Wireless repeater

Hi there

I have Sky fibre 80 / 20

At the front of my house the bedrooms only get 100 KB/s on downloads which is pretty terrible. The WiFi is one or 2 bars & iPhones wont even find the connection.

I've tried moving the master but wherever I put it I introduce a slow spot elsewhere...

I am looking to extend the WiFi somehow but I'm not sure of the best way.

I got some 500 Mbps homeplugs and hooked up a router but the speed fell short of the 80 Mbps connection...

I would install a repeater in the centre of the house. Here I can get full 80 Mbps on WiFi with my devices. If I could get a repeater here I would also get good signal all over.

My concern with a repeater is the 50% speed reduction. I know I can install Ethernet to the repeater but that's going to be messy.

Is a Ethernet cable to the repeater the only true solution or are there repeaters that would not reduce the speed.

EDIT: I've googled a fair bit but haven't found a definite 100% solution just yet.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Wed 01-Aug-12 21:47:46)

You don't NEED to install a repeater. You could install an additional AP with the same SSID and password or disable the one in the router if everyone can use the 'central' one OK.

What about just using homeplugs between the current router and the central one? Might not be the full 80meg but better than nothing.

Wireless repeating isn't the way to do it, it'll be too slow to be worthwhile.

And how does that solve the problems? It doesn't, there would still be dead spots and problems running cables to it.

Ethernet and a couple of wifi access points is the only sure way to do it.
If 500 Mbps falls short, suggestion is that it is a fair amount of distance involved.

Have just got the review boxes for http://www.ashcomms.com/latest-news/asheridge-launch... and will report with some rough data on speed over coax this weekend. So if you have coax between rooms this may be an option.

Id say bite the bullet and run the cable to an access point in the centre, its only one cable.

Do you have a loft to run it through or floorboards you can lift?

In reply to a post by Anonymous:

You don't NEED to install a repeater. You could install an additional AP with the same SSID and password

This is what I did, I had a couple of dead spots, so I put a wireless AP in the loft with the same SSID and password, works pretty well - only use wireless for the phones and tablets/laptop. Fortunately when I ran Ethernet around the house I had the foresight to run one into the loft.

Homeplugs barely got me 20Mbps. Cheers anyway. These were the 500Mbps variant too.

Homeplugs between different areas of the house work great but not where I want them... Typical.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Thu 02-Aug-12 14:58:19)

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

Ethernet and a couple of wifi access points is the only sure way to do it.
If 500 Mbps falls short, suggestion is that it is a fair amount of distance involved.

Have just got the review boxes for http://www.ashcomms.com/latest-news/asheridge-launch... and will report with some rough data on speed over coax this weekend. So if you have coax between rooms this may be an option.

Great suggestion but unfortunately we don't have an aerial. Just got those cheapo portable aerials and Sky downstairs.

EDIT: actually there are two aerial points but they don't work for TV but perhaps they are linked together - just not to an actual aerial.

There's not too much distance involved and honestly I don't understand why the homeplugs are performing so badly. I have all up to spec electrics and had them all checked out & certified so I thought they would perform well as I'm often away from home and didn't want anything dodgy happening when I'm not there.

Looks like wires the only option.

My issue I think is that some of the walls have this in them.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2591612352_238e9...

I can see it inside one of the walls where it's not fully joined to the false wall.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Thu 02-Aug-12 15:01:59)

In reply to a post by Tayonas:

Id say bite the bullet and run the cable to an access point in the centre, its only one cable.

Do you have a loft to run it through or floorboards you can lift?

That's the thing. I have a bit of a problem. The house has laminate which is literally glued down to the floorboards. The skirting boards are also kind of held in by the laminate.

The loft is a bedroom now too. The only true option I have is to run the wires around the skirting boards. Running cables outside might be an option

Anyway I'm going to grab some long ethernet cable and a Netgear wireless router (I have a stash of these). I'll try and keep it as nice looking as poss.

Edited by ukhardy07 (Thu 02-Aug-12 14:55:26)

If you can source some two pair Cat5e, it is about 70% of the diameter of 4 pair. You would be limited to 100Mb but it is easier to hide.

Or, what about finding a colour of Cat5e that matches the decor and will fade into the background?

In reply to a post by MHC:

If you can source some two pair Cat5e, it is about 70% of the diameter of 4 pair. You would be limited to 100Mb but it is easier to hide.

Or, what about finding a colour of Cat5e that matches the decor and will fade into the background?

Great advice cheers! I'll just paint it white.

I'll try to source this 2 pair stuff. I only need 80Mbps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_Ethernet for the wiring connections. And do it properly with an RJ45 socket (in face plate, on back box) at each end and a short patch lead from socket to WAP or Router.

For 2 pair http://www.fscables.com/Data/Structured+Wiring/Cat-5... and choose C5E2HR it will be around 25p/meter +VAT but there is a minimum order charge of £20 but there may be someone else that stocks it too. The 2 pair is also useful for making RJ11 to RJ11 patch leads for phone to modem.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Cheers mate

FS Cables are easy to deal with and a great company ... but their minimum order & delivery is a bit of a nuisance. If you are close to St Albans though, you can collect from them.

In reply to a post by MHC:

FS Cables are easy to deal with and a great company ... but their minimum order & delivery is a bit of a nuisance. If you are close to St Albans though, you can collect from them.

If I collect is there still a min order?

Im near west London with the fibre connection so I can get there.

Interestingly even with the olympics im still getting 9 Mb/s on a download

Edited by ukhardy07 (Fri 03-Aug-12 16:56:19)

Don't believe they will but at least no delivery charge!


Where in W London are you - PM me if you wish, as there is possibly a small order I need from them too.

In reply to a post by MHC:

Don't believe they will but at least no delivery charge!


Where in W London are you - PM me if you wish, as there is possibly a small order I need from them too.

Near Richmond. I'm going to ask my friend who works for BT openreach first as he gives me a reel of cable if needed sometimes. Just need to see if he's nearby. I'm in Sheffield ATM until August 17 now

I should know by Monday so I'll let you know

A bit away, but lets see.

I just need some external Cat5e - I need 100Mbps (or better) in my shed at the bottom of the garden.

A man's shed is his sanctuary and now internet enabled

With wine cooler, beer fridge, sauna, ...