Thread: Extending WiFi range???

Santa brought the MIL a Kindle Fire. The have AT&T DSL with a 2Wire modem/router. The range on the router is poor. They want to extend the range, and I was wondering what the best solution would be. Thanks.

1. better router
2. A more central location for the router
3. A wireless access point hard wired to the router (this is what I use in my difficult house. It gives me two different wireless access connections)
4. a directional external antenna if the router will accept such.

Thanks for the ideas. I just saw
this

set up at Amazon. May have to try that set up out.

I suspect that your AT&T modem/router doesn't support 11n. I would suggest getting an 11n access point and install it on your router. You can make sure the two wireless systems don't use the same channels, and you'll be fine. The 11n wifi has much better range than the 11g versions. My 11n covers the whole house, where the 11g only gets about 75%

Originally Posted by stimpson

Thanks for the ideas. I just saw
this

set up at Amazon. May have to try that set up out.

Pretty pricey. I would try the new router. There are many good N routers available for less than $100.

Originally Posted by Voyager6

Pretty pricey. I would try the new router. There are many good N routers available for less than $100.

The 2Wire is an all in one, so what are the steps to connect the new router to the existing one. Would I have to disable the routing function of the 2Wire?

Originally Posted by stimpson

The 2Wire is an all in one, so what are the steps to connect the new router to the existing one. Would I have to disable the routing function of the 2Wire?

I believe Voyager was suggesting you replace the existing router with a wireless N router. I missed that one and agree. However, to gain the distances, all your devices need to be wireless N. Otherwise you need to drop down to wireless G on 2.4 GHz and lose the advantage. Some of the more expensive routers will transmit on both.

Speaking from personal experience the 2wire gateway/routers that AT&T send out are pretty much junk.Bridging them is a pain and the power adapters are a joke went through 2 here and several neighbors went out as well.I prefer to use a separate modem bridged and separate router.Wifi has been a much better experience since the change.

Originally Posted by jayn_j

I believe Voyager was suggesting you replace the existing router with a wireless N router.

It's a modem/router all in one unit.