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good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:27 am
by KnightRid
I ma looking to replace my D-Link DIR-655 with maybe the DIR-825, but have been reading that the 5ghz signal is no very strong. With the 2.4ghz signla on the 655 I ended up running a wire up to the back bedroom because the wireless signal was too low and would just drop out. I am having the same problem with the room next to our bedroom with the wireless signal. Now I am talking a distance of MAYBE 50 ft from the router to the room below the bedroom, and then 1 floor up which would be 10 ft max. I thought the 2.4ghz signal would be fine, but I was wrong :(

I REALLY like how D-Link has their stuff set up and would like to stay with them if I can. I will NEVER buy ANYTHING from Netgear! Linksys, maybe...I had some before but the D-Link is just set up a lot nicer it seemed to me.

Any help is always appreciated!

Mike

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:16 am
by Darkstar
Mike, you should be getting better coverage than that, i had an old Dlink G router (504maybe? cant remember) and got the signal over 50 ft away through 4 walls (2 of them Stucco, Wire lath, with lath and plaster interior). i dont remember but maybe there is a setting in there for increasing the signal strength?
If not you might try adding a Yagi antenna or elevating the router. One last thing i can think of is changing the channel its using, but i dont really think that will help unless you are getting interference or dropped signals.

:drinkers:

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:35 pm
by Illuminati
I just got a Linksys WRT320N Wireless N Gigabit Router less than a week ago. It can do 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. I have it in the lower level right next to a lot of other electronics and I have excellent signal strength from anywhere in the house. It's a little pricey since it is gigabit and wireless n, but also gives you the option of 2.4 or 5 GHz. Setup was a breeze for default settings and setting up encryption. Other than that, I can't give you any other thoughts since I've just been using it for about a week.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833124332

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:12 am
by KnightRid
Darkstar wrote:Mike, you should be getting better coverage than that, i had an old Dlink G router (504maybe? cant remember) and got the signal over 50 ft away through 4 walls (2 of them Stucco, Wire lath, with lath and plaster interior). i dont remember but maybe there is a setting in there for increasing the signal strength?
If not you might try adding a Yagi antenna or elevating the router. One last thing i can think of is changing the channel its using, but i dont really think that will help unless you are getting interference or dropped signals.

:drinkers:
I KNOW!! lol - I have it sitting on my computer desk about 3 feet off the ground. I might try and stick it up close to the ceiling to see if it helps. I also have a 5.8ghz phone so that cant interfere with it either! I just dont get it.

I will reply again if I have the wires to try and test it up close to the ceiling to see if it makes a difference.

Mike

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:29 am
by Darkstar
just curious, do you have at least v1.2 or above firmware on the router? If not you might want to flash it.

:drinkers:

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 5:14 am
by KnightRid
Darkstar wrote:just curious, do you have at least v1.2 or above firmware on the router? If not you might want to flash it.

:drinkers:
Yep, 1.21 - newest available from what I have seen.

Mike

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:27 pm
by Zertz
Just FYI, higher frequency doesn't increase the range. At best, it stays the same.

There's ton of stuff on the 2.4 Ghz spectrum, try changing the channel and/or increasing signal strenght of your router's wireless. It should be somewhere in advanced settings. Otherwise, if you're really looking for something brand new and assuming you have a N network card, you might want to get a router with dual radios so it can do 2.4 and 5 GHz simultaneously.

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:04 am
by KnightRid
Zertz wrote:Just FYI, higher frequency doesn't increase the range. At best, it stays the same.

There's ton of stuff on the 2.4 Ghz spectrum, try changing the channel and/or increasing signal strenght of your router's wireless. It should be somewhere in advanced settings. Otherwise, if you're really looking for something brand new and assuming you have a N network card, you might want to get a router with dual radios so it can do 2.4 and 5 GHz simultaneously.
Signal strength is the highest it can go, changed channels 11 times with no difference (that was a pain!) and I dont think they make a straight 5ghz router, they are all 2.4/5ghz with either both being able to be used at once, or only 1 at a time.

I tried everything I could think of, without moving the router, yet, and I just cant get signal strength for crap! REALLY irritating!

Mike

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:59 pm
by martini161
try a booster?

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:05 am
by Darkstar
What are you getting the signal strength from ? A laptop? USB? PCi card?...depending on what you are using might also have something to do with it. If using a USB you can try attaching a cord and elevating the dongle for better reception.
Like i said moving the router can make a big difference, changing the antenna's can sometimes make a bit of a difference too. Also like Martini said a booster would help the signal strength; http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/pro ... ProdID=187
:drinkers:

Re: good long range 5ghz router?

Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:23 pm
by KnightRid
Darkstar wrote:What are you getting the signal strength from ? A laptop? USB? PCi card?...depending on what you are using might also have something to do with it. If using a USB you can try attaching a cord and elevating the dongle for better reception.
Like i said moving the router can make a big difference, changing the antenna's can sometimes make a bit of a difference too. Also like Martini said a booster would help the signal strength; http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/pro ... ProdID=187
:drinkers:
i have tried the laptop, a usb n, a PCi n, oh and the wifes laptop also - and nothing gets signal for **** upstairs.

i just hate to buy a booster whne these dang routers should EASILY have enough for me to get a signal upstairs!

I am still thinking it might be because the kitchen is right next to the computer room and the bathroom is above the 2nd half of the kitchen, so all the pipes and stuff are interfering with the signal. Weird thing is, I tried to hook up another router and even an access point in the living room, which is right below the bedroom, and I still couldnt get much of a signal.

ARGH

Mike