Router Guidance?

Hey everyone.

I'd be very grateful if anyone could give me a little advice on my next router purchase.

The problem is, I currently use a Netgear DG834PN on a 24mb o2 connection. Great reliable, fast router. The only problem is that the range isn't good enough. I'm barely getting a wireless signal down in the kitchen.

Few questions

1. Would switching to a dual band router help my coverage issues? (thought it would be due to interferance)

2. If so, which router would be best to use on an o2 connection? I've heard that I should go for one with a Broadcom chipset.

My network is shared between myself and 4 other computers. All online gaming constantly. I don't mind paying up to £150.

Thanks a lot in advance.

EDIT: I was looking at the Netgear DGND3700, but it seems a lot of Be users are having problems with it losing connection at the moment. Any have experience of this?

Edited by deleted (Thu 25-Aug-11 03:45:02)

Sorry can't help with your specific query. Stuck on a Netgear DG834Gv3 myself. Could you not relocate the router to a more central location? Have you tried changing the wireless channel.

I went from a DG384GT to a DGN2000

allot better wireless range

but if you're looking for something brand new

the billion 7800n is probably you're best best and it can also be used with fiber services in the future

have you tried changing channels on you're router try 11 or something that may help.

Edited by epyon (Thu 25-Aug-11 08:43:54)

What sort of signal do you get in the kitchen from the O2 box?

Have you also installed InSSIDer? Brilliant at avoiding clashing channels - as suggested by john2007.

Hey RobertoS - Thanks for the reply.

I'm getting only one signal bar on computers in the kitchen. Using a Netgear DG834PN - Not o2.

I'll take a look at that application you linked. Thanks a lot for that

Hey there epyon, thanks for the reply.

Yeah, I've tried 11 as well, but for some reason, 1 seems to work better.

I've heard a lot about that Billion router and it looks tempting.

I guess now it just comes down to that and the DGNG3700 that I mentioned in my first post. I'm so tempted to take the gamble and go for it.

Thanks for the reply John2007.

mmm, the reason I don't move the router away from the room it's in at the moment is due to me being on Ethernet. I won't go wireless even if someone paid me. I need the best connection for gaming, and although wireless tech has come a long way, I'm still not wanting to trust it The ironic thing is, I hate cables. So having the router close to my main machine is ideal.

Plus, it's about time I took an upgrade anyway. Had this old DG834PN for a long time now. I'm going to look at the app RobertoS mentioned in the previous post first, though, since if that improves the problem, I won't need to upgrade.

Alright, I'm back with results.

Tried that application and i'll attach a screenshot.

Clicky!

The BT hub which is shown is the one next door, I assume. My netgear is getting a much poorer signal, even when I switched to less busy channel.

I think this is a range issue here from the looks of it, although I may be wrong. Since i'm not too keen to move the router itself, I think i'm going to have to take the risk and upgrade to a newer box.

I may be wrong but I believe that wireless standards mean there may be no range benefit from a new device (the laws about radio interference seem to be adhered to).

Ohh wow

well thats to bad

i'm nearly 100% a new router will help also the DG384PN is just not great for wireless in general i'm sure a DG384GT would beat it actually just due to it being pretty much an experimental model for MIMO wireless

good thing you're not like me

Edited by epyon (Thu 25-Aug-11 15:27:18)

Woah, that's a lot of networks

I guess I have it pretty good.

.

Another thing you can do is connect one router to the other by ethernet - as far apart as possible with the second one as near the kitchen as possible. You disable DHCP on the second, and set its LAN address to a fixed one within the standard range for the first.

The second one should then work as a wireless access point with a strong(er) signal in the kitchen.

A similar solution is to connect a pure Wireless Access Point by ethernet to the Netgear. That means buying one though.

In reply to a post by TheCodexNecro:

I'm getting only one signal bar on computers in the kitchen. Using a Netgear DG834PN - Not o2.

Are they laptops or desktops? If laptops does it help to move them about a bit whilst watching the signal on inSSIder ?

If that's a BT Business Hub (2Wire) they're often quite low power output; the WiFi agreements in europe allow quite high power but many routers don't use all they're allowed. You might find moving the Netgear around slightly (if you can) helps, maybe raise it up on a small table etc.

Otherwise if the computers are fixed, perhaps look into HomePlug technology.

Just an update on this situation and a quick thank you.

I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your replies. I've learned a few new things here and it will serve me well If I, or anyone I know has similar problems in the future.

My final solution, though was to just take the gamble and buy a Netgear DGNG3700. It has been running since last Saturday solid, all computers connected and wireless signal is amazing in the kitchen now. Still a sudden jolt of interference if the microwave is turned on, but hey, can't do much about that except switching to 5ghz, but then i'd lose range

I guess my old DG834PN wasn't up to the job.

In reply to a post by TheCodexNecro:

I guess my old DG834PN wasn't up to the job.

Good news that a new router with stronger and cleverer signal resolved the problem. The new N standard is very good at that.

In reply to a post by TheCodexNecro:

I think this is a range issue here from the looks of it, although I may be wrong. Since i'm not too keen to move the router itself, I think i'm going to have to take the risk and upgrade to a newer box.

As you have stated, there is a risk with a new router. Why not do what I did, just buy a wi-fi repeater? Set it up at the edge of your current range and guaranteed better range.

I bought an EnGenius 11n Client/Repeater from Solwise (an excellent company to deal with) via Amazon, as buying direct from Solwise was more expensive due to credit card surcharges.

DrT