Wi-Fi extenders?

[iceman (Mike)]

I've got a Billion 7800N modem/router, and it's great - however there's some parts of the house where WiFi barely reaches and I'd like to get a stronger signal there.

I've seen/heard of Wi-Fi extenders..

How do they work?
What's the best one to get for my Billion?

Cheers and thanks

[BlackWidow (Mardy)]

Hi Mike. I use one of these to give me better WiFi in the back yard. I had trouble when I was using my laptop on my viewing nights. I purchased a Belkin unit and have been using it now for 2 years. I like Belkin products as they have a lifetime warranty on thier products. I had a power board that failed after 4 years and they replaced it with a new one no questions asked.. I have never had a problem with the extender dropping out and am glad I got it. Hope this a help.



Mardy

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks Mardy

How do they work?
Do they just need power?
Or do they need to be hard-wired to the modem/router too?

[Andy Walters (Andy)]

Hi Mike,
I use a TP- Link N300 extender (forget the model#), inexpensive, does the job. Just plug in and away you go! I think you can use just about any extender and it would work.
Cheers Andy.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Hi Mike,

Yep, you can use pretty much any wifi extender with your Billion.

They simply need a power point as they wirelessly log on to the main router's signal as a client device and then reproduce the signal for that area.

I use a NETGEAR WN2000RPT Universal WiFi Range Extender for my Foxtel IQ box in the Games room which has no CAT 5 cabling, as the unit has a 4 port ethernet switch so I can plug a CAT5 cable into the Foxtel to get downloads.

Works a treat, cost less than $100.

You can even buy one from JB Hifi that simply plugs into a wall socket and has two aerials for even simpler extension of the wifi signal. http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/compu...xtender/657346



Cheers

Chris

[iceman (Mike)]

Thanks guys.

Chris that one looks pretty good (NETGEAR WN2000RPT). I think I'll just get the same!

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

The NETGEAR WN2000RPT appears to be 802.11g but not 802.11n. The WN2500RP is both g and n.

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Originally Posted by iceman

I've got a Billion 7800N modem/router, and it's great - however there's some parts of the house where WiFi barely reaches and I'd like to get a stronger signal there.

I've seen/heard of Wi-Fi extenders..

How do they work?
What's the best one to get for my Billion?

Cheers and thanks

Hi Mike,
Just last week I had need to research and purchase such a creature.
Instead of just getting a simple solution, I tried to future proof it and, what I ended up with is a Netcomm NP206.
It is a Wireless Powerline Kit.

So it does wireless rebroadcast AND provides two ethernet connection ports.

One piece plugs into a powerpoint near the router/modem and plugs into a spare ethernet port on the router/modem.

The other can be plugged into any power socket anywhere in the house, (YES even if it is on a separate circuit). It even works across "Multi Phase".

The second unit has two ethernet ports and a separate wireless broadcast (which appears as a new wifi source) and which can be turned on /off easily if you are concerned about wifi security.

I bought it from Office Works for $199.
But have seen it on eBay for less.

To protect the signal it uses some line filtering.

I am delighted with the results so far.
(And extra units can be bought to have wired outlets wherever you need a further ethernet connection (eg BluRay, Foxtel, Smart TV, etc).

You are welcome to come have a look if you are interested.
[I am not affiliated with any of the above businesses]

[allan gould]

I use the Netgear extender that Chris mentions above. Works excellently and extends the range out to my observatory. Our main router is a DLink and so the Netgear will work with anything and just needs power and a few button presses to connect and extend the range.
Cost me about $86 from Hardly Normal.

[iceman (Mike)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

The NETGEAR WN2000RPT appears to be 802.11g but not 802.11n. The WN2500RP is both g and n.

What's the implications of this?

[allan gould]

Sorry just checked and mine is a WN3000RP
Allan

[Craig_L]

Well I have a Netgear 3000RP - around $100 from Dick Smith. Says b/g/n. Needs power socket and to sort of be in line with the main wireless router so the instructions say. Seems to work okay - just puts an _EXT on the router name when you are scanning for modems. Uses the same password as your main router. But I wouldn't expect too much.

[Steffen]

Originally Posted by iceman

What's the implications of this?

802.11g only goes to 54Mbps link speeds, 802.11n goes up to 450Mbps, depending on antenna configuration. The extender should be as fast as the base station.

Cheers
Steffen.

[iceman (Mike)]

My Billion is 802.11n, so sounds like the 802.11g would NOT be a good idea!

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

The other point of note is the Netgear WN2000RPT and WN2500RP ones have multiple ethernet ports and can act as a hub, say in your obs. They only do 10/100Mb and the rest of my LAN is gigabit.

[Tandum (Robin)]

I've been using Netgear WN3000RP Wireless-N Universal Range Extender for pure wireless extenders. They are cheap and seem to work quite well.

[cventer]

I bought one of these 3 days ago

http://www.dlink.com.au/products/?pid=986

Cost $65 where I bought it and works perfectly with my Billion Wireless Router. Dead easy to setup.

I now have wireless in the toilet at back of the house for those long session with the ipad :-)

Its also VERY compact so you hardly notice it plugged into the wall

[John0z (John)]

You have a couple of other options.

1. Wireless Access Point - this connects via a hardwire connection to give an additonal access point. We use a TP-Link TL-WA601G to add an additional wireless networks when my son's friends come over for an allnight gaming session (like 10 kids).

2. Ethernet over Power - these things plug into a power point near your router, then plug into the same power circuit somewhere else - then you get a ethernet connection. You can use this in conjunction with the access point.

3. Wireless bridge - a lot of routers have the capability of extending the range of existing wireless networks.

We tried quite a few of them when setting up our home wireless network, but in the end, we had to replace our cable modem and ended up with a wireless enabled cable modem but this was in the wrong position since it had to connect to the cable. So we now use a Wireless N Gigabit Router - TP-Link TL-WR1043ND directly connected in a central location, then this other wireless access point when we want additional connections for guests (to avoid giving them access to our more secured wireless).

[ReaPerMan (Paul)]

I use the TP-Link WA730RE 150Mbps Wireless N Range Extender It's about $30 on ebay Its 150 Mbs and does everything I need. I wasn't getting a good signal in the back yard or in my shed. This fixed everything and has been running perfectly non stop for 2 years now.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TP-Link-WA730RE-150Mbps-Wireless-N-Range-Extender-2-4G-/250771884138?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15 &hash=item3a632b486a

[Exfso (Peter)]

I also have the Billion 7800N, not sure if you are aware, but you can tweek the settings to give you more download speed. I have upped mine through tweeking by around 1500kbps. You do it by adjusting the SN ratio. It is all to do with the chipset it has. I went from 6500kbps to 8000kbps by mucking around with it and no dropouts. Apparently the chipset in that router is a hoot at handling unstable lines.

Here is the link to the page that discusses it: http://www.increasebroadbandspeed.co.uk/billion-7800n