distance

rddrgn2 · Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 81

hi all
quick question on linksys routers and wireless nicsjavascript:emoticon(' Shocked

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router is wrt54gs

wireless nic is wmp54gs

what is the max distance between them before modifications

thanks

mike

goretsky · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:43 am Post subject:

Hello,

That is really going to depend on a few things, like number of walls and microwave-affecting (absorbing and reflecting) surfaces between the router and the NIC, interference from other devices in the microwave (2.4GHz) band, and maybe even a little bit on placement.

I would think 30 to 50 feet would be quite doable in a home of typical construction (one or two intervening walls, perhaps a 2.4GHz cordless phone system, microwave that occasionally gets used and some minimal interference from neighbor's WLANs). In an open space with nothing to interfere, the signal would extend much farther.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

rddrgn2 · Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 81

thanks for the reply Aryeh.

ive flashed the router with dd wrt and turned up the output to 200.
im trying to go 150ft with the router outside and a window between them straight line of sight.

what are the best settings to improve distance for the nic?

why dose the signal strength vary so much?(i.e. one day five bars next day no bars)

thanks
mike

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2636

You could try this
http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/SearchDetail.asp?productID=18118

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 993

How hot is the case at 200 mw? I've got mine at 75, and am afraid to go to 100 (the max that they recommend)! By the way, at 75 with high-gain antennas (inside the house in the computer room), I get about 100 feet - back yard, and to the middle of the street in front of my house!
"why dose the signal strength vary so much?(i.e. one day five bars next day no bars)"
Are you running ANY 2.4 gig units inside the house? Microwave, telephones,etc? I had to go to all 5.8, and 6.0 cordless phones.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

With my WRT54G router and whatever nic came installed on my motherboard, I have no troubles inside the house, but trying to get to my neighbors house was a total NO GO!

Since I want to share my ISP with my neighbor, about 300 feet, I had to make some changes.

I bought me an Intelinet Wireless N router.
I also got the Intelinet Wireless NIC card for their computer.
Now we have NO problems connecting at their house, to my router.

Wireless N is definitely the route to go, for any distance.

Cheers Mate!
Doc Cool

goretsky · Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:49 am Post subject:

Hello,

Make sure you have the latest device drivers installed for the Linksys WMP54GS wireless NIC. That can help ensure there are no problems connecting to the Linksys WRT54GS residential gateway router with wireless access point.

On the computer with the WMP54GS wireless NIC adapter installed on it, open the Device Manager (filename: DEVMGMT.MSC), view the properties for the wireless NIC and look on the Advanced or the Power tab for any settings related to transmission power, which should be set to the maximum and for any power-saving options (EnergyStar compliance, allowing the computer to disable the device to save power and so forth) which should be disabled.

Next, try changing the channels on each device together to see if you get a stronger signal on one particular channel than another. If so, keep both devices on that channel.

Those steps should help the wireless NIC adapter reach the residential gateway router's built-in wireless access point.

If you are still not getting a strong enough signal, then you can replace the wireless NIC with a model that has a directional antenna as ZLim advised, or try replacing the antenna on the wireless NIC adapter with a larger directional antenna and aim it at the residential gateway.

As for why the antenna strength varies, well, anything between the two devices that absorbs radiation in the 2.4GHz microwave spectrum would block the signal (i.e., anything that would get hot if put into a microwave). Also, any nearby emitters could interfere with signaling, too. You may need to periodically change the channels being used in order to get a strong signal.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

rddrgn2 · Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 81

hey all
thanks for all the replies!
ill answer all questions asked so far.

micker

when i first cranked up the output i did it on a scale of 25%(18-25-50-75-100 and so on kinda letin it get used to what i wanted it to do over a couple of days kinda like breakin in a brand new auto engine)
it was about 70 degrees outside and the router was mildly warm but as posted earlier it is outside with NO weather proof box as i live in nw florida (in da hood! ha hahaha) so plenty of breeze under an awning.(not so much worried about weather as it getting stollen!) this morning i thought about seein if there were icicles on it as it was 29 degrees when i went to work!!!!

the community i live in was built in the early 1900's (aka 8" solid brick w/stuco walls and i think the walls are filled with lead as i cant get a signal anywhere but the front window including the front door!(hurricain proof is a understatement more like bomb proof!)

no wireless home phones around everyone is on prepaid cell phones as far as microwave ovens i live on my own and it is in the back of the house(and if im usin the microwave im not usein the 'puter at that momentha ha ha)

hey doc

limited budget so maybe when taxes come in i can go to "N"! is linksys still good or do you recommend another brand like d-link or something else

hey goretsky

yes updated to the latest and greatest drivers (non beta)
have those settings set what about about roam tendency?

and the last 4 advanced settings?

speed booster
wme
wzc managed ethernet
xpress(tm)technology

thanks
mike

rddrgn2 · Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 81

hey all

and as far as antenni go, the router can not have dirctionals
but my 'puter can so ill let yall know what i do as far as my nic goes

and off topic for doc
if i remember right how did ya hook up a deep cycle batt to your ups?
thanks
mike

goretsky · Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2009 3:58 am Post subject:

[Edited to correct broken link. AG]

Hello,

Very generally speaking, older homes typically have larger sizes of wood used in framing and more solid walls (lath and plaster) than newer home with A-frame type construction and sheet rock. Given your description of the walls, I would not expect a signal to transmit very well through the walls.

You may be able to find a weather resistant enclosure or junction box you can place the router inside if you are concerned about condensation or icicle damage.

I believe "Speed Booster" and "Xpress™ Technology" are terms specific to your equipment. I suspect Speed Booster is a proprietary implementation of channel-bonding, which allows the router and a compatible wireless adapter to transmit on two wireless channels at a time, effectively doubling the speed of the connection. WME refers to Wireless Media Extension, which allows the router to prioritize certain types of wireless network traffic. WZC refers to Wireless Zero Configuration, which probably refers to enabling the feature to allow Microsoft Windows to manage the wireless adapter, instead of a program from the manufacturer. If you check the manual for the device, you will likely find a more detailed explanation of these along with examples and instructions for use.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

rddrgn2 · Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 81

hey all
this is what i did!

i went to wally world and got a belkin g usb wireless with base for 30 somthin dollars! even though i have read some bad reviews on this but i thought i still give it a shot

i got so pissed i peddled 10 miles(no vehical and dont want one) to wally world to get this thing!

WTF!!!!!!! i have five bars every where now (including the tavern\pub next door a half a &"*>city block away!?!?!?!?!

OK NOW IM REALLY MAD! WTF!!!!!! I PAID 60 DOLLARS EACH FOR THE WIRELESS NIC CARDS AND I COULD PROBABLY DO THIS FOR UNDER 50 BUCKS TOTAL NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

LINKSYS WIRLESS NIC'S SUCK

sorry for the rant but i still dont understand what the dif is!!!!

i knew i was blowin the doors off my house with the router turned up and as i live in da hood i wont supply the whole hood with the net!!!! oh well !!!!
now to get my neighbors hooked up!!!! linksys wireless nic just lost a lot of buisness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mike

rddrgn2 · Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 81

hey all
now on with my venting
WTF this usb is IN the same house as the linksys wireless and i havent even put the usb out side or applied the wok strainer antennae ideal yet (just loaded the drivers not the whole software package for it yet) still 8"+ thick walls and even by the microwave (cookin soup at the rear of the house) i still get 3+ bars now

im cornfuzed as to why this is but i will put the nic in my old 'puter /server and see what it dose.

i will let ya know what happens!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

cornfuzed mike

rddrgn2 · Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 81

sorry ff3 had to burp

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

Mike,
I'm tickled silly, if you just found something that would work for you and without breaking your bank.

My solution here, between me and my neighbors cost me right at $200.

So, what about the UPS? Well, in a UPS the battery is connected with just two wires to the UPS..... one positive and one negative.

Just solder two longer wires (10 to 12 gauge) onto the ones in the UPS and bring them out to an external battery, or two or more. Wink

I decided on large car batteries, from Wally's World.
Not because they were the best ones in the world, but because they were cheap.

And if I go out to my car to go to work some day and the car battery is dead, well I have two great batteries, sitting in the house that are fully charged and ready to go.
That's already happened to me once.

In the mean time, I have enough reserve power there, with the two batteries, to run my 600w UPS for several days, keeping me in Satellite TV and light, while my neighbors sit in darkness, with nothing but their car radios to listen to.

I know you've probably seen this before, but I thought I'd throw it in again, just for grins and giggles, seeing as how you brought up the subject.

<<-- click to expand

The yellow wire in this picture, the one with the fuse in it, is the positive wire, .
Why yellow?....because I ran out of red. Wink

The black wire, of course, is the negative lead.
Both go about three feet to my 600w UPS.
The UPS has a small battery charger built in, that keeps these two batteries fully charged.

There's nothing magic about it. It's just simple plumbing.

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?
The Doctor Cool