hi newby here

Taffylad · 05-05-2008, 20:38

hi, this is my first post so please be gentle lol

i have recently suffered a lot of drop outs from my wireless connection i am running a
belkin F5D7321-4 wireless router for this

my virgin modem and belkin router are upstairs and if i try to connect downstairs with laptop i get a very weak signal.if i connect upstairs i get very good signal ,if i connect in same room as belkin i get excellent signal.
i live in a 1930`s house with solid walls

is there anyway of improving signal or could it be my lappy

or is it time to upgrade router

any thoughts guys

monkey2468 · 05-05-2008, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taffylad

hi, this is my first post so please be gentle lol

i have recently suffered a lot of drop outs from my wireless connection i am running a
belkin F5D7321-4 wireless router for this

my virgin modem and belkin router are upstairs and if i try to connect downstairs with laptop i get a very weak signal.if i connect upstairs i get very good signal ,if i connect in same room as belkin i get excellent signal.
i live in a 1930`s house with solid walls

is there anyway of improving signal or could it be my lappy

or is it time to upgrade router

any thoughts guys

Welcome, I would say router upgrade.

Taffylad · 05-05-2008, 20:46

thanks for superfast reply
any recommendations as my head is spinning looking at them

i run 20 mb on virgin

05-05-2008, 20:57

Hang on there a moment.....

Yes you might get better signals from a new router but have you tried changing the wireless channels. I know it's a long shot as you've already hit the nail on the head - 1930's house - good solid wall blocking signals etc, but TBH I don't think a new router would solve that one.

Not sure if a wireless extender would help to get a signal in the dead spots - I assume they would need a wired connection so that might defeat the object in the first instance!

BTW - I've ditched wireless for the reasons stated - wireless is bad if you want higher bandwidth for applications. In our study, everything is wired and we only use wireless for laptops when we are downstairs...2007 / 2008 new build house with paper mache walls!

Taffylad · 05-05-2008, 21:03

thanks for reply
yes i changed fron channel 11 to channel 1
still the same

was thinking of upgrade to belkin n1 or similar

05-05-2008, 21:09

As I said - I think you would still have the same problem.

If you bring the router downstairs do you get a good signal? (Just the router - power it up, you should get a DHCP IP address but obviously you won't get out to the web because the modem isn't connected!)

I know it's a long shot, but could you run some UTP to downstairs?

PS - Welcome to CableForum

Taffylad · 05-05-2008, 21:14

sorry showing my ignorance UTP?

05-05-2008, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taffylad

sorry showing my ignorance UTP?

LOL No worres. UTP - Unshielded twisted pair - aka networking cable - CAT5e / CAT 6 etc.

Taffylad · 05-05-2008, 21:27

Lol thanks for that
yes modem and router used to be downstairs and had no probs with signal strength then
signal strength is ok to other bedrooms just intermittant downstairs

cybernetic_tiger · 05-05-2008, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taffylad

Lol thanks for that
yes modem and router used to be downstairs and had no probs with signal strength then
signal strength is ok to other bedrooms just intermittant downstairs

I have 2 Belkin N Series routers in two different properties and can safely say it provides greater coverage than my previous routers (Linksys WRT56G).

Also the 3 aerials help to reduce black spots in coverage.

06-05-2008, 06:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybernetic_tiger

I have 2 Belkin N Series routers in two different properties and can safely say it provides greater coverage than my previous routers (Linksys WRT56G).

Also the 3 aerials help to reduce black spots in coverage.

But are those properties 1930's houses with nice solid brick walls or are they new(er) houses with plasterboard internal walls?

cybernetic_tiger · 06-05-2008, 08:04

One is a 1930's and one a 1940's...

06-05-2008, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybernetic_tiger

One is a 1930's and one a 1940's...

Fair enough!

Suppose some routers kick out more of a signal than others, but I still think it's a bit risky...

Graham M · 06-05-2008, 10:01

I have a WRT54GR (rangebooster) Linksys and the signal goes on forever, even in this early 1900s build!

Taffylad · 06-05-2008, 18:08

hi, thanks for all the help
think i will play it safe and go for something like

http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline-pl-85pe.htm

with http://www.solwise.co.uk/net-powerline-pl-85pew.htm

hopefuly giving best of both worlds

i think this is best for me as my house is three stories, i can have maximum portability and hopefully some wireless freedom as well. i play a lot of online poker and dont want to risk drop-outs at critical times, as has happened in the past lol