AllenLowe Posted October 11, 2012 Report Posted October 11, 2012 (edited) my router is on the main floor, and my computer in the basement has problems getting on the internet - are there ways to boost the signal, or otherwise strengthen it? Some kind of relay? thanks Edited October 11, 2012 by AllenLowe Quote
rwhillman Posted October 11, 2012 Report Posted October 11, 2012 Why not run the internet through your house's electrical wiring? Quote
AllenLowe Posted October 11, 2012 Author Report Posted October 11, 2012 oh....how is that done? Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted October 11, 2012 Report Posted October 11, 2012 Don't know about that but the router is probably the problem. Mine is in the basement and I get signal on the 2nd floor and out in the yard. Quote
rwhillman Posted October 11, 2012 Report Posted October 11, 2012 oh....how is that done? It is fairly easy and should work well. You need two powerline adapters, you plug one in to an electrical outlet near your router, and the other in to an outlet in your basement. Run an Ethernet cable from the router to the first powerline adapter box, and another from the second adapter box in the basement to your computer. If you do a search on Amazon for powerline adapters you will see quite a few. Total cost for the adapters about $50, and it should fine. Bob Quote
AllenLowe Posted October 11, 2012 Author Report Posted October 11, 2012 thanks both; will consider either method. Quote
Dave Garrett Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 I thought about using a powerline adapter when I had the same problem, but ultimately went with a wireless range extender: Linksys RE1000 As you can see from the reviews, some people had less-than-satisfactory results with this model, but I had no problems at all. I do have a Linksys router but it should be usable with other routers. One caveat is that for it to work well, you need to be able to plug it into a power outlet that is roughly equidistant from both the router and the location you're trying to strengthen the signal in. Before I had it, I had a very weak wireless signal in the room where I most frequently use a laptop, iPad, iPhone, etc., and the signal would drop out completely at regular intervals. After installing it, the signal is much stronger and very stable. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 It MAY ALSO have something to do with your computer's gubbins. I got a terrible signal upstairs in the diagonally opposite corner of the house from the router with my old computer, which didn't have an integral wireless thingy. I bought a wireless dongle for it after we got my wife's computer and that's how I used it until I replaced it a few months ago. I complained to my ISP about poor service (it's their router) and they said that the type of dongle I was using wasn't one they supported. When I asked them which ones they did support, they gave me a list of one - not one brand; one MODEL. When I got the new computer, I was worried that the wireless thingy inside might be one that my ISP didn't support, but crossed my fingers and took a chance. It's OK, but maybe you should ask your ISP about the wireless connections they support. MG Quote
Dan Gould Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 C'mon MG, its called a doohickey. Quote
Head Man Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 C'mon MG, its called a doohickey. I thought it was called a thingamajig...... Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 C'mon MG, its called a doohickey. I thought it was called a thingamajig...... Nah, it's a dongle, 'cos it sticks out. MG Quote
medjuck Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 I use Airport expresses as relays. Quote
mjzee Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 Try to reposition the router. If you have it near too much other equipment, those might be causing interference with the signal. Raising the router off the floor also sometimes helps. Quote
Dan Gould Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 C'mon MG, its called a doohickey. I thought it was called a thingamajig...... Nah, it's a dongle, 'cos it sticks out. MG Maybe not exactly on topic but I can't help but link Sony Releases New Stupid Piece of Shit That Doesn't Fucking Work Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 C'mon MG, its called a doohickey. I thought it was called a thingamajig...... Nah, it's a dongle, 'cos it sticks out. MG Maybe not exactly on topic but I can't help but link Sony Releases New Stupid Piece of Shit That Doesn't Fucking Work A pity, but it seems that Onion sketches aren't available for the UK - all I get is an ad. MG Quote
Head Man Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 C'mon MG, its called a doohickey. I thought it was called a thingamajig...... Nah, it's a dongle, 'cos it sticks out. MG Maybe not exactly on topic but I can't help but link Sony Releases New Stupid Piece of Shit That Doesn't Fucking Work A pity, but it seems that Onion sketches aren't available for the UK - all I get is an ad. MG Perhaps your router's not working properly........ Quote
AllenLowe Posted October 12, 2012 Author Report Posted October 12, 2012 yeah, I think first thing I'll do is move the router a bit. We'll see what happens. Quote
JSngry Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 I'm told to look out for mirrors in the path of the signal. The signoal don't go through mirrors so well. Or so I've been told. I just use a USB wireless-g adapter hooked up to a longish cord and position it where I can get great signal off the router. But I don't have a basement. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 I'm told to look out for mirrors in the path of the signal. The signoal don't go through mirrors so well. Or so I've been told. I just use a USB wireless-g adapter hooked up to a longish cord and position it where I can get great signal off the router. But I don't have a basement. It might be called an root cellar in Texas Jim. Quote
rostasi Posted October 12, 2012 Report Posted October 12, 2012 I'm told to look out for mirrors in the path of the signal. The signoal don't go through mirrors so well. Or so I've been told. I just use a USB wireless-g adapter hooked up to a longish cord and position it where I can get great signal off the router. But I don't have a basement. What? No smoke? Quote
JSngry Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 (edited) I'm told to look out for mirrors in the path of the signal. The signoal don't go through mirrors so well. Or so I've been told. I just use a USB wireless-g adapter hooked up to a longish cord and position it where I can get great signal off the router. But I don't have a basement. It might be called an root cellar in Texas Jim. Nah, it's called nobody has an basement here because the soil is so unstable. Plus, in my specific are (and for miles, literally miles!) around, you dig about 6-8 ft down and you hit a solid bed of limestone that goes deeper than the eye can hear, or more fathoms than you'd mind. Foundation repair is a can't miss business in these parts because the soil is so shifty (a-HA) that there will always be a market. We try to water our grass, but we definitely water our foundation. I'm told to look out for mirrors in the path of the signal. The signoal don't go through mirrors so well. Or so I've been told. I just use a USB wireless-g adapter hooked up to a longish cord and position it where I can get great signal off the router. But I don't have a basement. What? No smoke? If there is smoke coming out of your router, that's a more likely explanation for the weak signal than is the mirror! Edited October 13, 2012 by JSngry Quote
rostasi Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 But it IS possible to have smoke and mirrors? Quote
JSngry Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 Sure - if you use smoke and mirrors Quote
rostasi Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 How do I know when my router is just an illusion? Quote
JSngry Posted October 13, 2012 Report Posted October 13, 2012 You use a Mac. You'll never know. Because Macs got it like that. Quote
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