Resolved Wireless router advice wanted

My router connects my pc by Lan cable , and the two laptops in the house wirelessly. It is a cheap affair given away free by my ISP.But it is OK with no problems in the places where the machines have been used.

But, (1) we now also use e-books ( Amazon Kindle) and need to connect wirelessly. I find that the wireless signal strength in the rooms where we use the e-books is too poor to be useful. So I need a more powerful router (?).
(2) reading an on-line Newspaper on the laptops, they are also used in places more distant from the router, and downloading a new page is so slow - which I assume is the same problem.

Shopping at my local store I am offered 200Mb and 300 Mb wireless routers, but my actual signal strength is only about 2 Mb ( normal in UK , in most rural places). Is there any point in buying one of these ? What considerations should I look for ?
My Broadband supplier lists a dozen routers which they support, but I don't know how to choose between them.

 

I had a similar problem and ended up getting the Linksys Powerline Ethernet Adapters. Allows me to run my network through the outlets in my house. Works pretty well, though not as fast as I'd like.

Then I setup a second access point on the other side of the house. I've got several of the Ethernet Adapters for my desktops. And now get wireless throughout my house.

 

I think this is the way I'll go, but I may first of all try and find out which kind of wireles adaptor is built into the e-books.

I'll post again when it is settled.

 

It turns out that the Amazon Kindle (e-book) has the 911g adaptor, so that the 200mb or 300mb routers would be a waste of money. I'll now look further ino the Linsky powerline adaptor possibility.

 

It seems that the Linksys devices are intended for wired devices - but what I need is wireless as the e-book does not have a socket for a Lan cable.

I'm unwilling to start running extra wires through the house, so it seems that I'm stuck, and will have to put up with taking the e-book close to the router when I need to download. Of coures when the download is finished I can take it away to read,. so its not the end of the world, just a minor inconvenience. But I'll ask the e-book suppliers if they can suggest anything.

 

I thought that's what I said already, though Tony said it much more directly

 

Being an ignoramus, I tried shopping for Powerline Adaptors .I understand the bit about using the house wiring to connect betwen the router and the adaptor ( although it does sound a bit like black magic) .

But, all the ones I found provide as the outlet for the signal, a socket to plug a Lan cable (?) into ; or have I got that wrong ? Certainly the last advert I looked at boasted about no wireless !

Like I said, the e-book doesn't have a socket, so if no wireless, how will it connect to the adaptor ?

 

Can you move the router?

 

Geoff -- The Powerline Adapters are not wireless. They allow you to create a wired network to multiple points within your house. You will still need a wireless router AND another one to use as an access point to achieve what you're trying to achieve.

Bill -- I would think you could put the router wherever you want so long as it's wired to one of the Powerlines.

Here's what I've done.

I have a wireless router in my office, which is also where my cable modem is. My computer and the cable modem are hooked into the router (which is a just a standard Linksys wireless N). This router provides dynamic IPs to all of my components (wired AND wireless which for me includes a PS3 and a Wii, and several computers -- my file server and printers have static IPs).

Then I run from this wireless router to a Linksys Powerline Adapter that plugs into the wall.

Upstairs I have another Powerline Adapter. I have another wireless router plugged into this Powerline that is setup as an access point, not as a router. This provides me with a strong wireless signal upstairs, which I wasn't able to get from my one wireless downstairs.

You can also buy additional Powerlines if you want. If you want a wired connection instead of a wireless connection. For instance, my PS3 is plugged into a Powerline, but I've got the Wii setup on wireless.

 

If I did - move it nearer the place where I want to use the e-books, I would simply move the problem to another place, since my pc is LAN cable connected...
After doing some homework on various sites I have come to the conclusion that replacing my router ( which has been called a "cheap toy" on one chat site ) with a better one, may solve the problem, so I have one on order now.
I'll come back to this question after that is up and running , either to say resolved, or start again.

 

I realize you said reading with the distant notebooks is slow, but it seems the bigger problem is with the eReaders. If the router can be moved to a more central location, it might serve everyone. The typical line of site range, even for 11g is at least 100 feet. But that range can be greatly impacted by the number and composition of walls, floors and ceiling, as well as other networks and nearby highspeed electronics (microwaves, TVs, etc). Some times just raising the wireless router (or antennas or WAP-wireless access point) a couple feet up can make a difference.

Right. Unless that is the only location the powerline, phone jack for DSL, or cable for cable come into the house, you might be able to connect it somewhere that provides better coverage without buying anything. Otherwise, the best solution is to buy all new 802.11n access point and adapters.

If you have a modem and a separate wireless router, there's nothing that says the router has to be right next to the modem. You can put a longer Ethernet cable between them. I would try to keep it at 25' or less. If your WAP is integrated into the modem, then locations may be limited.

As far as your PC being connected to the router, you might have to get longer cable, or wireless adapters for PCs tend to be pretty good because the card types have big antennas hanging out the back - some can be extended with attached wires. USB wireless adapters may not have the range as a card - especially if not 11n.

 

Unless you spend the extra money for a "Simultaneous" Dual-Band Wireless Router, such as this Netgear. These are essentially two wireless networks in one box, allowing mixed wireless networks to work at full speeds.

It is more how 11n uses the signals received from each antenna to improve reception (see MIMO). Some 11g devices have 3 antennas, for example but that does not imply range is as good as 11n.

 

Of course there is a downside to extended range - a bad guy can sit down the street instead of out front and hack your network, if you have not secured it.

 

Pmsl

 

That's a scary thought. I think FB is one of the biggest security threats ever!