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    Need Router with Strong Singal

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by Xebec01, Aug 16, 2011.

  1. Xebec01

    Xebec01 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm trying to help a local church rectory with their wireless network. They have a unique situation where their building is actually two small, old brick houses that have been combined into one, larger house. Thus, lots of thick interior brick walls.

    The wireless router they have now, one of those linksys toilet bowl models, is stuck in one location thanks to a bad wiring job by the local cable company. To reach the office where the internet starved PC is located, the signal must go through 3 brick walls and the kitchen with the microwave. My site survey tool shows barely any signal in the office.

    Would an Asus RT-N16 running TomatoUSB be able to blow through those walls? Would I need the Asus + a high gain antenna? Any other suggestions?

    (Note: I don't think network through the power lines will work due to the dual-house configuration, either.)

    Thanks in advance,

    -X
     
    Xebec01, Aug 16, 2011
    #1
  2. weinter

    weinter /dev/null

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    This might help
     
    weinter, Aug 16, 2011
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  3. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    Given the construction challenges here it might be cheaper/more effective/less frustrating to buy a spool of plenum/outdoor rated cat6 cable and string hard links under the eaves outside.
     
    newsposter, Aug 16, 2011
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  4. Xebec01

    Xebec01 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Weinter, thanks for the link. Unfortunately, the current router has no external antenna.

    I may try a repeater in a nearby hallway. They're not streaming video, just trying to upload small financial data files. I was looking at repeaters, and they seemed to have come a long way since I last dealt with them in the the mid 2000s...

    - X
     
    Xebec01, Aug 17, 2011
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  5. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    If you want a strong router then look at the WifiRanger with the optional boost. They use a second wifi antenna in there booster. This means you will not cut the signal in half like a regular booster. You keep your old router and use the WifiRanger to pickup its signal and transmit it through the other building.
    https://www.wifiranger.com/
     
    reb1, Aug 17, 2011
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  6. woofer00

    woofer00 Wanderer

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    I second getting a spool of exterior cat6, or some hundred foot interior cables on monoprice with an inexpensive switch or router if you have one on hand to boost the signal in between, routed along the corners and through the walls, if possible, although that requires some damage to the walls. Wireless through brick is harsh, wireless through exterior brick walls is worse.
     
    woofer00, Aug 17, 2011
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