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routers

Discussion in 'Computers & Modding' started by damanali, Jul 5, 2009.

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  1. damanali

    damanali Well-Known Member

    ok, i just bought a new router, Dlink DIR-615 Wireless N router...

    and i already had questions after i just plug it in... here are those questions?

    1.) What types of obstacles will render my new N router works like a G? Like type of materials, walls made of..those stuff?

    2.) is it better to put upstairs or downsstairs? i have no basements so its just a 1 to 2 floors.

    thanks in advance!
     
    damanali, Jul 5, 2009
    #1
  2. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    if the router also is the modem (i.e it connects directly to your phone line to provide your internet connection) then you want it as close as possible to where the phone line enters the house, i.e the first or 'master' socket). Other than that, it doesn't matter.

    802.11n has inherently a larger range than 802.11g (open field range), so it can cope better with walls and other obstructions. It also uses a technique that involves bouncing signals off obstructions to create multiple radio paths to the client, resulting in a stronger signal. There is, of course, a downside to this. Because it uses multiple channels, when 802.11n is operating in the 2.4Ghz spectrum, it is taking up half the available spectrum, causing interference with other people's devices (there are only 11-13 channels to start with, and only 3 of them don't overlap each other). To solve this, 802.11n can operate at 5Ghz, however its range will be slightly reduced, and all your hardware must be capable of running 802.11n on 5Ghz (if its wifi alliance certified draft2 or higher 802.11n it should). The 5Ghz spectrum has a lot more channels, and is a lot less crowded, therefore the performance will be better.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 5, 2009
    #2
  3. damanali

    damanali Well-Known Member

    I bought a N router because of its range, cause my other house is longer, so i cant make it run in a 5Ghz mode and sacrifice its range.

    and how can it affect other's devices? you mean other devices that uses wifi signals from the router? or there are other interference?

    also, it said on the box that it can cover at least 100 meters, and even a 300 meter outside in open areas... but when i plug it in, followed all the instruction... even a 50meter range inside, it detects no signal, and upstairs, a 20-30 meter distance, only a 54, low signal... i'm not complaining cause it works but, is the D-Link DIR-615 Wireless N router really gives the performance it says or do i need to buy a D-Link N adapter/ other N adapter?

    Cause i thought that if i bought the N router, all my b or g or b/g devices will like have an "excellent" maximum performance...
     
    damanali, Jul 5, 2009
    #3
  4. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    other devices that operate on the 2.4Ghz radio spectrum, which is pretty much everything. its normal radio/electrical interference.

    you only get the increased performance with wifi alliance certified 802.11n devices. b/g devices will see no improvement.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 5, 2009
    #4
  5. Born2killx

    Born2killx Well-Known Member

    That would be like trying to stick a square block into a circular hole. You need an 802.11n wireless adapter in order to utilize the increased range and speed of wireless-N.
     
    Born2killx, Jul 5, 2009
    #5
  6. damanali

    damanali Well-Known Member

    um, so, you mean that if the adapter was b/g, and the router is an N, then the router is no better than a G? if the G has an example range of 50 meters indoor and a speed of 54mbps, then the router N, will have the same range and speed as a G?

    if so, then it sucks, cause my acer and compaq has a built-in b/g adapter... i just wished a bought the G router with the range booster...
     
    damanali, Jul 5, 2009
    #6
  7. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    yes, and so-called 'range booster' technology only works between devices of the same manufacturer, so that wouldnt of helped.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 5, 2009
    #7
  8. damanali

    damanali Well-Known Member

    hm.... maybe i should buy a n-adapter then... the endless buying of wrong items for simple pleasures...

    anyhow, if i do buy a adapter, should i buy the same brand as the router or it doesnt matter as long as its the same letter, e.g. dlink N router + encore N adpater = excellent max effect?
     
    damanali, Jul 6, 2009
    #8
  9. Born2killx

    Born2killx Well-Known Member

    Your prospective combination is what I use at home. D-Link DIR-655 router with an ENCORE ENLWI-N wireless adapter on my mom's PC on another floor. As long as they share the same standard (802.11n), then they will run at wireless-N speeds.
     
    Born2killx, Jul 6, 2009
    #9
  10. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    make sure it has the wifi alliance logo on it: [​IMG] [​IMG], then it will work. Also use the 5Ghz mode, although its slightly lower range than the 2.4Ghz, its still further than 802.11g, and the increased performance from the lack of interference more than makes up for it.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 6, 2009
    #10
  11. damanali

    damanali Well-Known Member

    yeah, i bought the router from one of the pc stores here in our country, its called pcexpress...maybe we live in the same country, the philippines?

    anyway, so, i have the n router but like i said, my laptop and a external adapter are both b/g... so that sucks, so i made a new option for my self cause of the range problem. i know its stupid but i just bought from cdrking, a 30 meter ethernet cable and just wired it across the house, well it reached the far corners of the house upstairs cause the router is downstair... so, when i use the upstair internet, i hook the comp to the wire, but when i'm downstairs, i use the wifi signals... and i think its a good thing, cause we are in the province, and our hardware store is the ONLY store in our town that offers free wifi signal...

    also, i would like to ask, what do you call that apparatus that makes your comp receive a 300mbps? cause my comp gets a 100mbps max, is that the gigabit thing?
    Post Merge: [time]1246883141[/time]
    in the cdrking, they offer a cheap adapter N, i think its an encore, but its always out of stock and dont do a pre-order setup. and it only cost like 999 pesos, its less than 20USD, or 15 british money.. i think its pounds, right?

    so mostly the router just looks like a splitter...lol
     
    damanali, Jul 6, 2009
    #11
  12. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    300mbit is the raw speed of 802.11n. Actual data throughput is much lower (e.g the raw speed of 802.11g is 54mbit, actual throughput speed is about 7mbit if you're lucky)

    If you are referring to wired ethernet, then you mean a gigabit nic (network interface card), which gives you 1000mbit, providing the cable is of adequate quality and the switch (router in your case) also supports gigabit ethernet (most don't).
     
    Loonylion, Jul 6, 2009
    #12
  13. damanali

    damanali Well-Known Member

    yeah, so, my new router is both wired and wireless... well, its the best that i could do, i'll just think of ways on how to make the wires adapt to the walls and prevent them from tripping people or anything dangerous.
     
    damanali, Jul 6, 2009
    #13
  14. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    most routers only support 100mbit wired, not gigabit.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 6, 2009
    #14
  15. damanali

    damanali Well-Known Member

    yeah, i kinda noticed that, but thats the best i could do at the moment and its alt least 200% better than a wifi G signal at a low speed even if its max at 54mbps.. and it sometimes kinda have those moments like stop and go. very frustating when i'm watching clips from youtube...

    btw, how many gadgets can connect to the wifi? cause like I said, we are the only store here in our town who has wifi signal, so i bet there will be many gadgets connecting to it...
     
    damanali, Jul 6, 2009
    #15
  16. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    no limit, but the more there are, the less bandwidth each one gets.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 6, 2009
    #16
  17. damanali

    damanali Well-Known Member

    ok, got it. A Million thanks for the answers and helps! i dont think my laptop has gigabit capabilities so, i wont need to buy a extra n adapter, i would just stick to the ethernet cables. and i think there are only few gadgets that have n adapters, right? most of them still have b or b/g mix.
     
    damanali, Jul 6, 2009
    #17
  18. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    the newest laptops have 802.11n adaptors, but technically its not even a ratified standard yet, its still only draft 2. virtually all others have b/g now, aside from a few that have a/b/g
     
    Loonylion, Jul 6, 2009
    #18
  19. damanali

    damanali Well-Known Member

    i saw earlier today of a longer antenna for the router sold in cdrking. it said it offers a wider range rather than buying a range booster/extender. do the longer antennas really give a wider range than the routers original shorter antenna?

    and how do you make a 2.4Ghz, into a 5Ghz?
     
    damanali, Jul 6, 2009
    #19
  20. Loonylion

    Loonylion Administrator Staff Member

    longer aerials may or may not have an effect, I can't be bothered to work out the optimum aerial length for 2.4Ghz right now (1/4 of wavelength if you're wondering), but if I remember right its shorter than a typical router aerial, in which case a longer aerial without a booster is unlikely to have a positive effect

    There should be an option in your router config to use either 2.4Ghz 802.11n or 5Ghz 802.11n

    EDIT: Optimum aerial length for 2.4Ghz radio is 31.25mm, or 1.23 inches.
     
    Loonylion, Jul 6, 2009
    #20
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