I need some help extending my fios router's wireless range.
farahm2
Newbie

Hey there folks,

Okay, I have quite a few questions today. My main situation is that my fios router is connected to one of my computers via ethernet all the way in the basement. Now, trust me when I say this, if I were able to move the router to a better location, (upstairs), it would have been done ages ago. I am almost always in my bedroom (which is 2 stories above the basement) and am always in need of wifi. It works sometimes, but it's very sketchy and the connections drops A LOT.

So my main question to you is, how could I extend the range of the router? I have been hearing a lot about these wireless extenders/repeaters. How do those work? I even read here on the forums where someone was in the same situation as me that there was this 2 part extender that worked with the fios router. He said that one part of it connects to the router itself and into a power outlet near the router, and the second part gets connected some where else where ever you need it into the power outlet. Which product is that, and will it really work with the router? But if these wireless repeaters/extenders are a possible fix for my situation, please let me know of some good ones.

Also, right now I am using windows 7 and whenever I move my mouse over the wireless icon in the system tray and it shows the network information, it says that the sigal is fair and that the radio type is 802.11g. What is that last part referring to? And isn't 802.11n supposed to be better? Is there any way I can make it so that it says 802.11n in stead of 802.11g?

Anyways, that's my situiation. Sorry to bombard you with questions and concerns. But please know that any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

0 Likes
Re: I need some help extending my fios router's wireless range.
jmw1950
Specialist - Level 2

If you want to extend the range of your Wireless network, you have 3 choices.

1). You can fit a directional antenna at one or both ends of the network. This may or may not be helpful

2). You can buy a wireless repeater. It basically talks to the Wireless router on one channel, and you equipment on another channel. There are 11 channels available in the Wi-Fi Spectrum IIRC.

3). You can connect another wireless access point out the LAN port on your existing Modem/Router via a Cat 5 or better Ethernet cable.. This can be somewhat complicated however. If you really want to run 802.11N, this is how you can get it.

For most applications, there is no advantage to 802.11n over 802.11g. N allows higher speed, but G will still go faster than any available Internet connection from Verizon. The only advantage 802.11N offers is for communication entirely within your home network. so if you are looking for faster Internet access, G is capable of 54mbps, and the fastest Verizon connection you can get today is only 50mbps.

 So unless you have an application that networks among the computers in your home, N offers speed that you cannot use. That also assumes the wireless adapter in your computer supports 802.11N. It may not

0 Likes
Re: I need some help extending my fios router's wireless range.
viafax999
Community Leader
Community Leader

@farahm2 wrote:

Hey there folks,

Okay, I have quite a few questions today. My main situation is that my fios router is connected to one of my computers via ethernet all the way in the basement. Now, trust me when I say this, if I were able to move the router to a better location, (upstairs), it would have been done ages ago. I am almost always in my bedroom (which is 2 stories above the basement) and am always in need of wifi. It works sometimes, but it's very sketchy and the connections drops A LOT.


Why don't you ask verizon to change the provisioning of the ont to an ethernet connection for the internet.  Get yourself whatever kind of router you like N or G, configure it to be a subnet other than 192.168.1 and connect it to the ont via the ethernet cable that currently is connected to you main computer.  Leave the VZ router connected by coax to handle your stb's

A different alternative.

If the ethernet connected computer is fairly close yo your other wireless devices you could access a personal wireless access point to that -WINDY31

http://www.synetusa.com/

that device will allow wireless sharing of the ethernet connection to multiple devices, It also can act as a wireless receiver though not both concurrently.

0 Likes
Re: I need some help extending my fios router's wireless range.
Duxdad
Newbie

I had weak wireless signal at one end of my house. I picked up a inexpensive N router and set it up as an access point (cheaper than buying an access point) and ran Ethernet cable down cellar to the other end of my house and connected the router turned access point.  I assigned the access point the same SSID as my main wireless router, turned off DHCP and voila strong signal all over.

I have a two story house and have all my networking gear in the basement so wires are relatively easy to run. I get great signal all over, both floors.

I must admit changing from the DSL modem to the FIOS router has caused me no end of hassle as I had to reconfigure both routers and add a switch. I found the wireless in the Actiontec I have to be totally inadequate. 15 fit away and barely connects.

0 Likes
Re: I need some help extending my fios router's wireless range.
spacedebris
Master - Level 2

to throw another idea into the mix. You could also try Ethernet over Power (EOP). This is a kind of compromise between wired and wireless. I've seen this work really well for some of my neighbors. I've also seen it fail. Its one of those YMMV issues. There are lots of choices, just boils down to...  How much do you want to spend. How much effort do you want to put into it.  And Trial and error.

Re: I need some help extending my fios router's wireless range.
Hubrisnxs
Legend

I'd just buy a roll of 100 feet coax at monoprice for 10 bux , get my staple gun out and call it a day.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10208&cs_id=1020814&p_id=2164&seq=1&for...

the Ethernet over Powerline thing is iffy.    The 2nd best thing is another actiontec  - pick one up from ebay.    for as little as 20-30 bux

get a splitter, and hook it up to a working coax on the 2nd floor  then either do Wifi or ethernet to the pc's up there. 

Follow the directions here for the set up.

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/verizonfios/3.0_Networking#15984

Both solutions under 40 bux!

Re: I need some help extending my fios router's wireless range.
farahm2
Newbie

@jmw1950 wrote:
2). You can buy a wireless repeater. It basically talks to the Wireless router on one channel, and you equipment on another channel. There are 11 channels available in the Wi-Fi Spectrum IIRC.

Can you recommend any wireless repeaters that I could setup with the router? Also, is it actually wireless like it doesn't need to be connected to the main router? Or is the "wireless" part referring to something else?

And to the others who replied, thanks for the input. But for the time being, I am really looking for some solution that doesn't require me to run wires between stories in my house, or change any configuration, as I do not have the authority to make those kinds of changes. If I can't find any solution that fits those requirements, then I guess I will just have to deal with what I have going on right now. 

0 Likes
Re: I need some help extending my fios router's wireless range.
Hubrisnxs
Legend

It's been my experience that wireless to wireless doesn't work very well.

If you hook the wireless access point to the router, and then do your thing, that is different.  but if you physically have both routers in different rooms and are trying to do this then you'll probably run into trouble. 

the truly best option is to get another AT for cheap, disable the WAN connection, and put it upstairs. In general, a wireless repeater/extender will not do you much good, since it is wireless/wireless.