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    How to increase Wifi range? (What new router under $100?)

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by jonnybardo, Jul 3, 2010.

  1. jonnybardo

    jonnybardo Notebook Consultant

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    My wife and I share a router with someone in another apartment that is on the other side of the building (we live at a boarding school); his router is approximately 100 feet away although with a window-to-window line of sight which makes it possible for us to pick up the signal. I never get more than three bars, and usually it fluctuates between one and two making it difficult to, say, watch video online. My wife's computer, which is newer, actually gets worse reception--two bars at best.

    Our wireless cards:
    Mine - Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
    Her's - Atheros AR5009 802.11a/g/n

    I asked a tech-savvy friend what to do and he recommended NOT getting a repeater but instead buying a new router with better range. He said something from Best Buy or another store that I could return, but I was looking for recommendations. We're on a limited budget so I'd like to spend as little as possible, definitely below $100 (so the much-recommended Netgear WDNR3700 is probably out (it is currently $170 at Best Buy). What about the Netgear WPN824N? It is only $60. More to the point, would there be a substantial difference?

    I don't know what kind of router we're on right now off-hand, but it is a few years old and the one that came from TDS and, I'm pretty sure, not N (which would explain why I get slightly better reception on my older card). So whatever I bought would need to A) Be compatible with both of our cards, and B) Have noticeably better range than we currently have, and C) Be less than $100, hopefully significantly less.

    Thanks!
     
    jonnybardo, Jul 3, 2010
    #1
  2. micman

    micman Notebook Evangelist

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    If you can, avoid routers with internal antennas. The WNR3700 has a decent range, but for some reason it doesn't sustain a high throughput very well. In other words, no streaming video on a consistent basis.
    You might want to look at the Belkin N1. I hear it has great range, and it hovers near $100. Maybe you can find one on eBay for less. Good luck.
     
    micman, Jul 3, 2010
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  3. sama98b

    sama98b Notebook Evangelist

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    sama98b, Jul 6, 2010
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  4. leslieann

    leslieann Notebook Deity

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    The Buffalo I mentioned in the other thread (BUFFALO WHR-HP-G54) has about the highest gain antenna you can buy on a router for a decent price.

    This has the best range I have seen on a router yet and well under your $100 price ($59 at Newegg). It made my Linksys WRT610N look bad. :)
     
    leslieann, Jul 7, 2010
    #4
  5. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    How long or do you still own your WNR3700?
     
    hydra, Jul 7, 2010
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