Setup that I have:

ATT 2 wire upstairs in bedroom.  It's plugged into the "network" via cat6, which runs all the way down to the basement.  The 360/PS3 and PC are plugged into the back of the 2 wire.

The basement has a media closet, which has some 24 port Dell switch on it.  This runs to every room in the house upstairs/ground floor.

I planned on using wireless in the basement, but it's weak/intermittent.  I need something I can plug into the switch in the media closet that will broadcast a signal in the basement.

What do I buy? 

(just about) any wireless access point.

or, if you have an old wireless router laying around, it likely has an "access point mode" you can use.

look for a repeater.  it'll receive and rebroadcast the original wireless signal.

Quote from: thought on January 28, 2012, 02:59:02 PM
look for a repeater.  it'll receive and rebroadcast the original wireless signal.

he's not repeating the wireless signal, he's plugging the new device into his wired network.

Yea depending on how long the run of ethernet is you can just hook up a good router, airport extreme is pretty good for basic stuff and up some..  I forget the maximum length of cable before it starts deteriorating.  I've worked in some places that had a router in each floor feeding the next one

Quote from: derby on January 28, 2012, 11:47:10 PM
he's not repeating the wireless signal, he's plugging the new device into his wired network.

ah, sorry, didnt read close enough

I need to piggyback myself onto this thread because I have a related issue to range extending.  We do not currently have internet service at home due to sheer cheapness on my part.  I recently discovered that if I sit at a 32deg. angle (not 31 or 33 and as long as there aren't too many cars buzzing around the lot) facing out the back window a signal can be picked up from the office park behind us.  My question is this: is there a repeater that I can wire an external antenna to?  I would like to put a directional antenna on the property line to grab the signal and send it inside to the repeater.  Is this a feasible setup?

google   yagi antenna

you can use these to pick up signal , long range

Quote from: alfisti on January 29, 2012, 06:45:33 AM
I need to piggyback myself onto this thread because I have a related issue to range extending.  We do not currently have internet service at home due to sheer cheapness on my part.  I recently discovered that if I sit at a 32deg. angle (not 31 or 33 and as long as there aren't too many cars buzzing around the lot) facing out the back window a signal can be picked up from the office park behind us.  My question is this: is there a repeater that I can wire an external antenna to?  I would like to put a directional antenna on the property line to grab the signal and send it inside to the repeater.  Is this a feasible setup?

*any advice given is for informational purposes only, etc, etc, etc....*

now thats out of the way, here is a cheapo way to do what you want....

you need, an external wifi adapter (usb thumb drive style wifi card...about 15-45 bucks), a USB extender cable, and a large metal mixing bowl.

step one: drill hole in bottom of bowl and route usb extension cable through, or tape cable down one side so that the plug is in the center of the bottom of the bowl

step two: mount bowl with opening (top of bowl) facing out the window from which you recieve said free internet

step three: plug wifi adapter into the bowl, and other end of cable in your computer...do whatever set up you need to do for the wifi adapter.

step four: free internet



once you get the supplies, it'll take you about 5 minutes to set up (theoretically  ), and you should be able to pick up wifi signals for up to about a block and a 1/2 to 2 blocks a way (theoretically  ), unobstructed of course


I can't quote you the exact science here, but I think what works is that the metal bowl turns the wifi adapter into a "directional" reciever and that boost the reception a little. I can tell you that it will ( i've heard  ) work rather well.

Quote from: cokey on January 28, 2012, 11:50:50 PM
I forget the maximum length of cable before it starts deteriorating. 

100m / 328ft

Thx Ute and Le Pirate for the info!

I forgot to add that this is a guest network that I have permission to access so it's all on the up and up.


I will update with my results...

I can send you said wireless usb  adapter for just price of shipping ..

Well...

I bought a DAP-1522.

Set it to AP mode, plugged it into one of the ports on the back of the ATT 2 wire wireless router.  Plugged in the power cord - check

Came over to the PC.  I type in 192.168.0.50 as instructed to set up the DLink....but it won't connect.

try taking it out of access point mode...I'm not sure you really need that anyways.


just set it up as you would a normal wireless router

Thought thats what I needed, was another wireless AP?

After spending a few mins with a tech on the phone, it's working now

Basement AP has been born, and all the neato wireless stuff I've got down there is working