Question

Range extending D-link dir-625 N router

Asked by: kcartwright

I would appreciate help in picking the best way to extend the range of a friend's wireless network. He has a D-Link DIR 625 rangebooster N router and the signal does not reach the opposite side of his large house. I have already tried a D-Link extended antenna. Powerline won't work because the house has two different circuits.

He is willing to buy whatever else is needed to reliably extend the range, or switch routers if there is a better combination of equipment to do this. I have an older D-Link router (DIR-615) available but I don't know if it can be set up to work as an extender.

Thank you for your advice,

Karen

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Asked On
2008-06-29 at 10:14:43ID23525133
Tags

Range Extenders

Topic

Wireless Networking

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Answers

 

by: PUNKYPosted on 2008-06-29 at 10:38:20ID: 21894775

D-Link DIR 625 rangebooster N router is fairly good one, not sure how big of his house but with such equipment the signal should be coverage all good. The question is where the router mounted and check any interfere such microwave, radio, etc that could wireless signal problem.

http://communication.howstuffworks.com/improving-wireless-connection.htm/printable

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesstips.mspx

 

by: kcartwrightPosted on 2008-06-29 at 11:01:04ID: 21894884

It is a big house with a courtyard between the two sides- the signal drops off suddenly on  one side. It will be difficult to move the router as it is connected to the comcast modem which only comes in at one side of the house. The phones are 5.8gHz. There is a microwave in between but the signal is weak even when it isn't operating and it is built in and could not be moved.

I have checked your links and I will try a different channel on the router - it is currently on 3. If that doesn't work it seems a repeater is the way to go but checking the d-link site it appears their extenders don't work as a repeater with this modem? Can you recommend ones that would?

Thank you,

--Karen

 

by: PUNKYPosted on 2008-06-29 at 11:44:46ID: 21895064

If you can not relocate the router (which is best and save money for more equipment purchase), then try add-on wireless antennas and signal boosters.
Antenna orientation: Make sure your antenna points 90 degrees to where you want the signal to go. If the wireless access point (or router) and the computer(s) are on the same level and you want the signal to go horizontally, point the antenna straight up (vertically).
High gain antenna: You can increase the signal strength and distance by using a high gain antenna. For example you could buy an inexpensive 5 or 7 or even higher dbi antenna such as:
http://www.megapc.com.au/product_details_and_order.php?select_part_indx=6245

I dont recommend the repeater though.

Also, if you could, try the Linksys brand router which I use, but it is optional.

 

by: kcartwrightPosted on 2008-06-29 at 13:27:26ID: 21895349

Already tried a higher gain antenna (the D-link one). I haven't gone over to try changing channels which I will do later today. He would switch to linksys if there was a reasonable chance that would fix the problem but I wonder if  the signal strength would be that much different. Which one are you using?

Why not a repeater?

--Karen

 

by: PUNKYPosted on 2008-06-29 at 14:10:20ID: 21895485

The on in the link is equipment I am using now:
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1175236661542&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=6154239789B02

And the hi-gain:
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1166859687870&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%
2FVisitorWrapper&lid=8787039789B56

My friend who lives across the street with my house has been using my wireless and there is no problem so far (more than a year).

I have bad experienced with using repeater before with router G mode, and the N mode with rangebooster fixed all dead spots. But you might try repeater if you want see if the singal improving.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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