Need an alternative to wireless router

d_source

Daemon Poster
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658
Hi All,

I have a DIR-615 wireless router that just isnt cutting it anymore. The router works fine (as i've already tried replacing it) but the signal issues persist. At this point i believe there is some signal that i can't find that's blocking the wireless signal in the area i use it the most.

So I am looking for an alternative. Any ideas?

One thing I saw was the Powerline Ethernet Adapters. Can anyone explain how these work? I understand that you plug the modem into one outlet and then the other adapter into another outlet has the Ethernet cable that goes into the PC.
What I don't fully understand:
-Can i continue to use a wireless router and does it have to be at the same spot as the modem?
-I live in a house but i doubt the 2 areas where i want to use this are on the same circuit, will it still work? I would have to check the circuit breaker to make sure. All power in the house lead to one circuit box.
-What kind of internet speed should i expect on all ends? My current download speed is 4.5mbps and 690kbps up.
-Any recommendations on which brand/model to buy? I'm in Canada, Toronto area. Please keep that in mind.

Any other recommendations/suggestions as an alternative to wireless? I am NOT running new wires!

Thanks.
 
^^^Like i said, wireless isn't cutting it. I need a different option. My current router is on a different frequency than all other items in the home and problems persist. 900MHZ baby monitor, 2.4GHZ router, 5.8GHZ cordless phone.

Other options please.
 
Powerline would probably be your best (if not only) option. I don't know much about them, but from what I've heard they use you're electric circuitry's ground wire. I think it is also slower than regular wired but don't quote me on that part. At any rate, it should not matter what actual circuit the adapters are in as it all leads to the same ground. I don't think your actual internet speeds would be negatively affected. With your poor performance on wireless I'd actually expect to see a small increase in speed.

TO make your life easier you would still need a router to assign the IPs to computers and to split the internet signal. However you could disable the wireless part of the router.

{edit}

I did look at the newegg site for Canada and didn't see much (what they have is out of stock). However you can find these at any computer store/electronics site
 
CPU magazine compared it to wireless. It was somewhat slower, but did well overall.

I think there is a way to network through your cable as well, but I am not sure on that.

EDIT: Yep. http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/lans/2008/052608lan2.html

EDIT: starter kit on the egg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...r+Equipment+++Accessories-_-D-Link-_-81103026

This SHOULD be significantly faster than powerline networking.

EDIT: Found a review. This definitely beats powerline. http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanw...a-d-link-dxn-221-a-actiontec-ecb2200-reviewed
 
I skimmed over the thread but I would suggest you try changing your router to a different channel. There could be another wireless network or device interfering that isn't your own. There are 11 channels. Preferably you want 1, 6, or 11. The channels in between overlap.

Another option is to get an alternative firmware such as DD-WRT. Sometimes that fixes issues.
 
I skimmed over the thread but I would suggest you try changing your router to a different channel. There could be another wireless network or device interfering that isn't your own. There are 11 channels. Preferably you want 1, 6, or 11. The channels in between overlap.

Another option is to get an alternative firmware such as DD-WRT. Sometimes that fixes issues.

I tried everything. Changing the channel, playing with all the settings. I even bought and tested a new router (same version) to see if there was something wrong with mine. Nothing worked. I used a program to scan what other nearby router channels are being used and went to one that was not being used and still nothing. There is definitely interference of some sort somewhere, i just can't find it.

CPU magazine compared it to wireless. It was somewhat slower, but did well overall.

I think there is a way to network through your cable as well, but I am not sure on that.

EDIT: Yep. http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/lans/2008/052608lan2.html

EDIT: starter kit on the egg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...r+Equipment+++Accessories-_-D-Link-_-81103026

This SHOULD be significantly faster than powerline networking.

EDIT: Found a review. This definitely beats powerline. http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanw...a-d-link-dxn-221-a-actiontec-ecb2200-reviewed

Thanks. I thought i read something about technology that sends the signal over cable and over phoneline as well, but couldnt find anything on it afterward. I'll look into this one further and see which would be easier for me to set up.
 
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