F-13 new wireless routers -

[Bob Goodwin]

  On 07/08/10 14:50, JD wrote:
>    On 08/07/2010 11:07 AM, Bob Goodwin wrote:
>>       This is a current updated f-13 computer connected to our home LAN. I
>>       have been using a Buffalo Airstation WLI-TX4-AG300N, essentially an
>>       Ethernet wireless adapter to access the system. I recently bought a
>>       Netgear WNDR330 dual band "N" wireless router and am having a lot of
>>       trouble getting it to perform as advertised. This is a less than 20
>>       year old typical two story frame house. I would expect the walls to
>>       be essentially transparent to RF energy.
>>
>>       Normally the distance between the router and the wireless adapter is
>>       less than forty feet and there has been no problem operating in the
>>       2.4 gHz band however I find that with equipment located as it has
>>       been for several years the new router will not function at that
>>       distance in the 5 gHz band. In fact to get any connection at all I
>>       have to reduce the distance to about ten feet which pretty well
>>       negates the advantage of a wireless system. I decided several years
>>       ago that running cables in this house is out of the question.
>>
>>       I am on the third WNDR3300 router for other reasons but all of them
>>       have had weak signal problems in the 5 gHz band. I just got around
>>       to experimenting with that problem over the last two days.
>>
>>       Does anyone have experience with a similar system? I would be
>>       interested to know if my observations are typical or if I have an
>>       equipment problem. I am considering obtaining a different wireless
>>       adapter device to replace the Buffalo unit since it is the only
>>       thing unchanged here.
>>
>>       Any suggestions or observations will be appreciated. I feel,like I
>>       am operating in a vacuum with no one to consult.
>>
>>       Bob
> Hi Bob,
> I have a very similar problem with the AT&T Uverse router.
> Distance between my computer and the router is indeed less than
> 40 feet in a modern house with very light drywalls (earthquake
> specification),
> and because they are interior walls, they have no insulation.
> There are 2 such walls between my computer and the router.
> Rx signal at my computer is very weak even at 2.4 GHz.
> I have set my Tx signal to maximum, but that will not affect
> the Tx signal of the router. It has a weak Tx signal.
> I do not believe there is anything that can be done to the routers.
> I have experimented with putting external high gain antennas on
> my computer, but they promise much more than they actually
> deliver: nothing - No gain in signal at all.
>
>

    And the newer devices have "internal" antennas, no connector to even
    try a gain antenna of any kind. Just try different orientations for
    best signal strength. I do have a camera feeding another Buffalo
    ethernet adapter, 2.4 gHz only, perhaps 100 feet away from the
    router that works marginally. The router and the adapter must be
    positioned carefully but the slow data rate limits me to 3 frames
    per sec. or less. Performance is degraded where the distances cause
    weaker signals.

    Yes, the problems I cited were all through interior uninsulated
    frame walls, and this place is certainly not earthquake proof, we
    went through one hurricane and it creaked like it was coming apart.

    Thanks for your observations.

    Bob

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