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Laptop doesn't connect to strongest signal

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by axel, 2011/05/28.

  1. 2011/05/28
    axel

    axel Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi,
    my laptop connects directly to the router, which is about 80 mtrs away. We installed an extender on my balkony about 5mtrs away from the computer. My laptop does not connect to the extender but still hooks on to the weaker, direct signal from the router. The program that came with my TP-Link dongle (TL-WN422G) shows the strong signal from the extender (Mac Address 00-21-91-01-67-C9) as well as the weak one (Mac Address 00-1B-11-EC-FB-86). Unfortunately the laptop will not connect at all if I use this program. Instead I use the windows wireless connection program, but alas - it only connects me to the distant router.
    Any help to connect me to the extender is most welcome and appreciated.
     
    Last edited: 2011/05/28
    axel,
    #1
  2. 2011/06/01
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    It it a range extender or a separate access point? If it's just an extender then it will be used when necessary. Wifi computers don't connect to "mac address deviices ", they connect to SSIDs. If there's only one SSID then that's the wlan you are connecting to.

    If you used a stand alone separate access point instead of just a range extender then you could assign it a different SSID and connect to it.
     
    TonyT,
    #2


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  4. 2011/06/03
    axel

    axel Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi TonyT,
    thank you for your response. We have a range extender. It is a D-Link Model DAP-1150. It has a 3 way switch: AP/REPEATER/CLIENT. Currently it is set to REPEATER. I still wonder why my laptop is connecting to the SSID's router rather than to the much stronger signal of the extender. The MAC addresses were only mentioned because it enables me to identify which accesss point my laptop is connected to.
    Any further help would be much appreciated.Rgds Axel
     
    axel,
    #3
  5. 2011/06/04
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    You probably are connecting via the repeater. 80 meters is way to far to expect a decent signal, even if use a repeater. For that distance you'd need a point-to-point setup. It can be accomplished using the devices you already have, but you'd need different antennas on each, aimed exactly at each other.
     
    TonyT,
    #4
  6. 2011/06/04
    axel

    axel Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi TonyT,
    I think I need to clarify a bit. The SSID's router is about 80mtrs away and has a signal strength of about 50%. This is the one my laptop connects to. The repeater is 5 mtrs away with a signal strength of 100% and the one I would like the laptop to use. The internet connection only works with the Windows Wireless Connection Program and only with the weak signal. If I use the connection program that came with the D-Link USB wireless adapter I can log on to the repeater but the internet and email will not connect, even though a "solution doctor program" says it's all ok.
    I attach this for some more info:
    Windows IP Configuration
    Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : AXEL
    Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
    Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
    IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
    WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
    DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : BigPond
    Ethernet adapter Connection to Greg:
    Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : BigPond
    Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Wireless G USB Adapter
    Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-27-19-B9-D3-4B
    Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
    IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.143
    Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
    IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::227:19ff:feb9:d34b%5
    Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
    DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
    DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
    fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
    fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
    fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
    Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, 5 June 2011 8:03:08 AM
    Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Tuesday, 7 June 2011 8:03:08 PM
    Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
    Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
    Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
    Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-00
    Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
    IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::ffff:ffff:fffd%4
    Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
    NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
    Tunnel adapter Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
    Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : BigPond
    Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
    Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : C0-A8-00-8F
    Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
    IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.0.143%2
    Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
    DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : fec0:0:0:ffff::1%1
    fec0:0:0:ffff::2%1
    fec0:0:0:ffff::3%1
    NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
     
    axel,
    #5
  7. 2011/06/05
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    If you can connect to the repeater but don't have Internet, then the repeater is not setup properly. Consult the manual for the Dlink, they have a separate PDF instructions download for repeater mode.

    But, like I said earlier, the Internet signal won't be any stronger at 80 meters from the AP. You'll have a strong signal from the repeater, but the signal from the AP to the repeater will be just as weak as if not using the repeater at all.

    With the AP 80 meters away and a signal strength of 50%, you have no need for a repeater at all, it won't be beneficial unless you use different antennas and a point-to-point setup.

    As for TCP/IP settings, you should right click Network Places > select Properties > right click wifi adapter > select Properties > double click TCP/IP Internet Protocol > Wins Tab > enable netbios over TCP/IP. This is for XP, accessing adapter Properties is different in Vista & Win7.
     
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2011/06/05
    axel

    axel Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thank you so much for your good advice Tony,
    I shall do what you suggest when I come back from a 3 day break.
    Cheers Axel
     
    axel,
    #7

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