Whirlpool

Hi everyone,

How much more RANGE does 802.11n wireless routers give compared to 802.11g? I want to give wireless signal to my granny flat which is about 80-90 metres away. Speedwise I am happy with being able to bowse the internet at 512K speeds. I am really after
1. Range and,
2. Stability (ie. no drop outs).

Can anyone suggest a good setup for this? I am currently looking at the Netgear WNR3500 router + a 802.11n Access Point. Wired connection is not in consideration.....

You can do just as well with G wireless and some decent antennas. Directional being much better albeit more expensive than omni. Although you can get big omni and a foil parabolic reflector is pretty good. My favourite is biquad. Easy to make and not fussy.

WRT54GL or equivalent with 3rd party firmware and you can turn up the wireless to fantastic levels.

Revs Per Min writes...

WRT54GL or equivalent with 3rd party firmware and you can turn up the wireless to fantastic levels.

Do you have a link/help on how to do this? Also how good are the directional antennas and how much are they?

Revs Per Min writes...

WRT54GL or equivalent with 3rd party firmware and you can turn up the wireless to fantastic levels.

This will make no diffrence in many situations due to walls objects ect. It must be remembered that not only does the Access point transmit a signal so does the computer so turning up the access point without turning up at the computer will be a useless exersize changing the antenna does both and can be done at both ends, if removeable, so it is good to get ones that can.

world2160 writes...

Can anyone suggest a good setup for this?

Get a seperate access point and a directional antenna mount them in a place where they point directly at the flat with no objects in the way, think of it as a torch light that you want to light up the flat with!

paulvk writes...

Get a seperate access point and a directional antenna mount them in a place where they point directly at the flat with no objects in the way, think of it as a torch light that you want to light up the flat with!

So I have a directional antenna to point at the access point in the flat. Now do I also need a directional antenna to point back to the house from the flat's Access Point? Imagine 2 torches to point at each other.

world2160 writes...

So I have a directional antenna to point at the access point in the flat. Now do I also need a directional antenna to point back to the house from the flat's Access Point?
The directional antenna may not be needed, the omni on your flat's AP might be able to pick up the directional signal from the AP in the house, but a directional on the flat's AP should provide better signal.

Imagine 2 torches to point at each other.
This is exactly right. Omni is like having a lamp that throws out light in all directions, whereas a torch will be more directional, pointed in the exact location you want, with potentially longer reach.

Revs Per Min writes...

you can get big omni and a foil parabolic reflector is pretty good.
Doing this increased my signal strength amazingly, because the signal was focused all in the one direction.

world2160 writes...

Do you have a link/help on how to do this?

Have a look at this site. It has some very good ideas for home grown parabola antennas.

http://www.usbwifi.orconhosting.net.nz/

Good luck

Thanks for the reply guys. Much more clear on the situation now. This leads me to think that as long as there is a decent antenna then I will do fine.

However, isnt it also dependant on the power output of the wireless router. Is it powerful enough to power any directional antenna on the market? I am currently considering this dish:

http://store.freenet-antennas.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_24_26&products_id=122&osCsid=f0609fdc45e79ded897c64f661c667da

FYI, my router is the Netgear CG814WG V3.

world2160 writes...

However, isnt it also dependant on the power output

Very much so.

Doubling Power gives you a 70% increase in range. And it is very important to have both ends of decent power for a long distance link.

'Effective Power' can be boosted with antennas (like the 19 dBi you pointed to) ... but pure Transmitter power is always a benefit.

Cheers

Rob

world2160 writes...

FYI, my router is the Netgear CG814WG V3.

You cannot remove the antenna I think.
So you will need to buy a separate WAP.