[allenkc]

I will try to make this as short as possible:

Main Computer wired in office on second floor on east side of house
Wireless Laptop in family room on 1st floor on west side of house
Xbox360 wireless in family room on 1st floor on west side of house
House is approximatly 2400 sq foot and the signal travels the floor and appoximately two walls.

I have a Linksys WRT54GC Router and I have a Linksys WRE54g repeater(new item I tried to increase signal).

My goal is to get 4 full bars to the xbox and stream video from my office PC to my Xbox smoothly. With this repeater, I get the full bars BUT the limitation of the repeater(cutting the streaming speed almost in half) causes stuttering video to my xbox. Without the repeater I can get 2 bars to my xbox on a good night, sometimes it is only one, telling me the signal is too weak.

I have a couple of ideas but I am not sure which will work the best. Should I get a new G router with the "Range Booster" feature(does this really work)? Are there other Repeaters on the market that do NOT cut the streaming speed in half? If so what are they?

Or should I look at getting a powerline ethernet adapter and connect my xbox directly to my router that way?

[JohnWill]

Truthfully, I wouldn't do any of that.

My first preference is to run a wire, since that is the bulletproof way to network. Failing that, I'd first try extending the range of the existing router.



Hawking Tech has a number of products that will help you increase your wireless range. The root page is Hawking Hi-Gain™ WiFi Range Extending Products.

Some of the more interesting products are this Hawking [HSB2] Hi-Gain WiFi Signal Booster, which can be used on either end of a wireless connection to boost the signal power.

Another way to increase your signal strength is by the use of hi-gain antennas. You can choose from omni-directional or directional models, here are a some examples.

Hawking [HAI7SIP] Hi-Gain 7dBi Omni-Directional Antenna

Hawking [HAI15SC] Hi-Gain 15dBi Corner Antenna

[HAO14SD] Outdoor Hi-Gain 14dBi Directional Antenna Kit

For 802.11n applications, this ZyXEL ANT1106 6db omni-directional antenna can be used.

For really long range outdoor applications, this 24dB parabolic WiFi Antenna may be a good choice.

If you have a wireless adapter that doesn't have provisions for an external antenna, one adapter that I've had good luck with is a Rosewill RNX-G1 USB Wireless Adapter. It's feature is that is has a removable antenna and will accommodate replacement antennas.

This is just a sample of available products, many people have hi-gain antennas with similar specifications, but I haven't seen any other suppliers of signal boosters.

[allenkc]

Thanks JohnWill for the input.

I noticed that you always suggest Hawking, have stock in Hawking do ya??

Was looking at some reviews on the signal booster and either people loved it or hated it and that was devided about 50/50. That scares me.

Since you are big on Hawking, do you know if the repeater that Hawking offers will cut speeds in half like my Linksys? If so I am just wasting my money again. The bad part is Linksys SAYS it is 54MBPS but it is not. After doing more reading I found out that the Linksys can only send THEN receive, not send and receive at the same time, therefore cutting down on the performance.

[warrior19]

http://www.expansys-usa.com/d.aspx?i=154285

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...rs/HDX101.aspx

Johnwill hates these I know.... but in my case they work solidly and have been doing so for over 2 years......If getting a strong signal still is a problem consider a pair of these Ethernet over Powerline devices.

[JohnWill]

I don't like power line Ethernet or wireless repeaters. I prefer to increase the range of the wireless at one or both ends using hi-gain antennas and optionally a signal boosting amplifier.

Of course, my first choice is a wired connection whenever possible, they rarely fail.

[allenkc]

Originally Posted by warrior19

http://www.expansys-usa.com/d.aspx?i=154285

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Powe...rs/HDX101.aspx

Johnwill hates these I know.... but in my case they work solidly and have been doing so for over 2 years......If getting a strong signal still is a problem consider a pair of these Ethernet over Powerline devices.

Hey Warrior,

Do you have any lag problems with those products? I am mostly concerned with the Xbox getting a good throughput for streaming videos? Any other input would be great.

[warrior19]

Slightly different setup. My boys xbox360 is on a wirelessB linksys WGA11B-FR. Even though its wireless B the boys play all games ok and stream from PC 3 floors above. The powerline setups at home go from ground floor to 3rd floor home office and main house to outhouse at end of garden.

In UK I am using Homeplug Powerline Ethernet with no issues. Over 10 wired and wireless devices all working fine. Main router is Linksys WRT160N in mixed mode.

[JohnWill]

The success of failure of power line networking is really going to depend on the specific wiring of the house and the devices being powered from the powerline. It's not unlike wireless in that regard.

To assume that it'll work for everyone is a bad assumption, since I know of at least three locations it doesn't work in. I can probably get you a really good deal on several brands of power line monitoring modules that are only "slightly" used.

[warrior19]

I spent ages and lots of cash trying different routers/uni aerials/repeaters and nearly upset the wife by asking to run cat-5e ethernet cable to the extreme parts of the house! Then to save my marriage I discovered Homeplug Ethernet Powerline Adapters. Older ones are 85 Mbps and newer rated to 200Mbps. This is my experience and make your own decision of course allenkc. I grew tired of fiddling about with gain aerials/positioning/ asking a son to dangle out of a window holding a router for pocket money In my case it worked. No laaag..no dropouts...no faults in 2+ years. Cannot speak for the rest of the earth!

[JohnWill]

I can speak for three other locations in the rest of the earth.

In my case, since I had the foresight to run a chase between the basement and the attic when we built the house, getting Ethernet to most places is not all that difficult. I can either come up from the basement, or down from the attic.

I still have wireless for laptops, since I keep tripping over the cords.

If you do decide to go with power line networking, make SURE you buy from a place that you can return them if it doesn't work.

[allenkc]

Just an update...got a powerline adapter and it is working great. Software that queries the sender and receiver for speeds show @100mbps for the receiver downstairs so I am happy with it.

[warrior19]

Glad it worked.....Johnwill how long before you say he has made a mistake

[JohnWill]

I'm a patient man.