

[lucyanna girl]

OK, just to really show how non-tech savvy I am, how can I tell if any of our devices are 802.11n devices?

Penny

 

[love2disney]

It should be written on the devices. As a guide all new bluray players, most laptops in last 1-2 years, HD DVRs with wireless connectivity, the new TIVO are N. The Wii is not, I dont know about PS3 but the new Xbok 360 is.

U can get a N if ur getting a new router as they dont cost much different. I again suggest asking ur ISP most ISPs do give out routers.

 

[asta]

If I could piggy back on the OPs question, I also need help. I need to find a way to get the wireless signal to reach further in my house. I have AT&T DSL service and have only used the router that they provide free of charge. It is a Westell VersaLink Model 327W. Right now I use wireless acess for a remote desktop PC, two laptops (one MacBook Pro and a Dell laptop) and iPhones. I would like to buy something for my home theater that would let me download movies. I don't have this equipment right now but I can tell from my iPhone that I lose the wireless signal when in my movie room.

If someone would be willing to help educate me on what I need I would be very grateful. I always get good advice from Bicker so I guess that I am begging for more free help.

 

[bicker]

It should be written on the devices.

Or at least is mentioned prominently in the manual. If anyone would like, just post the Model Number and I'll check for you. (This helps me keep up to speed on which device is what eh?)

As a guide all new bluray players,

This was news to me, but indeed I looked at the manual for my Samsun BD-C6900 and it does indeed support 802.11n, built-in. Neat. (I have it hard-wired, though. Unless you have a Gigabit LAN in your house, hard-wired is typically better, since it avoids signal contention entirely.)

HD DVRs with wireless connectivity,

JFMI, which HD DVRs have built-in wireless connectivity these days?

the new TIVO are N.

To be clear, the TiVo Premiere does not have any wireless capability built-in. They even explain why:

Not all users need a wireless adapter. Many plug an Ethernet cable into the back of the TiVo to get broadband access. Others already have TiVo’s wireless G adapter and would want to re-use it. By leaving wireless out of the box, TiVo lowers overall cost to consumers and gives them the opportunity to upgrade to new technology as it becomes available.

They do have a new version of their plug-in adapter that is 802.11n.

The Wii is not, I dont know about PS3 but the new Xbok 360 is.

The 4th gen PS3 is still a 802.11b/g device, even the ones being released next week in Japan.

I again suggest asking ur ISP most ISPs do give out routers.

That is not my understanding. Only ISPs that rely on MoCa for providing other services tend to give customers routers. Otherwise, they issue cable modems, only.

 

[bicker]

If I could piggy back on the OPs question, I also need help. I need to find a way to get the wireless signal to reach further in my house. ... I would like to buy something for my home theater that would let me download movies.

Personally, for the reasons I mentioned earlier, I think you'd be better-off trying to arrange for a wired connection. Having an electrician fish a CAT5 cable from where you router is to where you want to put your home theater system could be worth the extra money that would cost.