I need to extend my home network

[DoomMunky]

I'm PC based, running off a Linksys WRT54G wireless router, but I can't get the signal down into the corners of my new apartment for my downstairs roommates. The guys who just moved out had an Airport and Airport Extreem (or whatever, that little box you plug into an outlet) and their network worked great.

What should I do?

[RyanMichael]

The Linksys range extenders work but they increase latency a bit. Not a deal-breaker for general web-surfing, but if you're gaming, it might be an issue.

Powerline network adapters work well, or you could just try your luck with a signal reflector (http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/) or perhaps the higher-gain antennas (http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-High-Antenna-Connectors-HGA7T) for that model.

Personally, I'd just replace it with a WHR-HP-G54 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162134), flash with DD-WRT, and call it a day.

[chequers]

Can you run a cable part of the way there? Almost every modern wifi rebroadcaster should support WDS, which lets you transparently add new routers to your existing network to extent the range in a way that doesn't suck. You don't even need both sides of the network to support WDS!

[DoomMunky]

Well, I got a free nother WRT54G wireless modem for free. Sweet!

Now what? I should probably use that Google thing, huh. :)

[chequers]

http://marc-abramowitz.com/archives/2007/01/15/wds-on-the-wrt54g/
Looks pretty sane, but I've never used a linksys device.

[russellmz00]

I'm PC based, running off a Linksys WRT54G wireless router, but I can't get the signal down into the corners of my new apartment for my downstairs roommates. The guys who just moved out had an Airport and Airport Extreem (or whatever, that little box you plug into an outlet) and their network worked great.

What should I do?

how far does it need to extend? this strengthens signals.

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html

[Skipper]

Run an ethernet cable from one of the LAN ports on your current router to the LAN port of the new one in the alternate location. Alternatively use a powerline ethernet adapter to do that ethernet cable run.

If you want consistent, good reception and full speed wireless at the new location in your home, I wouldn't accept any other method (wireless extenders, AP's configured for WDS, higher gain antenna, new firmware with TX boost, etc) as they all have drawbacks.

The second router should be set with DHCP off, be plugged in on the LAN side only, should use the same SSID and authentication and should also be on a different discreet channel than your first unit (try to use only channels 1, 6, or 11.) If there is a firmware setting for AP mode, that's what you want. This will allow "roaming" in between your AP's.

[DoomMunky]

So I've been looking into this more, and I found an tutorial that's PERFECT for what I need: http://tronza.net/index.php?q=node/14

BUT, the 3rd screen in the tutorial (has Wireless WDS in a black bar on the left side) references that screen, Wireless WDS, that I DON'T HAVE, on my firmware, both of which are up to date. The Marc Abramowitz article on this issue references the WDS screen, too: http://marc-abramowitz.com/archives/2007/01/15/wds-on-the-wrt54g/

What gives? Where's this screen?

[Skipper]

Easy answer, that's not stock firmware. It's Alchemy:
Alchemy-pre5.2.2 v2.09.1.8sv (http://www.sveasoft.com/)

It was a firmware done by Sveasoft some time ago, I don't think they even work on that any more, it's now called Talisman. Not having used that I would recommend Tomato (http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato) or DD-WRT (http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv3/index.php) instead. I'm sure you'll find about the same features in each, although your screens will be different for configuration.

[DoomMunky]

Wow, didn't even notice that. Thanks for the tip! I'll try out Tomato and see what's up. I like tomatoes.

[unbongwah]

I seem to be the only one `round here who likes Powerline networking, but I'm currently using the Actiontec 85Mbps adapters (http://www.actiontec.com/products/product.php?pid=207) with no complaints. [They're up to 200 Mbps (http://www.actiontec.com/products/product.php?pid=203) now if you need the extra bandwidth.] That's in a house, though, not an apartment, so I don't know if it would work out for you.

[RyanMichael]

I gave them some love in my second post, but I only use them when stronger antennas or an additional WDS router can't be used or won't do the trick.

[Skipper]

I need to do powerline for one run in my house. I've just been lazy about going to pick up the gear for it. It's either that or stringing copper cable 3/4 of the way around the house through walls.

[DoomMunky]

Okay! I finally got this set up and working. I'm using two Linksys WRT54G routers, one a v8, one a v4. I have the latest DD-WRT firmware running on each and it's all working GREAT!

But I'm using WEP for security. Is there any reason not to do this? We live in a low-traffic area, with very few others in the building. Is it a risky security setup? I ask b/c I really don't want to have to buy a new wireless setup for our Tivo Series 2, which needs a G setup to work with WPA Personal. Is using WPA (which we have been doing for months) like wearing a short skirt in a bad neighborhood?

[KaoFloppy]

But I'm using WEP for security. <snip> Is using WPA (which we have been doing for months) like wearing a short skirt in a bad neighborhood?
For security, WPA2 > WPA > WEP > nothing. That said, I'm confused. Are you using WEP or WPA?

[Mr_PeaCH]

WEP is ridiculously easy to crack. WPA is significantly better. But unless you have stuff perpetually shared out on your network which you are sensitive about you probably don't need to care.

The poor man's way to handle security is to combine one of the above with not broadcasting your SSID (the name of your access point) so that someone more or less has to know the name of the network before they try to connect to and hack in to it. But honestly, it is overkill.

[RyanMichael]

Uh, yeah. Not broadcasting the SSID is a pretty weak defense. It can be sniffed easily. If they can hack WEP, they can sniff your SSID.

[Dave Weinstein]

Not broadcasting the SSID doesn't help you, and makes it very easy to evil twin your network.

Also, a paper just came out with a fast MITM break for WPA.

Use WPA2 (AES Only).

[DoomMunky]

Thanks for the tips. I'm just using WEP (all these damn acronyms are confusing to a non-power user) and it sounds like I'll be fine with it. Other than my roommate's 20gb of music, there's nothing on our network that's terribly sensitive.

[chequers]

WEP is as secure as no encryption at all. If you want decent protection, upgrade to WPA-AES (at least) (not WPA-TKIP) or preferably WPA2, which has no known attacks.

[MatthewF]

Has anyone used the Powerline adapters in an apartment? I fucking hate wi-fi.

[Jag]

I seem to be the only one `round here who likes Powerline networking, but I'm currently using the Actiontec 85Mbps adapters (http://www.actiontec.com/products/product.php?pid=207) with no complaints. [They're up to 200 Mbps (http://www.actiontec.com/products/product.php?pid=203) now if you need the extra bandwidth.] That's in a house, though, not an apartment, so I don't know if it would work out for you.

I'm on the verge of getting a powerline for one run to my PS3/DVR that I can't seem to run wires too. Even though it's only about 20 feet from my router, I have issues streaming media from my PC.

Do you like the Actiontec? Seems to be a reasonable price.

Edited edit: Just bought the 2pack from Amazon for $59.

[zabuni]

Has anyone used the Powerline adapters in an apartment? I fucking hate wi-fi.

I have, they seem to work fine, but I'd use the encryption on them so that people don't eavesdrop on you.

[Dave Weinstein]

All WEP does is protect you against the casual person borrowing your network.

[unbongwah]

Do you like the Actiontec? Seems to be a reasonable price.
I've never had a problem with them, but I've never tried to stream video over them either. I mostly use them to access my FIOS connection from the basement.

Edited edit: Just bought the 2pack from Amazon for $59.
Maybe too late to mention this, but you might be better off with the 200Mbps adapters, which are only $20 more, if streaming media is your goal.

[Jag]

I've never had a problem with them, but I've never tried to stream video over them either. I mostly use them to access my FIOS connection from the basement.

Maybe too late to mention this, but you might be better off with the 200Mbps adapters, which are only $20 more, if streaming media is your goal.

Thanks. I caught the order and canceled it. Didn't realize I had a faster option for powerline. I think I'll do a bit more research.

[dogbert]

I'm investigating powerline networking for the house we just moved into. Wifi sucks in it because of the room layout/size of the house. I need three rooms networked:

- downstairs by the TV (where the modem + current wifi router live) + consoles
- computer in an office
- consoles upstairs.

Are there any powerline options available that'll let me run it from one room to multiple rooms on the same circuit instead of the 1:1 option discussed here?

[MatthewF]

From what I understand you'll need to plug one into your router, and then you can use as many additional adapters as you need. In that sense they sort of act like a switch I suppose, with the router assigning additional IP addresses for each connected machine.

[drbob]

you can use as many additional adapters as you need. In that sense they sort of act like a switch I suppose,

I think it's more like a token bus network. Each extra homeplug unit gets an equal share of the total 200Mbps bandwith on the powerline "bus" so you could have one transfer at 200Mbps between two homeplug adapters or four simultaneous transfers to different adapters at 50Mbps each (actual maximum throughput is 80-90Mbps total on a homeplug 200Mbps network).

Different to a switch where each port gets the full 10/100 or 1000 Mbps network bandwidth.

[MattN]

Run an ethernet cable from one of the LAN ports on your current router to the LAN port of the new one in the alternate location. Alternatively use a powerline ethernet adapter to do that ethernet cable run.

If you want consistent, good reception and full speed wireless at the new location in your home, I wouldn't accept any other method (wireless extenders, AP's configured for WDS, higher gain antenna, new firmware with TX boost, etc) as they all have drawbacks.

The second router should be set with DHCP off, be plugged in on the LAN side only, should use the same SSID and authentication and should also be on a different discreet channel than your first unit (try to use only channels 1, 6, or 11.) If there is a firmware setting for AP mode, that's what you want. This will allow "roaming" in between your AP's.
So I am thinking about doing this setup to wire all my systems in my room to the router and also so I don't have to dance around my room looking for a good signal on my laptop. Right now I am using a D-link router that is on its last leg it seems and I was wondering what the best router would be to pair up with each other. For instance what is that AP thing you speak of?

[dogbert]

So I got a Powerline setup a few months ago & have been exceptionally happy with it; works great for all my consoles & PC in three different rooms.

Until yesterday. We switched ISP to our local cable company from super slow AT&T DSL and somehow in the process, my powerline is no longer working room to room. I have absolutely zero clue why that could be - I've plugged two adapters into the same powerbar & networking works; I move them back to their original wall plugs, and networking doesn't. What the heck could the cable installer have done to mess this up??!?