[Randy P]

Hello folks and a Happy New Year! I have my wireless router (DLink DI 524 a few years old now but still chugging along ) set up in a computer room at the end of a hall to the left. I need better wireless in my living room where my ps3 and 360 are located. I tried a bigger antenna...no significant changes and even a parabola around the antenna to focus the signal and still no significant changes .

I'm thinking my best solution would be a wifi repeater (and if any of you have other suggestions I would LOVE to hear them), but my problem is that I have been reading that a router can be turned into a repeater. Ok fine, but does this mean all routers have this ability? How in the name of Lord Lipton am I supposed to figure out what routers have repeater capabilites? Im thinking if I put a repeater in my hallway then the signal should be no problem in my living room which is no more than 40 feet away. So if you can shed some light on this wifi repeater business or have any other ideas on how I should go about boosting my signal to the living room I'm all ears. Thanks guys!

[Judas]

while a repeater would likely be your easiest solution.. your not going to be happy if your playing games through it.. as it significantly increases latency and cuts your bandwidth significantly as well.. and those are for fairly decent repeaters..

your likely best chance is to either move the connection if you can and run a single cable to your computer.. or get a more powerful router.

[Randy P]

Since my router will be in a seperate room, will the walls mess up the signal of any router? I dont want to buy a new router and see little to no increase in signal strength as was the case with my new antenna.

[Judas]

yes walls can..... depends on what they are made with and what's inside..

specifically.. some older buildings have lathe and plaster walls..... and lead paint to boot. These walls are as bad as trying to pound a signal through steel walls simply because of usually all the nails and other garbage...... in some cases you can setup a router on one side and take a laptop to the other side, not even more then 8 inches away from the attenna and not get a signal.

but more modern day buildings have gyprock walls with 16" studding, the only thing within them are occasionally wireing for your plugins and light switches and/or plumbing.

obviously if you have to shoot through a wall that goes into a kitch, if there is a fridge or oven on the otherside, it's going to make it quite difficult to get a signal.


The more walls you have to shoot through, the lower the signal strength gets.. and the type of walls and what's inside them will depend.

IF you can, find a place you can get a good router AND be able to return for a full cash refund within 30 days. This will allow you to test and even trial run it to see if it works up to your standards.

While i would recommend a DIR-615 as your minimum router. I would highly recommend a DIR-655 as thier range and power for wireless is just amazing. If a DIR-655 doesn't cut it.... then nothing will at this point imo.

[Randy P]

Ok if you don't mind would you take a look at this link and suggest a best router for me to get? I have a few gift cards from Christmas that I can use

I really appreciate your help

Here's the link: Future Shop

[Judas]

hmm looks like the new 655 is the 825...

obviously i'd suggest the 825... but the 625 may be more then enough... i haven't played with either of those 2 however... just experience with the 655 and 615's.

[charm_quark]

if you have time (which i not sure will ) try this