Linksys Routers transmitting distance

[Halcyon]

Hi people,

Is there anywhere that can give me some information about the tranmitting distance of a Linksys 54g router over different places, or is it just pot luck when you install it in your home ?

This is the only factor that is stopping me from buying my router which will be connected to both 802.11b and G devices.

I will have my PC which is in the loft wired to the router.
Then there are some stairs that go down to the floor below where I will have a laptop (that has built in centrino wireless).

Then down another lot of stairs to the ground floor and I will have another PC.

I'm guessing its good the router is going to be placed in the loft as it will be high up, but will the ground floor PC be able to reach it. (Good signal strength?)

Does anyone know any limitations or the maximum length it will transmit at ?

I dont have any metal padding or concrete or whatever inbetween floors from what I know of. Its simply wood and plasterboards with pipes and electricity wires under the floorboards.

So, I guess Im just checking to see is you guys have any problems with these routers range of transmitting or if they are generally ok.

Thankyou :-)

[altis]

There's a handy outdoor range calculating utility here:
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/102...re-us-calc.xls

..but be warned, you'll need to apply a bit of brain power too!

There's also lots of info and useful bits-n-bobs here:
http://www.solwise.co.uk/networkingwireless.htm

I would guess you will have no problems. But at 2.4GHz the wavelength is only 125mm so things can change enormously over very short distances. Two things will help. For the furthest PC, try to get a card with an external aerial. This will allow you to move it about to get the best reception. Also, try to get a base station (router) with two aerials. It will switch between the aerials and use the one with the best signal. This is known as diversity.

Do you know that all wireless systems can automatically switch to lower and lower speeds to extend the range?

[zovat]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Hi people,

Is there anywhere that can give me some information about the tranmitting distance of a Linksys 54g router over different places, or is it just pot luck when you install it in your home ?

This is the only factor that is stopping me from buying my router which will be connected to both 802.11b and G devices.

I will have my PC which is in the loft wired to the router.
Then there are some stairs that go down to the floor below where I will have a laptop (that has built in centrino wireless).

Then down another lot of stairs to the ground floor and I will have another PC.

I'm guessing its good the router is going to be placed in the loft as it will be high up, but will the ground floor PC be able to reach it. (Good signal strength?)

Does anyone know any limitations or the maximum length it will transmit at ?

I dont have any metal padding or concrete or whatever inbetween floors from what I know of. Its simply wood and plasterboards with pipes and electricity wires under the floorboards.

So, I guess Im just checking to see is you guys have any problems with these routers range of transmitting or if they are generally ok.

Thankyou :-)

A couple of things...

Running in "g" mode, it will have a range of about 40-50 Meters (indoors) (according to linksys specs here (although they always tend to overstate a little) ;-)

Running in "b" mode it should be about the same - but it would appear that running both "g" and "b" devices on the same router causes the performance on the "b" devices to be quite badly degraded..

The structure of your house should not cause a real problem - I regularly use mine with a laptop in the kitchen, with a cooker, sink and extractor fan between me and the router.

In summary - you should be fine to use it as you intend - but avoid mixing "b" and "g" cards..

HTH

[Halcyon]

Thanks for the info. I will check out those links.

You mention that running B and G devices could causep problems.
I thought the linksys 54G router could work with both and the only thing that would happen would be that all computers would slow down to the B speed and not G as it goes with the slowest speed on the network.

Does this pose a big problem if using it for mainly surfing the net, and a few file transfers ?


Thankyou :-)

[zovat]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Thanks for the info. I will check out those links.

You mention that running B and G devices could causep problems.
I thought the linksys 54G router could work with both and the only thing that would happen would be that all computers would slow down to the B speed and not G as it goes with the slowest speed on the network.

Does this pose a big problem if using it for mainly surfing the net, and a few file transfers ?


Thankyou :-)

it will do both, ands as you say, it will drop the G traffic to the B speeds...

I only mention this as a bit of research flagged up a few people who were dissapointed by the speed when running mixed standards across their network..

In terms of surfing or using BB it will make no difference (BB is the slowest point on the net by far), file transfers will probably not be noticably slower...

HTH

[Halcyon]

Ok thanks.
That should be fine then.
I'l be placing my order end of the week hopefully.

:-)

[zovat]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Ok thanks.
That should be fine then.
I'l be placing my order end of the week hopefully.

:-)

good luck - I'm sure you'll enjoy it .. :-D

[SMHarman]

One of the computer mags tested it's Wireless Access Point sister this month and rated it well for range etc.

At the worst you might have to buy a WAP also to act as a repeater.

[zovat]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

<snip>

At the worst you might have to buy a WAP also to act as a repeater.

unfortunately there is no easy way to do this - you would need to run a cable from the router to the WAP - or buy a wireless bridge (much more expensive...)

I was thinking of doing this myself (I wanted to add some non wireless ports downstairs) but I was unable to find any WAP that also acted as a bridge

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by zovat

unfortunately there is no easy way to do this - you would need to run a cable from the router to the WAP - or buy a wireless bridge (much more expensive...)

I was thinking of doing this myself (I wanted to add some non wireless ports downstairs) but I was unable to find any WAP that also acted as a bridge

The magazine is at home, I know some of the products acted in this manner. I'll have a look tonight and let you know which ones.

[zovat]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

The magazine is at home, I know some of the products acted in this manner. I'll have a look tonight and let you know which ones.

cheers mate..

[altis]

This do?
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=WET11

or even this:
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=WAP11

For even more versatility, the Wireless Access Point can act as a Repeater. If you're already using one WAP11, you can extend your wireless network's range by installing a second one that ""bounces"" received data further down the line. The repeating Access Point can be installed nearly anywhere, because it works entirely by radio -- no data cable is necessary.

or see pages 19 thru 21 of the user guide:
ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pdf/wap11_v28_ug.pdf

[Stuartbe]

My Belkin 54g WAP can be set up as a bridge. If the Belkin gear can I would be suprised if the Linksys WAP's cant !!!

[zovat]

Originally Posted by altis

This do?
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=WET11

that will do nicely - didn't realise that bridges had come down so much in price

[zovat]

Originally Posted by Stuartbe

My Belkin 54g WAP can be set up as a bridge. If the Belkin gear can I would be suprised if the Linksys WAP's cant !!!

my older netgear can't but then I didn't want that functionality when I purchased it