Wireless router and extender

MyIdaho · 04-17-2012, 12:24 PM

Need advice! I will be having knee surgery in a week's time and won't be able to use my downstairs game setup. I need to replace my non-functioning router for internet access. Any good suggestions on a wireless router ~$70 and perhaps an extender? I understand that the extender can use your home wiring to carry the data to a distant router. What do I look for in an extender? Thanks!

Alshain · 04-17-2012, 12:28 PM

Your confusing Extender with Power Line Networking. A wireless extender reads wireless data from your router and then rebroadcasts it wireless again.

Power line network plugs into your wall and transmits data from a transmitter to a receiver also plugged into the wall. No wireless involved.

Which one are you looking for?

MyIdaho · 04-17-2012, 12:49 PM

Oops, you're right, I was/am confused... My old router was having difficulties with wireless reception at a distant bedroom (75 feet from router location). My hope is that a new router can fix it and if not, then I'd need an extender. Which would you suggest, Power line networking or wireless extender? FYI, a low cost option is preferred since my son would only use this location during 3 or 4 visits per year and I would use during recovery from surgery. Thanks for your help!

MyIdaho · 04-18-2012, 09:39 AM

After some searching, I think I've come to a resolution. I'll purchase a long range wireless router (leaning toward Linksys EA3500). If needed, I'll add a powerline network extender setup and be hard wired to the network at the distant location. Alternatively, I could purchase an access point device or cheap router for a wireless connection at this location. Hardwire to the network extender is the cheaper route.

Three very helpful articles and a youtube video are:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/16424...etworking.html
http://superuser.com/questions/23763...range-extender
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Powerlin...view-1333.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sue1Zvmh8JA

MmmBacon · 04-18-2012, 04:22 PM

I recommend getting the Linksys EA3500 however instead of a network extender get a high-gain wireless adapter. I have computers much farther than 75 feet and I can get a 4-bar signal.

MyIdaho · 04-18-2012, 08:32 PM

+1 rep

I'm not familiar with them. Which high gain wireless adapter do you suggest? thanks!

MmmBacon · 04-19-2012, 05:57 AM

Well you want something wireless N compatible and have multiple antennas. Here's a start: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rnal%20Antenna

Do you want an internal adapter or a usb one?

A-spase · 04-19-2012, 06:09 AM

i will newer buy wireless router for real multilayer games.not even recommend that samone .cause u gonna loose some speed any way.for movement or in FPS games ,u can kill with 1 bullet instead off full LMG magazine.

MyIdaho · 04-19-2012, 08:05 AM

Laptops would be used in the poor reception area so a USB adapter is preferred. The Amped wireless UA600 at the newegg link looks intriguing to me...

Add on: Apase, these are work computers not gaming computers. I agree though, I prefer and do use direct hard wire to the router for multi-player on-line gaming.

A-spase · 04-19-2012, 09:17 AM

cause we not ON facebook or twitter at all .Gaming FIRST.

MmmBacon · 04-19-2012, 05:06 PM

It's a big misconception that you can't game on wireless. Wired is ideal since interference is low but otherwise wireless is fine for gaming especially with 802.11N. Radio waves travel in an ideal environment the speed of light (a vacuum). So give or take a millisecond or two to reach your router, can you really benefit from it?

So not only am I using a wireless keyboard/mouse, I am also on wifi. All of this doing multi-player games. It's very convenient and leaves less of a mess.

MyIdaho · 05-06-2012, 09:08 AM

Just wanted to provide a quick update. I purchased the Linksys EA3500 router. Installation was a breeze! We have five bar reception at the primary user locations (upstairs, and up to 75 feet away from router) in our home. The speedtests at distant locations upstairs were 90 to 95% of speeedtest in the computer room. I'm very pleased with my router choice!

A-spase · 05-06-2012, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyIdaho

Just wanted to provide a quick update. I purchased the Linksys EA3500 router. Installation was a breeze! We have five bar reception at the primary user locations (upstairs, and up to 75 feet away from router) in our home. The speedtests at distant locations upstairs were 90 to 95% of speeedtest in the computer room. I'm very pleased with my router choice!

more like this user and we can up rank faster in the games

Bad_Motha · 05-06-2012, 11:41 PM

High Gain antenna is an easier route, if the router supports it.
That is what I do and I have the router on a 2nd floor and I can sit on my neighbors front porch across the street (approx 250 - 300 ft away) and be on my internet. No problems.

04-17-2012, 12:24 PM	#1
MyIdaho Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 19 Posts: 399	Wireless router and extender Need advice! I will be having knee surgery in a week's time and won't be able to use my downstairs game setup. I need to replace my non-functioning router for internet access. Any good suggestions on a wireless router ~$70 and perhaps an extender? I understand that the extender can use your home wiring to carry the data to a distant router. What do I look for in an extender? Thanks!

04-18-2012, 09:39 AM	#4
MyIdaho Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 19 Posts: 399	After some searching, I think I've come to a resolution. I'll purchase a long range wireless router (leaning toward Linksys EA3500). If needed, I'll add a powerline network extender setup and be hard wired to the network at the distant location. Alternatively, I could purchase an access point device or cheap router for a wireless connection at this location. Hardwire to the network extender is the cheaper route. Three very helpful articles and a youtube video are: http://www.pcworld.com/article/16424...etworking.html http://superuser.com/questions/23763...range-extender http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Powerlin...view-1333.html http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sue1Zvmh8JA Last edited by MyIdaho: 04-18-2012 at 01:04 PM. Reason: added alternative solution

04-19-2012, 08:05 AM	#9
MyIdaho Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 19 Posts: 399	Laptops would be used in the poor reception area so a USB adapter is preferred. The Amped wireless UA600 at the newegg link looks intriguing to me... Add on: Apase, these are work computers not gaming computers. I agree though, I prefer and do use direct hard wire to the router for multi-player on-line gaming. Last edited by MyIdaho: 04-19-2012 at 08:13 AM.

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04-17-2012, 12:28 PM	#2
Alshain Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 737 Posts: 1,736	Your confusing Extender with Power Line Networking. A wireless extender reads wireless data from your router and then rebroadcasts it wireless again. Power line network plugs into your wall and transmits data from a transmitter to a receiver also plugged into the wall. No wireless involved. Which one are you looking for?

04-17-2012, 12:49 PM	#3
MyIdaho Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 19 Posts: 399	Oops, you're right, I was/am confused... My old router was having difficulties with wireless reception at a distant bedroom (75 feet from router location). My hope is that a new router can fix it and if not, then I'd need an extender. Which would you suggest, Power line networking or wireless extender? FYI, a low cost option is preferred since my son would only use this location during 3 or 4 visits per year and I would use during recovery from surgery. Thanks for your help!

04-18-2012, 04:22 PM	#5
MmmBacon Join Date: Oct 2010 Reputation: 540 Posts: 742	I recommend getting the Linksys EA3500 however instead of a network extender get a high-gain wireless adapter. I have computers much farther than 75 feet and I can get a 4-bar signal.

04-18-2012, 08:32 PM	#6
MyIdaho Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 19 Posts: 399	+1 rep I'm not familiar with them. Which high gain wireless adapter do you suggest? thanks!

04-19-2012, 05:57 AM	#7
MmmBacon Join Date: Oct 2010 Reputation: 540 Posts: 742	Well you want something wireless N compatible and have multiple antennas. Here's a start: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rnal%20Antenna Do you want an internal adapter or a usb one?

04-19-2012, 06:09 AM	#8
A-spase Join Date: Oct 2011 Reputation: 15 Posts: 386	i will newer buy wireless router for real multilayer games.not even recommend that samone .cause u gonna loose some speed any way.for movement or in FPS games ,u can kill with 1 bullet instead off full LMG magazine.

04-19-2012, 09:17 AM	#10
A-spase Join Date: Oct 2011 Reputation: 15 Posts: 386	cause we not ON facebook or twitter at all .Gaming FIRST.

04-19-2012, 05:06 PM	#11
MmmBacon Join Date: Oct 2010 Reputation: 540 Posts: 742	It's a big misconception that you can't game on wireless. Wired is ideal since interference is low but otherwise wireless is fine for gaming especially with 802.11N. Radio waves travel in an ideal environment the speed of light (a vacuum). So give or take a millisecond or two to reach your router, can you really benefit from it? So not only am I using a wireless keyboard/mouse, I am also on wifi. All of this doing multi-player games. It's very convenient and leaves less of a mess.

05-06-2012, 09:08 AM	#12
MyIdaho Join Date: Jun 2010 Reputation: 19 Posts: 399	Just wanted to provide a quick update. I purchased the Linksys EA3500 router. Installation was a breeze! We have five bar reception at the primary user locations (upstairs, and up to 75 feet away from router) in our home. The speedtests at distant locations upstairs were 90 to 95% of speeedtest in the computer room. I'm very pleased with my router choice!

05-06-2012, 11:41 PM	#14
Bad_Motha Join Date: Sep 2008 Reputation: 3095 Posts: 12,983	High Gain antenna is an easier route, if the router supports it. That is what I do and I have the router on a 2nd floor and I can sit on my neighbors front porch across the street (approx 250 - 300 ft away) and be on my internet. No problems.