Wireless ADSL Router losing connection in another room?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Jun 2006, 02:41

When I use my Dad's Windows XP Pro laptop in the same room as the Wireless ADSL Router it works fine but as soon as I move into another room I lose the connection.

It's clearly not Firewall related as it works fine but this is configured correctly anyway (Network connection is in ZoneAlarm's Trusted Zone). The connection is also currently completely unencrypted.

Before my Dad switched from an ADSL Router to a Wireless ADSL Router he was using a USB Stick in Ad-Hoc mode with Internet Connection Sharing enabled to achieve Wireless on the laptop this worked fine but exactly the same problem happened.

The USB Stick was plugged into the PC which had the Wired ADSL Router plugged into it. The network card which was plugged into the Wired ADSL Router then had ICS enabled on it.

I put it down to the USB Stick not pumping out enough juice but I now have a proper Wireless ADSL Router running at 54Mbps.

I thought it could be because the Wireless ADSL Router was on the floor in the corner of the room behind all the desks but puttig it on the desk made no difference.

I can only think it's because the room where the Wireless ADSL Router is is in an old part of the house with "old school" THICK walls.

Any ideas?

Kurgan · Post by **Kurgan** » 18 Jun 2006, 02:44

Could be signal strength. If you've got the option to adjust the strength of the signal, then obviously, take it to the top.
Try moving the position of the router to get 'closer' to the door.

Failing that, and anything else... a signal booster might be the only thing.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Jun 2006, 02:58

Kurgan wrote:Could be signal strength. If you've got the option to adjust the strength of the signal, then obviously, take it to the top.

Yep it connects at 54Mps but as soon as you leave the room it drops to nothing (it can't even find the Access Point).

Kurgan wrote:Try moving the position of the router to get 'closer' to the door.

It's close as I can put it. Which isn't that close but it would mean trailing cables across the room. It does have 4 cables plugged into it:

1. Power
2. Telephone
3. Wired computer 1
4. Wired computer 2

Besides it would still have to go throw the rest of the walls in the house.

Kurgan wrote:Failing that, and anything else... a signal booster might be the only thing.

What like one of these? -

http://www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/index.php?cPath=26_147

Do they really work? As the Wireless ADSL Router cost enough I doubt my Dad will want to fork out another £40.

So do you reckon it's the thickness of the walls? It has to be I guess. One of the guys comments from that link above seems positive:

"I bought this last week to extend the range of my network in a cottage: those mud, wattle n' daub filled walls really limit the range."

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Jun 2006, 03:59

Crikey there is one which claims to do the job for £9.99 -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 9738556769

IronMonkey · Post by **IronMonkey** » 18 Jun 2006, 12:59

I would say its definitely the walls. I've known a few friends who had similar problems & it was down to the walls being too thick...

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 18 Jun 2006, 14:16

Did he manage to resolve it?

I reckon it is too as I literally walk a metre one way and it drops completely I walk back a metre (actually not even a metre a few steps) and it immediately kicks back into life.

It works in the office and dining room fine (which is the next room from the office) but I go into the hall way so before I even reach the kitchen and it drops. The wall between the dining room and hall way is 60cm thick compared with 16.5 for the rest of the house.

The house has had a massive extension and the office happens to be in the old part of the house, nothing I can do about that.