extending wire on wireless router to improve signal?

[t-maxxracer32]

the title sais it all.. my freind knows that i can solder and mess around with electrical components so he asked me if he could extend his wire on his wireless router to improve his signal. hes living in his parents side house and it wont reach all the way to the house

anyways if you cannot extend the wiring is there anything else he can do? he said the router cost him 110 so its gotta be somewhat decent.

thanks for any help

[shaunjohnson]

side house...you mean either SHED or GRANNY-FLAT?

can you just run a length of CAT-5?

[_paralyzed_]

what kind of router? I have a linksys "g" range expander I'll sell for $30 shipped. You just plug it in and it's like a repeater.

[Metallover]

You could get really geeky and put cutom firmware on your router, like Linux. It would turn your $40 router into a $300 router. There are ricks, but it is a way you can make your network more secure and have better range.

[kraegar]

OpenWRT will let you turn up the power some, which gets a bit more range, though not always a "better" signal. This will shorten the lifespan of the router, though. (Won't last more then a couple years at the higher power setting)

Just extending the wire will probably not do anything at all, may cut the signal down, even. Remember how antennas work in an optimal situation - they're the wavelength of the radio wave. 2.4ghz is a short, narrow band, and the antenna is already cut to match the wavelength (or one of its multiples/divisibles). Altering it won't help you.

If the antenna is removable, like on some linksys models, you can buy better or directional antennas. Probably around $50 - $100. (and certainly some cheaper, though they're probably not better)

802.11n duals (the expensive ones) have significantly better range then b/g/n (single antenna) routers.

Tony

[t-maxxracer32]

Originally Posted by shaunjohnson

side house...you mean either SHED or GRANNY-FLAT?

can you just run a length of CAT-5?

no i mean a side house. 2 houses on one property.

my grandma lives is our side house also.

[t-maxxracer32]

Originally Posted by kraegar

OpenWRT will let you turn up the power some, which gets a bit more range, though not always a "better" signal. This will shorten the lifespan of the router, though. (Won't last more then a couple years at the higher power setting)

Just extending the wire will probably not do anything at all, may cut the signal down, even. Remember how antennas work in an optimal situation - they're the wavelength of the radio wave. 2.4ghz is a short, narrow band, and the antenna is already cut to match the wavelength (or one of its multiples/divisibles). Altering it won't help you.

If the antenna is removable, like on some linksys models, you can buy better or directional antennas. Probably around $50 - $100. (and certainly some cheaper, though they're probably not better)

802.11n duals (the expensive ones) have significantly better range then b/g/n (single antenna) routers.

Tony

sounds like its not even worth it. and ya i told him that lengthening the wire probably wont do much because i knew rc antennas cant be lengthened..



and with the firmware.. ive never been good at changing firmware settings so i dont wanna kill his router


and harold ill ask him what kind he has and get back with you

thanks

[Metallover]

You can try to mod the antenna to make it directional by using a bowl and some tin foil or similar. I saw someone did it to their xbox and they got good results.

[coolhandcountry]

The N+ is the longest range. I not sure how far you are trying to transmit.
You may want to set up the repeater like mentioned.