And ... Another computer question

[Hawkmoon]

My home "office" is in a bedroom at one end of the house. The DSL modem/router is in the same room. I sometimes like to fire up a notebook or netbook computer on the dining table, which is at the extreme far end of the house. At the moment, I have temporarily put a desktop computer in the dining room, too, where it will stay until I get all my software loaded and configured and files synched, after which that desktop will move into the office.

Actual straight-line distance is about 50 feet, but through a number of walls (which are real plaster on rock lath, not 1/2" sheetrock). At the dining room, the WiFi signal strength varies between "fair" and "poor." I'm considering getting a WiFi range extender, but don't know what brand(s) to look at or if a $29 unit will do the job or if I need to jump up to the $50 or $75 range.

Since I'm doing it, I'd also like the boosted signal to be good enough to also serve a finished room in the basement, directly under the dining room.

I'm looking at units such as the following, but there are units in this form factor from several makers and at several price points. Once again, I'm in over my head.



Do any of you computer/IT gurus have any words of wisdom?

[zxcvbob]

Can you put the router centrally-located in the basement?  That's where I have mine and it reaches everywhere in the house.  Not sure how strong the signal is on the 2nd floor.

[Hawkmoon]

Can you put the router centrally-located in the basement?  That's where I have mine and it reaches everywhere in the house.  Not sure how strong the signal is on the 2nd floor.

Not without drilling a lot of holes through real plaster walls (not sheetrock) and real oak floors. Not gonna happen.

[Ron]

I'm happy with the NetGear WN-3000RP I have here at the house.

It gives me wi-fi to the detached garage 40 feet away.

[Ben]

One thing to think about before buying a range extender is the age of your router. If it's older, for instance WPA vs WPA2, you might want to consider upgrading the router instead of buying the range extender. Many newer routers have much greater range. For instance, my Cradlepoint MBR1400 (not one you would want - I use it because of the config options) on a second story, will travel through one wall and 200 yards down the road (no obstructions). I have no problem getting a signal in any of the outbuildings around here, sometimes through three walls.

On my older Cradlepoint, I couldn't get a signal at my old condo from my office to my bedroom at the other end of the condo (three walls) and had to plug a HooToo WAP into an electric socket in the hallway.

So if you have an older router, you might want to consider putting the extender ducats towards an upgrade. Otherwise, really, most any of the brand name range extenders should meet your needs if you just want to cover the inside of your house. I don't think I'd spend more than fifty bucks under your circumstances. Though I would search reviews concerning setup. Some are almost plug and play, while some are quite difficult for a novice to setup.

[lee n. field]

Just FYI, I read somewhere recently that whatever federal agency regulates broadcasting, is now clamping down harder on wifi that exceeds legal power limits.  Remembered details are vague -- something about one manufacturer blocking aftermarket firmware.

[HeroHog]

This what I use: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2375098,00.asp
Netgear Universal WiFi Range Extender (WN2000RPTv2)
It also has ports ya can plug in net cables to for printers and non-WiFi devices. I have mine in our office bedroom to drive the Laser printer and the Multifunction OfficeJet Printer/Copier/Scanner/FAX.
Been working great for years!