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Wifi Boost

Hi, does anyone have any ideas to boost wifi signal over a larger area without using a repeater setup.

My Issue is that we use wireless barcode scanners that do not roam fast enough so if they are half way through a job and move to a repeater area they effectively lose connection and rejoin the new station which is breaking the connection back to the server.

The Scanners are just running a http web page to collect and send info.
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John-Charles-Herzberg
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You have several options, this article is a good one to start with.

1) Location, Location, Location!
2) Change the Channel
3) New Firmware
4) Antenna upgrade


How to Boost Your WiFi Signal (Part 1)
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/tech/computers/how-to-boost-your-wifi-signal-part-1

How to Boost Your WiFi Signal (Part 2)
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/tech/computers/how-to-boost-your-wifi-signal-part-2

Thanks
JC
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metroit

ASKER

I have tried locations, but it is covering quite a large area and some walls are 1m thick.  It is already in a clear channel, there is no saturation issue.

The scanners do not support any firmware that roams any better than the current, but they are already upto date.

We do have some high gain antenna's already in place.
Did you try a wifi bridge or wifi repeater?
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ASKER

yes, but as I said, the scanners do not roam from station to station fast enough to maintain the connection.  I guess what I am looking for is specific advice on antenna/power boost
Can you change the wifi router out?  do you have a map of the location to send?
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ASKER

I have tried quite a few different routers, the issue is the building.  1 doorway between two warehouses.  The walls are 1m thick.  In one warehouse there is a lot of metal racking.

Putting repeaters in works just fine, until they need to move to the other part of the warehouse, then the scanners swap to the new zone too slow to allow the system to work.  If they did not move from the area then they would be perfect.
One more thing.  YOu might want to run the free tool to see your wifi map

HeatMapper
Free Wi-Fi Coverage and Mapping Tool

http://www.ekahau.com/wifidesign/ekahau-heatmapper

Thanks
JC
Can you run a cable to the new location and if so what is the distance?  If you can you might be able to get a 2 anttena WIFI AP and extent one antenna to the new location.
AMPed Wireless has a good High Power 700mW Dual Band AC Wi-Fi Router

http://www.ampedwireless.com
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ASKER

I have already completed a Mapping of the wifi signals in the complete building.  I have sited the two high gain antenna in the best possible positions but they still leave some dead zones which would need a repeater to cover.

I have ordered some 17db omni's to see if that improves upon the existing setup.

Thanks for the link to amped, I will have to check what the output of my barcode network (draytek 2830n)
Avatar of Craig Beck
What type of authentication/encryption are you using?  If you're using standard pre-shared key authentication you'll never be able to roam without disconnecting even if you cover your area completely with wifi.

To achieve this you'll need to use RADIUS-based authentication.
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ASKER

The AP uses no auth, it is OPEN and just uses MAC address's to allow connections.  There is no security risk as even if someone cloned a valid MAC, they would not have access to anything as the AP has no access to the internet and only allows clients to connect to another firewall on a single port.

By the way, suggestions of getting a router with a higher output can not be considered as an option.  In the EU we are limited to 100mw output.

So far it seems that I have already covered most of the options available so either these new 17dbm antenna will do the trick or I am stuck for anything further to do?
Ok that makes things a little easier somewhat.

Have you tried using static IP addresses on the scanners?  That will reduce the time taken to complete the roaming process and may also mean that the application doesn't terminate the connection due to the NIC needing to reobtain an IP address.
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ASKER

Thanks craig, I thought that would be the answer but alas not.  I went off after setting one of the handsets to static to test, after it was forced to roam to the stronger signal, the connection dropped so that did not work :(
Hmmm, what APs do you use?
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I use a Vigor, tech have confirmed that they do not produce any units that exceed the EU maximum output of 100ma.

Next thing is to test the 17dbm antenna's, if they do not fix the issue then I have just found out about something thats not new, but new to me, Leaky Cable :)
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Craig Beck
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The power output is not adjustable but I assume Vigor will have set them to max power available for the stock antenna.


The idea behind increasing the antenna is that I should then be able to cover the area rather than have 2 x repeaters


I really should sit down and learn this Dbm stuff.
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ASKER

Although the issue is not fully resolved, Craig has at least given me enough information to know that there is little more that I can do, especially with regards to the legalities with upping the wattage.

If the new 17db antenna do not fix it, I will buy the Leaky Cable