Wireless Network Signal Advice PLEASE!!!

Ok, I bought a Netgear DG834G wireless router and 2 Netgear WG311 PCI adapters to setup my wireless network. Eveything is working fine, the computers all get internet connection and can share. The thing is, one computer is on the floor below the router, literally less than 10 meters away from it, through about 2 brick walls and one floor. Now, this router is suppossed to have a signal range of 300 meters, and I know it's on a different floor and has wall interference, but that computer is alternating between very low signal and no signal. I tried changing the frequency channel from default the 11 to 12. Didn't help. The other computer is in the room next door, like 3-4 meters away, and that dosn't get full signal either, although its alot better, about 4 bars. Any one know any good ways of improving signal on these devices, i know some people get full signal through many walls and through a number of floors. Could a wireless mouse and keyboard affect the signal this much?
Any ideas?

 

Well, are you sure it's a brick wall? Brick walls usually stop a signal dead. I've had trouble setting up wireless in schools because of this. You pretty much need an access point after every brick wall. Dry wall on the other hand doesn't give many issues, and it goes through fine.

There is also a huge issue with books, stacks of books are a lot like brick walls and can stop the signal fairly easily. So if you've got a bookshelf in the way you may want to consider moving it.

There isn't much you can really do if it's actually a brick wall in the way. They are signal killers. It takes a lot to get through them. wireless mice and keyboard have never personally given me any issues when dealing with wireless NIC's.

All I can really suggest is to try and move the router/access point as close as possible. Or if it's possible move it somewheres so it's inbetween both computers. Ultimately the only way to get a really realiable signal through a brick wall is to use wires.

 

It might be that your are the last person in the world that still believes in the Marketing statement of Network Hardware Vendors (300ft).

10M (33ft) and two brick walls does it to the poor Wireless.

May be this can Help.


Link to: Wireless What Should I Get?

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / SOHO Network.

Link to: Hi Gain Antenna for Entry Level Wireless.

Link to: "Speed" (Bandwidth) expectation of Ethernet Home Networks using Windows 98/2000/XP.

 

Right, that makes sense.
Yeah, it's actually only one brick wall, but it's a hardcore, two-layer, metre thick outside brick wall. Kills signals dead The signal's also going through an aliminium roof, probably not so good either.
Maybe I could extend the phone and ethernet wires and put the router on the landing, that would by-pass the wall, and hopefully the roof, i'll give it a try!
Thanks for the help!

 

I just had a thought, probably a long shot, but...
If I set up a laptop with a usb wireless card between the router and computer that isn't getting any, would it get a better signal? Maybe? Also if that did work, the USB card is 'B' wireless not 'G' wireless like the rest, would that matter?
Thanks

 

You need to match B and G. B can't talk to G at all. They do make routers that are B and G routers though. So depending on your router it may work. But B only talks to B and G only talks to G.

 

Unless configured to "g-only", -g devices will politely slow down to speak with -b devices. Same frequency. If both are set to the same security (WEP, WPA, etc) the should work together, but only at -b speeds.

 

The metal roof is what's killing you. RF will not go thru metal, so you HAVE to go around.

 

So does that mean it would work? If I setup the USB adapter so it dosn't go through the metal roof, it would boast the signal of the computer thats the other side of th metal roof? I didn't realise that adapters could also give out signals.

 

It would be worth a try. Also, I don't know this for a fact, but I've heard a bridge/adapter has more range than a router.

Everything in a wireless network has to be two-way (transmit and receive).