Wireless connection problem... AGAIN!! I need help

[turtleb16a]

Posted a while back I was helping a friend with his wireless connection.


Back story:

Friend lives on the first floor of a 3 story house.
DSL Modem and wireless router is on the 3rd floor… and can’t be moved
Does NOT want to run wires
Too cheap to buy equipment (until recently since he’s tired of not being able to surf)

He has:

-Linksys wireless router
-SBC DSL
-Needs wireless to work on the FIRST floor, wireless router on the 3rd (no, it cant be moved...This is MY biggest frustration.. that and he's cheap)

UPDATE..

So he finally broke down and bought a linksys expander and the signal is now a bit stronger.


My question is.. since I'm sucked into working on this connection AGAIN, can anyone help answer this question....if i update his wireless router to new SRX400 technology (Linksys or Belkin) would this help boost the signal to the first floor?

Do you think the newer wireless routers will help my friend’s problem? I know he is a pain, but still an old friend. It took some arm twisting just to have him buy the expander.

What I would do is just buy the router/card and if it worked.. then he would just pay me.

Can anyone here shed some light on this?

ANY ideas helpful… Thanks in advance!!!

[DarkFury]

If he's too cheap to buy what is needed to make it work... then there is no hope for him.

You could try a hi gain antenna (like the ones from Hawking)... but that costs money.

Is he using a "B" wireless or a "G" wireless Linksys? If he's using a "B" then pretty much it is time for him to upgrade...

Ultimately if he wants to be "cheap"... then maybe he should run a wired line from the 3rd floor to the 1st and connect directly to the router. His signal would be uber strong then. :D

[zero2dash]

Too cheap to buy equipment (until recently since he’s tired of not being able to surf)

/snip


UPDATE..

So he finally broke down and bought a linksys expander and the signal is now a bit stronger.

That's his first problem. Like DF said, if he's too cheap to purchase anything, then there's no hope for him.


My question is.. since I'm sucked into working on this connection AGAIN, can anyone help answer this question....if i update his wireless router to new SRX400 technology (Linksys or Belkin) would this help boost the signal to the first floor?

Do you think the newer wireless routers will help my friend’s problem?

Doubtful and doubtful. There's no reason that any wireless router worth a grain of salt can't put a signal through 2 floors unless there are structural issues and the signal won't go through. Has he checked for (or thought of) interference? Microwaves and cordless phones could cause an issue although (if that was the case) most likely that would only be an intermittent issue (ie while the microwave or phone was being used).


I know he is a pain, but still an old friend. It took some arm twisting just to have him buy the expander.

What I would do is just buy the router/card and if it worked.. then he would just pay me.

Can anyone here shed some light on this?

...and if it doesn't work, you're stuck with it? :shifty:
What a friend. :rolleyes:

In all seriousness - if he's too cheap to buy anything else to try wireless, then tell him to run cat5 and be done with it. Or not have any internet if he won't do that. Sounds like you're trying to "help" someone who doesn't 'want' to be "helped". :hmm:

[Jeffbx]

I'm with all of the :stupid: above

Bottom line is if he wants it to work, it will cost money.

He can get a higher powered WAP
He can get a better antenna on the WAP
He can get a PC card with a higher receive sensitivity
He can get a WAP bridge for the 2nd floor to boost the signal downstairs

Any of those will fix his problem, but they all cost $. Not a ton though - you can do any one of those things for around $100 or less.

[renovation]

jeff -pm sent

[turtleb16a]

Thank you for everyone who responded. Just to provide a quick update, we tried the expander but it just could not reach with any type of usable signal.

Told him I have given up. Advised him to ask someone else or contact Geek Squad. Perhaps they have a solution.

Thanks again for you input.

[mechmike0034]

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10407839

[DarkFury]

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10407839
That would require that he spend some money... :shrug: