Newbie with Wireless Question

dafried · 01-04-2003

Been reading and searching for hours now. I have a Linksys BEFW11P1 - EtherFast ® Wireless AP + Cable/DSL Router w/PrintServer. I connect to Sprint Broadband, three desktop PC's with WUSB11 - Instant Wireless USB Network Adapter - Version 2.5 and one laptop uses WPC11 - Instant Wireless Network Adapter - Version 3.0.

My complaint is range. I keep the router in a second-story loft. The router uses a PCMCIA card, not antenna's, which I suspect is the weak link.

Any suggestions? I am willing to buy the new dual-band models, or add an additional wireless router (one with antennas!). I would even consider a mod to the PCMCIA card in the back of the router.

Thanks in advance,

Dafried

AutoNiN · 01-23-2003

I also have Linksys gear, and I have a very poor range from my WPC11/WUSB11 units and my WAP11 base station. Put more than 2 walls or a floor in the way, and forget it.

My place is standard wood/sheetrock construction - no steel beams, no copper mesh. And definately not 300 feet from my AP to my bedroom where I'm lucky to get 50% signal strength - more like 40.

I've discovered that the spec'd ranges for 802.11b are far higher than reality. There's always the option of getting high-gain remote antennas and mount them on the AP, but for now it's working, if only semi-adequately.

If your AP/Router has replacible antennas (like I suspect it does), I'd suggest looking into getting new ones, and putting them in strategic positions in your place.

Good luck!

Thorn · 01-23-2003

dafried,
The BEFW11P1 model, due to the lack of antennae, has notoriously bad range. A friend had the same experience; 60 feet from it and signal was fast approaching zero.

Since you've got router, you could just and a WAP11 in a location where you're having bad signal. No need for another router.

You can STW for mods to the WPC11. There are some out there.

AutoNiN, that model (Linkysys BEFW11P1) doesn't have any antennae. It uses a standard WPC11 as its transceiver.

AutoNiN · 01-24-2003

OUCH!

Yeah, I can see a WPC11 trying to talk to a WPC11 as a problem.

These "all-in-one" boxes can be pretty cool sometimes, and generally can save you some cash, but they're usually full of compromises that degrade the overall usefulness of the device.

I have a straight WAP11, and when the B or G gear gets cheap, I just swap it out without worrying about whether the replacement systems will have a firewall and a switch.

But it also means I got a ton of boxes in my closet.

Oh well - each to his own!

01-04-2003	#1 (permalink)
dafried Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1	Newbie with Wireless Question Been reading and searching for hours now. I have a Linksys BEFW11P1 - EtherFast ® Wireless AP + Cable/DSL Router w/PrintServer. I connect to Sprint Broadband, three desktop PC's with WUSB11 - Instant Wireless USB Network Adapter - Version 2.5 and one laptop uses WPC11 - Instant Wireless Network Adapter - Version 3.0. My complaint is range. I keep the router in a second-story loft. The router uses a PCMCIA card, not antenna's, which I suspect is the weak link. Any suggestions? I am willing to buy the new dual-band models, or add an additional wireless router (one with antennas!). I would even consider a mod to the PCMCIA card in the back of the router. Thanks in advance, Dafried

01-23-2003	#2 (permalink)
AutoNiN Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SF East Bay Posts: 5	I also have Linksys gear, and I have a very poor range from my WPC11/WUSB11 units and my WAP11 base station. Put more than 2 walls or a floor in the way, and forget it. My place is standard wood/sheetrock construction - no steel beams, no copper mesh. And definately not 300 feet from my AP to my bedroom where I'm lucky to get 50% signal strength - more like 40. I've discovered that the spec'd ranges for 802.11b are far higher than reality. There's always the option of getting high-gain remote antennas and mount them on the AP, but for now it's working, if only semi-adequately. If your AP/Router has replacible antennas (like I suspect it does), I'd suggest looking into getting new ones, and putting them in strategic positions in your place. Good luck! __________________ ~Auto

01-23-2003	#3 (permalink)
Thorn Did you do the math? Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Villa Straylight Posts: 10,361	dafried, The BEFW11P1 model, due to the lack of antennae, has notoriously bad range. A friend had the same experience; 60 feet from it and signal was fast approaching zero. Since you've got router, you could just and a WAP11 in a location where you're having bad signal. No need for another router. You can STW for mods to the WPC11. There are some out there. AutoNiN, that model (Linkysys BEFW11P1) doesn't have any antennae. It uses a standard WPC11 as its transceiver. __________________ Thorn "Read Altas Shrugged. Compare it to today. Repeat as necessary"

01-24-2003	#4 (permalink)
AutoNiN Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SF East Bay Posts: 5	OUCH! Yeah, I can see a WPC11 trying to talk to a WPC11 as a problem. These "all-in-one" boxes can be pretty cool sometimes, and generally can save you some cash, but they're usually full of compromises that degrade the overall usefulness of the device. I have a straight WAP11, and when the B or G gear gets cheap, I just swap it out without worrying about whether the replacement systems will have a firewall and a switch. But it also means I got a ton of boxes in my closet. Oh well - each to his own! __________________ ~Auto

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