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A Solution In Search Of A Problem


raymac46

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When I had my old 802.11b router I needed a range extender in the basement to get any connection at all. So when I got an 802.11n router a few years ago I picked up a small plugin range extender to go with it.

I found out the hard way that this was an unnecessary complication with a better router. The range extender did not give me any more signal strength than the already excellent N router and it cut the bandwidth in half. Also with some Linux distros it confused Network Manager and I kept getting signals dropping and losing my Internet connection.

I finally have retired the range extender and doubled my bandwidth plus made my connection much more stable.

If you are tempted to get one of these gadgets don't bother unless you have zero signal somewhere in the house. Even then, a better router might fix things and save you a lot of aggravation. Less can be more. Trust me.

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So have I but when it's not needed, it's not needed I guess.

In this particular case both the extender and the router were putting out a signal of equivalent strength. it wasn't as if the router was very weak and the range extender was much stronger. To me that shows it really wasn't helping.

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V.T. Eric Layton

I'm still running wifi off my old Verizon router. I only use the wireless connection to connect to the Internet with my shop computer, which is in another building behind my home about 75' from the router. I've never had range issues out there. I consistently get 4 out of 5 bars of signal in Network Manager's interface. :)

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The router I have now (DIR-845L) replaced a very old one that I got in 2004 or so. It doesn't have AC capability but then again none of my adapters have it either. What it has that is nice is an ability to direct the signal where it's needed. My major wifi need is to power the desktop in the basement so the signal has to go through a wooden floor.

Right now the network could transmit at 104 Mbits/sec which is higher than my broadband connection could deliver - so I get snappy performance down here.

http://www.trustedreviews.com/d-link-dir-845lcloud-router-review

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An alternative to wifi for me would be powerline adapters if I needed to connect only one remote desktop. However I would still need wifi for Netflix, tablets, laptops, e-readers, smartphones and the assorted other gadgets that show up at my home. So wifi it is. Right now it's working OK for me.

The trick is to choose a router that is compatible with all the various adapters I have around here. Most of them are N with the odd G adapter. Some of them don't have 5 GHz capability although the router I have can pump it out. As an example my Linux desktop has a TP-Link TL-WN881ND adapter which goes on a PCIe X1 slot and is N compatible and 2.4 GHz only. It's OK and 2.4 GHz is pretty good at penetrating through the floor. It's an Atheros chipset which is another plus for Linux.

https://www.newegg.c...N82E16833704129

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