Linksys wifi expansion

[Mike P]

Hi,

I have a Linksys WRT300N router, What I am trying to do is get better coverage in my backyard. The router is located in my basement and works fine for the entire house as well as most of the outside. The rear of my basement is walk-out and the front is 12' underground witch is perfect for my current installation. However I have connected my computer(itunes) to my stereo and have the music piped to a couple of speakers on the far side of my pool. I am using the Remote app for my iPhone to control everything. All works GREAT, except my coverage is not that great for control while in the yard. My question is, can/and how do I add a second wireless router/switch to my existing system. I would mount this in the attic facing the rear of the house and that should cover the entire rear just fine(aprox 2-3 acres. attic is aprox 40' above the ground). Do I just buy another 300N? This is the part I am week on, I am not good with networks, any pointers in the right direction would be great.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[tenholde]

The easiest way is to install an Access Point. It must be wired to your LAN. Using another router will be more expensive, and if you have the router section turned ON (instead of just using it as an access point as many wireless routers allow) you will end up creating another sub-net. The implication of this is that many types of broadcast messages will not pass through to the other side of the router (other sub-net). For instance, file and printer sharing, but it may create problems for you audio apps as well.

tenholde

Hi,

I have a Linksys WRT300N router, What I am trying to do is get better coverage in my backyard. The router is located in my basement and works fine for the entire house as well as most of the outside. The rear of my basement is walk-out and the front is 12' underground witch is perfect for my current installation. However I have connected my computer(itunes) to my stereo and have the music piped to a couple of speakers on the far side of my pool. I am using the Remote app for my iPhone to control everything. All works GREAT, except my coverage is not that great for control while in the yard. My question is, can/and how do I add a second wireless router/switch to my existing system. I would mount this in the attic facing the rear of the house and that should cover the entire rear just fine(aprox 2-3 acres. attic is aprox 40' above the ground). Do I just buy another 300N? This is the part I am week on, I am not good with networks, any pointers in the right direction would be great.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Mike P]

The easiest way is to install an Access Point. It must be wired to your LAN. Using another router will be more expensive, and if you have the router section turned ON (instead of just using it as an access point as many wireless routers allow) you will end up creating another sub-net. The implication of this is that many types of broadcast messages will not pass through to the other side of the router (other sub-net). For instance, file and printer sharing, but it may create problems for you audio apps as well.

tenholde

Hi,

I have a Linksys WRT300N router, What I am trying to do is get better coverage in my backyard. The router is located in my basement and works fine for the entire house as well as most of the outside. The rear of my basement is walk-out and the front is 12' underground witch is perfect for my current installation. However I have connected my computer(itunes) to my stereo and have the music piped to a couple of speakers on the far side of my pool. I am using the Remote app for my iPhone to control everything. All works GREAT, except my coverage is not that great for control while in the yard. My question is, can/and how do I add a second wireless router/switch to my existing system. I would mount this in the attic facing the rear of the house and that should cover the entire rear just fine(aprox 2-3 acres. attic is aprox 40' above the ground). Do I just buy another 300N? This is the part I am week on, I am not good with networks, any pointers in the right direction would be great.

Thanks,

Mike

Tenholde,

Thanks, Can you recommend a specific access point?

Mike

 

[TXFlatLander]

You can also add an external antenna to your router -- and/or -- run a modified firmware, such as DD-WRT, to increase the transmit power beyond factory defaults.

An external antenna can be installed by removing one of the rubber duck antennas and using an external antenna with higher dB or external antenna on an extension cable? The stock antennas are around 2db-3db I believe.

If you add another router or access point in your attic, I would double check the operating temperatures are within the range of the summer/winter temperatures in your attic. Dust and particles may enter the device so you may consider enclosing it.

Also, something strongly to consider is that since you are wanting to broadcast this even further into the open is your wireless network secure with at least WPA? If you are open or using WEP, then you are inviting trouble. I cannot stress this enough.

I forgot to add, I would try changing your router channel. If you left it the default, that means you are probably on the same channel as most everyone -- thus causing congestion. I would recommend 7-9 channel range. Try different ones and it may possible save you some money.

 

[jay]

I have one of these mounted on the side of my barn and connected to a Dlink AP.
http://www.fab-corp.com/product.php?produc...=250&page=1

I have an acre and get full outside coverage.

The folk at FAB-corp will give you part number of the adapter needed to connect the antenna to whatever access point you may get.
In fact, if you tell them how long a cable run you need, they'll quote you on the main cable, the adapter and a lightning arrestor if you ask for it. I do use an arrestor.

 

[edmidor]

Hi,

I have a Linksys WRT300N router, What I am trying to do is get better coverage in my backyard. The router is located in my basement and works fine for the entire house as well as most of the outside. The rear of my basement is walk-out and the front is 12' underground witch is perfect for my current installation. However I have connected my computer(itunes) to my stereo and have the music piped to a couple of speakers on the far side of my pool. I am using the Remote app for my iPhone to control everything. All works GREAT, except my coverage is not that great for control while in the yard. My question is, can/and how do I add a second wireless router/switch to my existing system. I would mount this in the attic facing the rear of the house and that should cover the entire rear just fine(aprox 2-3 acres. attic is aprox 40' above the ground). Do I just buy another 300N? This is the part I am week on, I am not good with networks, any pointers in the right direction would be great.

Thanks,

Mike

You can get any router flashable with Tomato or DD-WRT firmware, and switch it into WDS mode (wireless distribution), which makes you wirelessly connected access point. If you don't insist on 'N', then Asus 520GU can be found for $25...

 

[Mike P]

OK,

I ran a cat6 up to my closet in the master, Purchased a Linksys AP, Terminated, & Programmed. Thought I was good to go Now I still have a problem. My iPhone goes from full signal to no signal in the same location. I can't figure it out. I am only about 60' from the AP, But the AP is about 40' above me. I am wondering if the is the problem(Height above location). If this is the problem, the remote antenna I was going to put in the attic would not work very well either. The only problem I can think of is my bathroom, it is directly behind my closet with floor to ceiling tile and a very large mirror over the sinks on the rear wall of the house. Any suggestions??????

Thanks,

Mike

 

[troymt]

OK,

I ran a cat6 up to my closet in the master, Purchased a Linksys AP, Terminated, & Programmed. Thought I was good to go :wacko: Now I still have a problem. My iPhone goes from full signal to no signal in the same location. I can't figure it out. I am only about 60' from the AP, But the AP is about 40' above me. I am wondering if the is the problem(Height above location). If this is the problem, the remote antenna I was going to put in the attic would not work very well either. The only problem I can think of is my bathroom, it is directly behind my closet with floor to ceiling tile and a very large mirror over the sinks on the rear wall of the house. Any suggestions??????

Thanks,

Mike

Mike,

The proper way to setup an additional AP is to make sure the AP is set with the same SSID and Wireless encryption key as the main router, BUT have them on different channels. Channels 1,6,11 are the best to use with 1, and 11 being the first I would go with as 6 is the default for many routers.

Also update the firmware on both the router and AP. Apple devices and Linksys Hardware have a long history of have small issues getting along at times.

Report back if any of that helps.

Troy

 

[briankelly63]

Since you are already using itunes & the remote application just add an Airport Express or two (or more) and you can have world class coverage, no configuration nightmares and it will also provide additional speaker locations that will show up right in itunes! I'd turn off the dlink routers wireless tranceiver and just set up your network with the airport expresses. Each additional airport express can be configured to extend your network... it takes care of all the technical issues of multiple tranceivers automatically...

Brian