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    Accesspoint or Wireless Range extender for extending the network at home?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by khanhfat, Jan 9, 2008.

  1. khanhfat

    khanhfat Notebook Deity

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    My friend's house is kinda large, and he needs a extender for it however i wonder if Accesspoint can do the same thing like the extender do?

    He has a router Wireless G linksys already hook up. I know pretty much all the basic of the wireless set up so i just need the hardware recommendations from u guys.

    Whats the difference between the 2 anyway ... i'm too busy these days to get a close research on those things
     
  2. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    How far you trying to go?

    Diffent router diffent radio they might be better options

    I have used the linksys range extend all can say it sorta works not best link
     
  3. blue68f100

    blue68f100 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Most AP can be configured as different devices, including extender. I would recommend for performace reason not to use them, they cut your speed in 1/2. Make sure the router is setup high on the shelf, has less things to penetrate. Either install high gain antennas and see if that helps, or setup an AP so you will have roaming. Also look at to where the router is setup at, if at one end of the house, see if it can be relocated to the central part. You could also use some powerline modulators (house wiring) to setup the AP on the outer side if needed, though expensive but work. Now some routers and NB do not preform well as other. NB with metal cases for one block the signal more than the cheap plastic ones. Depending on which router you have you can load dd-wrt and get full control of the radio, so you can increase the power more than factory. Doing so may shorten the life of it though.
     
  4. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    I agree with Blue also they radio in you pc also make diffent depend on power outputs and reaciver
     
  5. TornMorals

    TornMorals Notebook Enthusiast

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    If you can get one of the 3rd party firmwares onto it like OpenWRT (Witch also saves life of the router if you use Kamikaze). Get one with a web UI though from x-wrt.org They do seem to push more power and get the signal farther (plus SSH access and more if you want). I havent tried DD-Wrt but it's probably close to the same.