Tags:Linksys, Wireless Router, WRT54G, Extend the signal
I would like to try and extend a wifi signal originating from a nearby building so that I can receive it via my laptop throughout my home. Currently I can only get a good signal near the window adjacent to the building but not on the other side of the house. There is a already a 14db directional antenna on the building pointing directly at the window.
I tried a Linksys WRE54G range extender but it cut the bandwidth down too much. The wifi signal from the building originates from a Linksys - which I have access to.
The software allows you so set up the router as a repeater or a bridge.
If you use a router with dual removable antennas, you can place an antenna outside the building and one inside the building, so that you get proper signal strength.
It is similar to the range extender that you tried. I too wonder what you mean when you say it "cut the bandwidth down too much". What is more likely is that you do not get as good of a signal coverage as you think.
Indeed a range extender will cut the effective throughput in half due to the nature of wireless networks, so I can imagine that if the signal isn't too good the range extender will cause issues. You might want to go for another route. You say you have access to the meant router, I'm assuming hereby that you're also allowed to have access.
A good option might be to receive that signal by using a wireless bridge. From that bridge you can see it similar as any other wired network, so if you want wireless access to it, you can add another access point using a different channel to avoid interference with the original signal. If you want to separate the networks, you can even add a wireless router to that bridge to have a NAT inbetween.
Thank you for the input. I agree with Lucf - I tried the range expanders - they do indeed reduce the bandwidth too much...
Lucf - I would like to try your solution. How does this solution affect the bandwidth? Could you pls. give me details on how I would set up the bridge solution? I do not believe I need a seperate the networks.
Thanks!
"A good option might be to receive that signal by using a wireless bridge. From that bridge you can see it similar as any other wired network, so if you want wireless access to it, you can add another access point using a different channel to avoid interference with the original signal"
In essence, a wireless bridge is the opposite of a wireless access point. An access point turns a wired network into a wireless one, a wireless bridge can do the opposite (in your situation) as-in, it receives a signal from a wireless network and turns it into a wired network.
A wireless network will always be influenced by interference so any wireless suggestion can't be a perfect suggestion as it depends on the situation. A wireless bridge picks up the network like any computer with a wireless card would do at the same location (unless you decide on using directional antennas for receiving the signal as they might give you a much better connection) If the received signal is good, you can do whatever you want to do with it on your wired network. This includes attaching an Access point or wireless router. You should see the output of a wireless bridge as an incomming connection from, for example, a modem. As long as the signal is ok, the wired connection comming from the bridge will give you loads of possible connections just as any other wired network.
Thanks Lucf. I will pick up a bridge and try to connect it to the wifi signal coming from the building. Would I need to do any special configuration - either at the building (source) or the the house or is it "typical"?
With a wireless bridge, you don't need to do any special configuration on the original access point. A wireless bridge connects to a network just like a network card in a computer would do.
I picked up a wireless bridge and was asking linksys support a couple questions. They recommended I get a wireless access point and put it in repeater mode instead - saying it would not limit the bandwidth. Any thoughts?
I'm not sure what location of the Linksys support team you contacted, but I can assure you that just by the nature of the 802.11 protocol repeating the signal will cause at least 50% throughput loss. If you're in the states, you've probably contacted someone in Asia working the "graveyard-shift", most of the time they're pretty good but sometimes you run into someone who's not that experienced.
To explain it somewhat simple. A wireless signal is half-duplex as it's impossible for two devices to work on the same frequency on the same time without interference. Repeating a signal means that the device has to receive the signal (which takes a certain time) and then send it out again (taking the same amount of time) causing the 50% loss.
The reality is a bit different, but the result is the same. Repeating a signal is not a great option if you want to go for a high-throughput situation.
Getting a wireless bridge to receive the signal and then creating a new (wireless) network out of the signal received will not cause these issues as there's no device which has to wait for a timeslice of the wireless signal as a new network is created. If this new network also works wireless, but on another frequency, no interference will occur.
I can back up what LucF says from personal experience. I tried to manhandle an Access Point in repeater mode for a month before throwing it out a window and buying a bridge. Works great now...
