Frequently Asked Questions: Wireless Network Coverage

Table of Contents

    -- My wireless network doesn't reach this one part of my house. How can I extend the reach of my network?

-- My wireless network doesn't reach this one part of my house. How can I extend the reach of my network?

There are several ways to do this:

2 Wired APs | 2 APs with Bridge | HomePlug with Wireless | Linksys Signal Booster | Homemade Antenna | Wireless Repeater

• 2 APs connected by an Ethernet cable: One way is to buy more than one AP and assign them to broadcast out the same SSID, or network name. However, the two APs must be physically hooked together with Ethernet cable, which can result in an ugly mess. However, APs must always have a direct route back to the broadband modem, or else there won't be any Internet access. This setup would look similar to:

• 2 APs with a wireless bridge in between: This setup with 2 APs may also be accomplished with te 2 APs and a wireless bridge hooked up to one, which can take the place of an Ethernet cable. The wireless bridge will take any packets passed on to it (from AP #2, in this case) and send it to the first AP. This would need to happen:

- Both APs must be set to the same network name (SSID). This ensures that you won't have to change the network settings for the wireless card on your computer. However, each AP must be set to broadcast on a different channel (a channel is a sub-division of the 2.4 GHz frequency). If they're set to broadcast on the same channel, then the two signals will interfere. The 3 strongest channels an AP can be set to are 1, 6, and 11 - so, with 2 APs, use two of the 3 channels.

- The wireless bridge must be set to broadcast to AP #1 and be physically connected to AP #2. It should be set to connect to the network by its name.

In fact, here's a testimonial from someone named "DG" on the alt.internet.wireless newsgroup:

I'm posting a followup to my own message since no one had any information regarding this issue. After some experimentation, I was able to link 2 BEFW11s4's with a WET11 quite successfully. Here is the setup: BEFW11s4 #1 set as a Gateway: IP = 192.168.1.1 BEFW11s4 #2 set as Router: IP=192.168.1.2 WET11 connected to BEF#2: IP=192.168.225 The trick with this setup is placing the WET11 in an area where it gets a good signal from the Gateway. If the WET11 drops the Gateway, it will log onto the Router and create an IP conflict of some sort. I was able to solve this issue by placing the WET11 on the roof of building B on the side closest to Building A. Then used a 50 foot Ethernet cable to connect the BEF#2 on the other side of the roof. This basically improved the Line Of Site from the Gateway to the WET11 and diminished the LOS to the router. So far so good.

Thanks DG!

Here is another testimonial from Glenn Fulcher, who sent this via e-mail:

I used one BEFW11S4 and two WAP11s (hardware version 2.6/firmware 1.7 - I had to upgrade the WAP11’s firmware first. This gave the WAP11s the repeater function). I hardwired the BEFW11S4 and one of the WAP11s. I configured the WAP11 connected to the BEFW11S4. The WAP11 hardwired to the BEFWS114 was configured as an ‘AP’ only. The second WAP11 only plugged into the electrical outlet no Ethernet cable completely wireless communications to the WAP11 (the one hardwired to BEFW11S4). The WAP11 (the one not connected by wire) was configured as repeater; I enter the MAC address of the WAP11 hardwired to the BEFW11S4. The SSIDs had to be set the same for both WAP1’s but different than the BEFW11S4 so there wasn’t any interference. As far as the channels go, I had to tweak them; they can not be the same as the BEFW11S4 because of interference that will cause the two WAP11’s to be intermitting.

        Thank you Glenn Fulcher!

• HomePlug/802.11b Bridge: HomePlug technology (networking over powerlines in your house) has been used in extremely creative ways. For example, the SpeedStream PowerLine 802.11b Access Point combines HomePlug and 11b technology. This is an excellent way to increase coverage of your wireless network. Plug your broadband modem (or router connected to the modem) into a HomePlug device, then into the wall. Then, take the PowerLine 802.11b Access Point and plug it into the wall where you want wireless coverage. The device will then cover the area with 11b access and direct packets over the HomePlug network. It's pretty much a fancy bridge, but it's extremely effective:

• Linksys' Wireless Signal Booster: Linksys has recently come out with a new product, the Wireless Signal Booster. This will amplify the signal output of an access point, but it must be an access point made by Linksys. I have heard that it doesn't amplify power by that much, and the price is fairly high - at least, it's high enough that one could buy another access point and hook them up with an Ethernet cable.

• Homemade Antenna: Another device that acts like the Linksys Wireless Signal Booster is making a homemade antenna for your wireless AP. There are several versions of these out there, including the popular Pringles Cantenna. The antenna boosts the signal through electrical engineering magic, and then all you need is a connector to go from the antenna into your wireless card (called a "pigtail," which can be found here). I honestly don't know too much about these antennas, as I don't have range issues or any sort of radio technology expertise. But there are plenty of websites that talk about different kinds of antennas. If you build one successfully, feel free to write it up and I'll include it on this site!

• Wireless Repeater: One last device that would serve to extend the range of a wireless network would be a wireless repeater, which is connected to the access point. What a repeater does is take the signal that the AP is broadcasting and simply rebroadcasts it, which is an obvious way to further the range of a wireless network. Any signals the repeater receives gets forwarded back to the AP, where it's taken care of. I don't know of any specific consumer-grade repeaters on the market, but I have heard that some APs can also function as a repeater. If you know anything about this, e-mail me and let me know!