wireless g not enough?

[Rambusted]

I know very little about routers and networking jargon so bear with me. I am using a linksys wireless g router that I have had for years. I just recently installed the netflix app on my daughters wii and it seems as though the router is struggling to get the signal into her room on the second floor and the other side of the house. Is a wireless n router going to have more range or is there some other specification I should be looking at? My house is 2000 sq ft. With distances of at least 45 ft between the router some devices.

 

[Brainonska511]

Sounds like you just need to move your existing router into a more central location. The signal isn't making it to the other side of the house.

 

[Bull Dog]

Also worthy of remembering it that the Wii's wireless chip only supports b/g.

 

[Wall Street]

If you router has external antenna, you may be able to replace those with high-gain antenna to get a stronger signal. Also, if you can replace your router's firmware, aftermarket software like DD-WRT can allow your router to broadcast at a higher power. I had similar problems when I lived in a loft apartment with the router and the computer very far apart. These two tweeks got me from an intermittent connection to five bars. That being said, it is impossible to know exactly what effect this will have in your case as routers, device placement and building construction all have an impact on the signal.

 

[Fallen Kell]

You also should consider what other people are using around you as well. All wireless routers use essentially the same wireless spectrum (2.4Ghz and 5.0GHz (well b/g does not use 5.0GHz)). There are essentially 12 channels (0-11, in the US) which you can (legally) set your wireless router to use (for b/g networks), and ideally, you want to be 6 channels away from anyone else that is within range (i.e. 0, 6, 11, are the most commonly used default channels as a result of this recommendation).

If you have a laptop, it can be easy to do a wireless scan and see what other wireless networks are available and what channels they are using. If you can (not always possible), change your channel to one that is not being used which is 6 channels away from the other wireless networks that you detect. At a minimum, use 3 channels of separation if you can not get 6.

This can make a huge improvement on your performance without doing anything else since you are no longer dealing with as much crosstalk from their networks (as your wireless router and devices still see the traffic over their networks as well when you are using the same channels and will need to filter their network data out as well as deal with retransmitting data when you both transmit data at the same time (causing the messages to get merged together).

 

[billyb0b]

You can also purchase the brand new wireless N router i have for sale currently

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2274547&highlight=

 

[JackMDS]

Given the bandwidth demands and the size on the enviromnet it migh be that there is No one Wireless Router solution and you need to installed a multi AP network.

In case you should start with one good Dual Wireless Router, and upgrade the Network as needed.

----------------
Money is Not an issue. Asus RT-N66U -RT-N66U

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833320091

Best value for the price. Cisco E4200 refurb.

http://homestore.cisco.com/en-us/Ro...-router_stcVVproductId133604734VVviewprod.htm

I want sub $100 and new (I am allergic to refurb.) Buffalo WZR-HP-AG300H

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162047

All the above are Dual Radio, Giga Switch, and has USB port for NAS.

They are very good with their stock firmware but also can be flashed with DD-WRT in case that special additional features are needed.

---------------

I want less expensive good Wireless and Giga, but I do not care about Dual Radio and NAS.

Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH, currently $47 after Rebate.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162031

--------------

I want to spend less and do not care about Giga, and NAS, but need good Wireless.

This is decent Wireless Router with Dual radio.

Cisco E2500 refurb. $35.

http://homestore.cisco.com/en-us/Ro...-Router_stcVVproductId138177695VVviewprod.htm

 

[Rambusted]

Thanks for all the info, i will probably buy a better router first and see how it goes. Can't, well don't really want to move my router and modem so I'll just throw some money at it and see what happens.

 

[Brainonska511]

Thanks for all the info, i will probably buy a better router first and see how it goes. Can't, well don't really want to move my router and modem so I'll just throw some money at it and see what happens.

That doesn't sound like a good way to solve the problem. The quality of the signal from wireless routers, no matter how much they cost, is still going to depend on where you are located in relation to the router. If you're getting a crappy signal now, chances are you'll still get a crappy signal with a newer device, maybe only a tad less crappy.

 

[Wall Street]

That doesn't sound like a good way to solve the problem. The quality of the signal from wireless routers, no matter how much they cost, is still going to depend on where you are located in relation to the router. If you're getting a crappy signal now, chances are you'll still get a crappy signal with a newer device, maybe only a tad less crappy.

I agree. I don't see how going from a b/g router with 2 dB antennae to a b/g/n with 2 dB antennae would be more effective than getting 8 dB antennae. If your router has external antennae, my suggestion of better antennae should be a lot cheaper than new routers. Besides, the Wii can't even connect to wireless n networks, which is a main feature of all the routers recommended here. The guy shilling his own router here really isn't giving objective advice.

edit:

Given the bandwidth demands...

Is this mod giving a canned response? What are the bandwidth demands of a Wii? I have mine networked and the Wii only connects via 802.11g and the highest bandwidth use is Netflix which isn't even HD. Bandwidth for Wii is a non-issue. This guy ONLY needs range.

 

[Fallen Kell]

His router does have external antennas if it is the WRT54G but he hasn't said for certain what model old linksys G he has. There are plenty of antennas which work with that router (it was the quintessential standard home G router for years).

This all depends on your wireless needs for your house, but you might be a candidate for a directional antenna if you don't use many wireless devices in the house other than in that location. Replacing one of the antenna with a directional antenna will drop your coverage/strength near the wireless router, but will boost your performance in the direction that you aim the directional antenna in.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

You don't have a 2.4GHz cordless phone or something, do you?

When was your house built? Installs I've done in older homes seem to have more trouble with wifi signals (I assume it's just different materials that were used or something.)

We have a Wii connecting to a WAP on a different floor and on the opposite end of the house (1800sqft), without a hitch.