Need a long range N adapter that's solid

[digitalwanderer]

I've been using the Netgear WNDA3100-100NAS, and it's great for short range but over distance it just blows! I'm looking for a new adapter for my son's rig upstairs, so it can be USB/PCI or whatever...I just want one that has a strong range/connection.

Help?

 

[Mize]

How about this?

 

[eastmen]

How about this?

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10234
1,000 foot cable for $110 . Might as well do every pc in the house

 

[Mize]

I don't think dig has connectors or a crimper...plus his wife won't let him run cables

Dig...what about a repeater (WLAN extender) somewhere in between?

 

[digitalwanderer]

Whatever the best solution is, I'd just like to increase his connection speed. He's got by far the crappiest in the house, barely G speeds.

Yeah, I'd love a cable too and we're thinking of just picking up a cheap 100ft one to run between his room and the router when my wife isn't home...but I need something for when she is. (I'm not allowed to drill holes for cabling, or otherwise make them.....she knows me. )

 

[MfA]

Get something with an antenna connector instead of an integral one (might as well go with a PCI-E card at this point as well) and use a high gain antenna.

 

[eastmen]

Whatever the best solution is, I'd just like to increase his connection speed. He's got by far the crappiest in the house, barely G speeds.

Yeah, I'd love a cable too and we're thinking of just picking up a cheap 100ft one to run between his room and the router when my wife isn't home...but I need something for when she is. (I'm not allowed to drill holes for cabling, or otherwise make them.....she knows me. )

monoprice has all the faceplates so it would look nice if you chose to do it that way. If you lived closer to me I would have come over and done it for you .

 

[Davros]

why not homeplug ?

 

[MfA]

I think he had multiple different groups derived from different phases making it a drag.

Any way, external antennas can make a big difference ... if necessary you can DIY a directional one.

 

[digitalwanderer]

why not homeplug ?

MfA is correct. We have multiple circuits in the house so it won't fly.

I've been looking at Newegg and the one I've been liking so far best is this one here, but I've never heard of the brand before.

A "Zonet ZEW1690 IEEE 802.11b/g/n PCI Wireless Adapter with Dual 7dbi Hi-Gain Antenna & Bonus Low-Profile Bracket Up to 300Mbps Wireless Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP, WPA, WPA2". It comes with the high gain antennas, it's PCI, and from the reviews it sounds like the drivers self-install in Win 7 and play nicely with it without any proprietary software.

Any opinions?

 

[Mize]

Why not just get a wireless repeater?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...MATCH&Description=wireless+repeater+n&x=0&y=0

 

[digitalwanderer]

I'm not sure what it is/does?

Does it grab the wireless signal and boost it? Would I just set it up in my son's room then with his existing USB adapter?

 

[AlNom]

Yeah, though I would place it somewhere closer to half-way between the target computer and the router. I guess it'll depend on where the walls are and where you're getting the most signal degradation if it's not just raw distance.

I'm not too clear on the disadvantages though... I mean, the connection is going through another device, so I'd think there would be some sort of slowdown or lag. *shrug* I would just get the PCI card with the bigger antenna. I've never been a fan of the USB adapters.

 

[Davros]

Here ya go

 

[MfA]

After seeing Davros's clip I saw a much better one ... this is brilliant.

 

[Davros]

Im going to do that one

 

[MfA]

Note, the metal of the USB connector has to touch the sieve.

 

[Mize]

Note, the metal of the USB connector has to touch the sieve.

Why? It's being used as a reflector, not an actual antenna.

 

[Frank]

Cheapest solution: move the router around and have the antennas point in different directions until the signal is best. The same goes for the orientation of the laptop.

Simplest solution: Replace the antenna(s) on your router with high-gain ones. Although I believe you have a router that doesn't have external ones, and it's likely to be more expensive than the next solution.

Nicest solution: buy a cheap router (like the Netgear WNDR3300, although one with external antennas would be better), install dd-wrt on it, and use that as a repeater on the most convenient location.

 

[Frank]

Why? It's being used as a reflector, not an actual antenna.

Yes, and if it isn't an actual parabola, it will cause more interference than it will boost the signal.