Wireless Router and Wireless PC network card problems

[rajee]

Anyone here have any expertise with routers and wireless network cards? The fmily PC is in the top floor and my new pc is in the basement. The router is with the family pc and the wireless network card is next to my pc in the basement. I changed the username and password and went through all the manual installing and configuring steps and I cant get a connection to the internet. The signal doesn't stay on. It is a Linksys router and network card. 😡 🙁

 

[ViperGTS]

Ah, my kind of post.

Well, Rajee, the first question I have is, is it a B or G wireless router? While G offers greater straight line distance and faster signal throughput, B signals allow for more powerful transmission through walls and other obstructions.

The second question I have is, why the hell do you keep them so far apart?! Most wireless routers only have a straight-line range of 100 to 150 feet, but with walls, cielings, and floors between them, you'd be lucky to get much more than 50% signal strength on the next floor down, letalone the basement. The cheapest available solution might just be to get the router as low as possible, i.e. letting it sit on the floor in the room that it's in.

There are several solutions for a weak signal. Here are just a few.

Go to any local computer store (CompUSA, most preferably 😀 ) and ask for a Cantenna. Any true computer nerd such as myself will immediately know what you are talking about. It's basically a big ass Pringles can made of aluminium, which can hook directly onto the back of your router (I know because I also have a Linksys Wireless Router for my home network). It projects the wireless signal in a 30 degree cone in one direction. If you aim it down, you might be able to pick up a better signal in the basement. Fortunately, Linksys routers have two antennae, so you don't have to sacrifice the rest of your wireless bandwidth just for that. It's about $50.

Another option is to get a High Gain antennae kit. It's nothing more than a super duper pair of antennae that fit in the same place your current antennae do. They can potentially boost your signal strength by several times. I have one on mine, and it more than doubles my wireless range and throughput (at long distances, mind you). It costs roughly $80, and transmits omni-directionally (a big ol' sphere).

Third option: Physically move the router to the first floor, so it's halfway between the computers. This might be less desirable since you'd have to run a Cat5 cable through the heatvents or walls to get it back to the host computer. Costs next to nothing, but is a bitch to set up sometimes.

Fourth option: and this one I only reccomend if you have the spare cash. Return your Linksys equipment and find the Netgear RangeMax units. They transmit up to 800% farther and faster than standard G routers, without adding anything to them after the purchase. The router itself runs about $150, and in order to get the most efficiency out of the unit, you should also invest the extra $100 in the proper PCI or PCMCIA card for your desktop or laptop that matches the RangeMax name.

Any other questions?

 

[rajee]

Thanks Viper GTS, I'll run these suggestions by my sis and her computer expert friends.

 

[Soda83pop]

Return your Linksys equipment and find the Netgear RangeMax units.

Yea...its almost impossible to tell Linksys equipment is made by Cisco. I built a network with one of their routers...huge mistake. I just dont care for them...and their tech support is garbage.

Also (if you dont mind me interjecting, Viper), please make sure you lock your new network down. It takes all of two seconds to set up a MAC address filter. You dont want other people logging on to your network. And even though the G router will allow both B and G signals, once you have one B client on the network, everything else typically begins to operate at the B strength (11 mbps, versus 54 mbps for an all G network). Try to keep everything uniform.

CompUSA, most preferably

Do you work there, friend....the CompUSA's in my area are horrible .

 

[drew70]

Cisco bought out Linksys only a year or two ago, I think. Anyway, I was going to suggest making sure that DHCP is enabled, and that your PC is not configured with a static IP address.

 

[Ray<3tiklishft]

I recently had this problem. I went the cheapest route and swapped the cable modem at the cable company (comcast) and that worked just fine.

 

[ViperGTS]

Come on guys.

Yea...its almost impossible to tell Linksys equipment is made by Cisco.

If you're blind.

See attatchment.

Anyway, I was going to suggest making sure that DHCP is enabled, and that your PC is not configured with a static IP address.

Windows, by default ALWAYS, no exceptions, uses dynamic host configuration protocol and assigns a 192.168.1.x ip address to all machines, unless you go and change it yourself.

Also (if you dont mind me interjecting, Viper), please make sure you lock your new network down. It takes all of two seconds to set up a MAC address filter. You dont want other people logging on to your network.

God forbid the neighbors get a hold of Rajee's tickling pics and clips. 😛

And even though the G router will allow both B and G signals, once you have one B client on the network, everything else typically begins to operate at the B strength (11 mbps, versus 54 mbps for an all G network). Try to keep everything uniform.

Only true if the router is a B router. Otherwise, all signals transmitted are at G throughput unless they are bottlenecked by a B reciever, like a PCI/PCMCIA card or B Access Point/Range Extender.

 

[Ayla ny]

exactly what could someone access via an unsecured wireless router? I do not allow remote access and am firewalled but have my router wide open. I am kind of figuring that the odds of someone wardriving my neighborhood are pretty slim. am I being naive?

 

[Soda83pop]

If you're blind. See the attachment

Perhaps I should have been clearer...I can READ that they are made by the same company LOL!!! However, in my experience (and maybe I have just had bad experiences), l have not had the best luck with linksys equipment. Predominantly, I think it sucks. The Cisco equipment that I have used that isnt associated with the Linksys brand at all has always been great...no problems. That is what I meant....

Only true if the router is a B router. Otherwise, all signals transmitted are at G throughput unless they are bottlenecked by a B reciever, like a PCI/PCMCIA card or B Access Point/Range Extender.

Thanks for the clarification...since I graduated, the only B equipment I have come in contact with is my own.

And sorry, Ayla, but yes...you should lock it down.

 

[rajee]

Thanks guys. Looks like I got a bum router.

LOL neighbours viewing my tickling collection. Luckily, I put it on a cd and deleted it from the family comp.

 

[drew70]

Windows, by default ALWAYS, no exceptions, uses dynamic host configuration protocol and assigns a 192.168.1.x ip address to all machines, unless you go and change it yourself

If he's got a Linksys router that is acting as an internet gateway, it's the router that will assign the 192.168.x.x addresses for the "inside" devices (PC's and laptops around his house), and out toward the internet it will use the one public IP address assigned by his ISP. When a network connection is configured on a PC or laptop, the default is to accept whatever IP address is provided, so he's probably okay in that regard. I just wanted to make sure his PC or laptop isn't configured with a static IP address, which ignores DHCP.