Please help and suggestions for my BAD wireless!?

Question

Ok,
I've got a D-Link 2.4 ghz wireless G router hooked up to the family's modem and dell desktop downstairs. 

I've got a decent size house, and the signal the router puts out is weak in many areas, and the range kind of sucks. (Especially in my room upstairs over the garage on the other side of the house...)

My situation is this: I want a SEAMLESS wireless network for the house that is reliable in all areas, especially in my room. (Where I keep my mid-2008 MBP/xbox 360/etc...)

Options? YOU tell me what's best. With a budget of around $150 dollars.

(1) Get a wireless apple airport extreme base station or some other wireless N router, and kick my d-link to the curb. 
-Will this necessarily extend range to my room, solve other signal problems?

(2) Get a apple airport wireless express, and use it as a wireless repeater for the signal coming from the d-link in the downstairs office and put it somewhere in my room.
-Not sure if and how this would work...

(3) Buy something like this, and put one in the office, and one in my room.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance
-Not too familiar with the reliability of something that would use ac outlets, and power lines...

(4) Give your own suggestion!!!

Comment on 1,2, or 3 if you can! Or leave a 4th!
If someone could help me get to the bottom of this, make a decision, and get a good wireless network in this house, it would be great!!!
Thanks. :)

? · Accepted Answer

Firstly use a tool called netstumbler (Windows) or Kismet (Linux)  to ensure there are no other wireless routers in the vicinity on the same channel as you.  If so change to a another channel. Use 1, 3, 6 or 11.

Secondly from my experience d-links are not very good at propogating signals.  I would replace this and buy a decent N router - to future proof yourself - for now anyway - until the next standard arises.  Then I would use Netstumbler/Kismet again to check the signal propogation through the house.  Where the signal is weak (if this is still the case), you can extend using an access point hard wired to the router or buy a wireless range extender.  Hope this helps.

wei · Answer

I recently purchased an IzziPro, which uses USB port that you can use either on your laptop or desktop. I would not suggest using this if you plan on taking your laptop and using it in public places, for that I would recommend a wireless smart card which Izzi also offers. The modem I am using works very well and connects everytime although I will probably install an external antennae on my house because I use Skype to make phone calls internationally and right now using just the modem the phone calls sound choppy. They also offer other modems and the price I think is reasonable. I paid 1400 RM and received all of the hardware which was easy to install plus one year of service included. Hope this helps. There is an Izzi dealer at Carrefour at Mid-Valley.

Anonymous · Answer

You could try getting a range extender device. It just connects to your wireless router and forwards any requests it gets to and from the router and your laptop. You can pretty much put it anywhere in the house where you have a signal and it will extend the range for you.

Here's an example:

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Wireless-G-Range-Expander-WRE54G/dp/B00021XIJW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1243710735&sr=8-2

You may be able to get a better antenna for your D-Link too. See if the antennas unscrew from the back of the router. If they do you can probably buy one and get a better signal with that. A combination of a better antenna for the D-Link plus the range extender may work. Do a search on amazon for wireless antennas and you can probably find a compatible one.

You should be able to do both for under $100.00.

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Please help and suggestions for my BAD wireless!?

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