Wi Fi Advice

[palitoy]

Hey Folks,

I'm having problems with skype dropping out while we record podcasts.

I have Wi-Fi key in my desk top and it was expensive but I'm also in the basement and it seems i lose my connection every hour or so. Cel signal is non existant down here, so I think it's a tough room.

Currently, I am right below the household modem but I'm wondering if I should invest in an amplifier or what I should do to increase my signal strength?

This luddite would appreciate any knowledge you wish to share with me, I'm only good at replacing toilets.

Thanks!

[EMCE Hammer]

I had a similar problem and drilled a hole in the floor and dropped a cable down to my basement PC after having no luck with a repeater. Luckily I had a clear path and easy way to hide the wire.

[palitoy]

I had a similar problem and drilled a hole in the floor and dropped a cable down to my basement PC after having no luck with a repeater. Luckily I had a clear path and easy way to hide the wire.

Hmmm, I'm dreading doing that (although I asked the tech to do just that when he was here) but maybe there is an established cable hole already.....

[drquest]

Ethernet would be the best.

Do you have coax cable in the room? If so you can get MOCA adapters, and it uses your coax cable to send your data from your router. It works very well and speedy.

The powerline adapters are an option as well, uses your power line in your home to carry data. They work, but sometimes have issues as well.

Another option would be to get another router for downstairs. Most newer routers will allow themselves to be set up in bridge or extender mode. What that means is that router will talk directly to the one upstairs. They would establish a more stable connection between them. You would connect to the one downstairs of course.

One other thing, what Ghz are you running at? You might try switching between 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz and see which has better performance through the ceiling. My son swears the 5Ghz drops off in his room, but the 2.4Ghz stays steady.

[cjefferys]

The powerline adapters are an option as well, uses your power line in your home to carry data. They work, but sometimes have issues as well.

Another option would be to get another router for downstairs. Most newer routers will allow themselves to be set up in bridge or extender mode. What that means is that router will talk directly to the one upstairs. They would establish a more stable connection between them. You would connect to the one downstairs of course.

If it's too tricky to drop an ethernet cable down into your office from upstairs (which would be the most stable solution), I would give one of the above two options a try. Wi-fi is a pain in the butt sometimes!

[Brazoo]

Had a similar problem with getting Wi-Fi up to my bedroom on the opposite side of the house and up one floor from the router, I bought a $45 extender and that solved the issue well enough for me, but I wouldn't think it was stable or strong enough for what you're doing.

Maybe try it and make sure you get it at a place you can return it? Admittedly, I know nothing about the powerline adaptors, and I assume the ethernet cable solution is the most stable.

[sprytel]

It sounds like it could be an issue with your wifi signal, but it could also be a number of other things.

In your wireless settings, there should be a way to see the signal strength. What does it show?

[palitoy]

Thanks for the advice gents, I bought a repeater today and totally screwed that up. Seriously, I shouldn't be allowed to buy technology. I would be less frustrated if the girl at the counter said "No, I'm sorry you're far too stupid, go buy beer and go home" than I am right now.

Anyhoo, looks like I may just drill a hole in the ceiling, the former tenants left me a nice starting hole in the living room. Blerg.

[drquest]

Thanks for the advice gents, I bought a repeater today and totally screwed that up. Seriously, I shouldn't be allowed to buy technology. I would be less frustrated if the girl at the counter said "No, I'm sorry you're far too stupid go buy beer and go home" than I am right now.

Anyhoo, looks like I may just drill a hole in the ceiling, the former tenants left me a nice starting hole in the living room. Blerg.

Yeah it's best if you just buy another router like the one you already have, they will tend to work with each other. I'd take a physical connection 100% time over a wireless.

[Duncan]

I ran cables, too. The kids prefer wifi, but down in my lair I get much better performance with good ol' wires.

[cjefferys]

This reminds me, when we bought our current house just over 10 years ago (holy crap, time flies!) the previous owners had most of the rooms wired with ethernet cable, they ran it through the ducts and everything. We move in and I think "All these wires are silly, I already have a wireless router, I'm using that" and I proceeded to remove all the ethernet cables (a big PITA itself). Now I really wish I left it in, nothing beats a wired connection, especially when you are streaming hi-def video, etc. Luckily our main TV is near the router, but our bedroom TV is in the opposite side of the house and the wi-fi gets spotty sometimes.

[EMCE Hammer]

I ran cables, too. The kids prefer wifi, but down in my lair I get much better performance with good ol' wires.

Yep. I think the radon down here messes with my wireless signal. My old school yellow ethernet cable lets me be entertained at a high level as I slowly ruin my body.

[Duncan]

Yep. I think the radon down here messes with my wireless signal. My old school yellow ethernet cable lets me be entertained at a high level as I slowly ruin my body.

Meh, radon - I don't see any radon down here...or smell it. That's just more fake Facebook news.

[jimbutsu]

I'd find someone who knows how to fish/pull cable and get them to look at it - you should very rarely have to do too much obtrusive drilling to run cable through a house. A lot of TV/Satellite installers are versed with such things.

I'd steer clear of the powerline adapters - they work ok to a point, but they make your power very noisy - I seem to recall you liked spinning a record or two on occasion, and if the powerline happens to be on the same circuit you're going to have a bad time.

[fallensaviour]

I had a similar problem and drilled a hole in the floor and dropped a cable down to my basement PC after having no luck with a repeater. Luckily I had a clear path and easy way to hide the wire.

I did this as well in the old place and it solved all my issues in the basement.