Wireless access point

I need to provide wifi access in parts of my home where the wifi signal from my router is very weak. I have cat5e wiring throughout so I thought I could just use the wired network that's fed from my router and plug in a wireless access point in one of the bedrooms and connect it to the wired network. The problem is that the wifi access points I've seen are the size of a small router - I'd hoped that wifi points the size of a homeplug device would be available. Does anyone know of anything that'd fit the bill?

Haven't used them but maybe something like this? Or this? Or even this?

In reply to a post by ian72:

Haven't used them but maybe something like this? Or this? Or even this?

Your links are for Range Extender products. These receive the signal from the router and rebroadcast it onwards.I am sceptical that the signal eventually reaching the laptop will deliver an acceptable speed even with a strong signal. The experts seem to agree, as you will see from http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-wi-fi-extender/#.

The OP was on the right track by thinking of using a cable router making use of the existing CAT5 already run round his home; it's just the size of such units he was objecting to. Something like the TP-LINK TL-WR702N Wireless Cable Router-N150 would perhaps be ideal but I am not sure what power source you would need.

WR 702N is powered by a micro USB source, either from the supplied mains adaptor or from a host USB connector.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E95C2BC/ref=as... Multi Function device I think fits the bill, seems to do an AP mode, not just repeater and the two Ethernet ports is a nice addition.

Never used TeckNet kit but reviews seem ok

The TP Link WR702N is one I know a few people have used and is small, personally a prefer the ability to place wireless device on the end of a lead as can put it at a better height to avoid obstructions.

Thanks for the suggestion, the TP Link looks like it'll do the job, just a shame it's not an all in one unit like the powerline wifi adapters I've seen.

In reply to a post by joconnell:

Thanks for the suggestion, the TP Link looks like it'll do the job, just a shame it's not an all in one unit like the powerline wifi adapters I've seen.

A suggestion has been made for an all in one unit that you desire. However with wall sockets usually a foot off the floor, the range of the wireless signal may be impaired when mounted so low. I seem to remember that wireless routers work optimally if mounted 6ft+ above the floor.

In reply to a post by MrSaffron:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00E95C2BC/ref=as... Multi Function device I think fits the bill, seems to do an AP mode, not just repeater and the two Ethernet ports is a nice addition.

Never used TeckNet kit but reviews seem ok

The TP Link WR702N is one I know a few people have used and is small, personally a prefer the ability to place wireless device on the end of a lead as can put it at a better height to avoid obstructions.

All valid points.

However, I'll have a play with the TeckNet Multi Function device and report back my findings in about two weeks.

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

In reply to a post by joconnell:

Thanks for the suggestion, the TP Link looks like it'll do the job, just a shame it's not an all in one unit like the powerline wifi adapters I've seen.

A suggestion has been made for an all in one unit that you desire. However with wall sockets usually a foot off the floor, the range of the wireless signal may be impaired when mounted so low. I seem to remember that wireless routers work optimally if mounted 6ft+ above the floor.

I didn't see MrSaffron's post about the Teknet unit until after I'd posted my reply.

Thanks for pointing out about the positioning and wireless range, that's good advice and steers me toward the TP-Link nano router.

If I did get the Teknet device, it'd be situated in one of the bedrooms to provide a signal for all rooms upstairs, and when I extend the wired network into the loft, it'd be moved there to improve the signal spread upstairs.

EDIT: actually I've just had a thought - my Billion 7800N router is situated on the bottom shelf of a telephone table so that it sits beneath a DECT phone. Would that could interference of the Wifi signal and if so would it be enough to reduce signal strength upstairs to 1/2 bars out of 5?

Edited by joconnell (Thu 11-Sep-14 13:16:49)

The DECT phone itself may well be interfering with the signal if it is anywhere near the same frequency. Try moving the router up and maybe temporarily turning off the phone/base station to see if signal improves.

UK Dect should in theory be fine but with all things wireless it is turn stuff off or move to experiment

At that close proximity it could theoretically be leakage rather than direct interference? Most UK devices are designed to dump unwanted noise into the 2.4Ghz range - could a DECT phone be doing the same? Or even could be the router being low down could be very close to transformers for phone/router/modem/whatever that could be causing interference in the 2.4Ghz range?

In reply to a post by joconnell:

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

In reply to a post by joconnell:

Thanks for the suggestion, the TP Link looks like it'll do the job, just a shame it's not an all in one unit like the powerline wifi adapters I've seen.

A suggestion has been made for an all in one unit that you desire. However with wall sockets usually a foot off the floor, the range of the wireless signal may be impaired when mounted so low. I seem to remember that wireless routers work optimally if mounted 6ft+ above the floor.

I didn't see MrSaffron's post about the Teknet unit until after I'd posted my reply.

Thanks for pointing out about the positioning and wireless range, that's good advice and steers me toward the TP-Link nano router.

If I did get the Teknet device, it'd be situated in one of the bedrooms to provide a signal for all rooms upstairs, and when I extend the wired network into the loft, it'd be moved there to improve the signal spread upstairs.

EDIT: actually I've just had a thought - my Billion 7800N router is situated on the bottom shelf of a telephone table so that it sits beneath a DECT phone. Would that could interference of the Wifi signal and if so would it be enough to reduce signal strength upstairs to 1/2 bars out of 5?

Your plan was to use your existing CAT5 cabling around your home to provide a remote wireless access point. Of course any cable wireless router will do that task but you were looking for a small neat device similar to a Ethernet over Power unit. Throw into the mix the desirability of having wireless access points mounted reasonable high off the floor, then the TP-Link device must be worth a punt for a modest £18.

There may be visual issues getting power and Ethernet [from the router] cables to a high mounted TP-Link device but a it would give the fastest speed to the laptop. To me it is the best technical solution.

Is not the Tecket Device a range extender with the option for connecting hard wired devices? In other words accepts a wireless signal from your router and then rebroadcasts the signal to a laptop? If so, you could be disappointed with the speed presented to the laptop despite having a good signal strength.

The TeckNet has five modes and one is a distinct range extender another is wireless bridge

The Apple Airport Express would work - but they aren't cheap. The latest version is a bit bigger than they used to be but might fit the bill.

I had the same issue a few months back http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/multiuser/t/4305858...

I eventually took vimto_girl's suggestion of using an Apple Airport Express - which I mounted on a frame underneath my desk and it has worked 100%

As you will see in that thread, I tried a TeckNet® 300Mbps Multi-function Mini Wireless-N Repeater/Router/AP with WPS and it failed to do what I wanted.

Cheers!

In reply to a post by trolleybus:

Your plan was to use your existing CAT5 cabling around your home to provide a remote wireless access point. Of course any cable wireless router will do that task but you were looking for a small neat device similar to a Ethernet over Power unit. Throw into the mix the desirability of having wireless access points mounted reasonable high off the floor, then the TP-Link device must be worth a punt for a modest £18.

There may be visual issues getting power and Ethernet [from the router] cables to a high mounted TP-Link device but a it would give the fastest speed to the laptop. To me it is the best technical solution.

I remembered having the ISP-supplied wireless-n router which I've used by disabling DHCP and assigning a static IP address, seems to work fine when it's plugged into the 7800, just need to find a suitable cat5e cable to connect it all up to have it upstairs where the signal is weak.

Thanks to all for your advice and info