On 30/03/14 22:44, Simon Robert wrote:
n 31.03.2014 00:12, Julian Hall
wrote:
On
30/03/14 21:47, bad apple wrote:
Actually, all this talk of wifi has just
reminded me of something I
meant to ask the list.
In my rarely-seen benevolent mode (I do actually have one,
believe it or
not) I promised to help out a friend who has just moved into a
hostel
for young at-risk people. The place is unsurprisingly run on a
shoestring budget and being quite large (approx 15 rooms on
three
floors), and made with very solid old fashioned walls and
hefty
firedoors everywhere, the wifi signal from the crappy
Sky-supplied
Sagecom router/modem barely reaches beyond the single room
where it
happens to be installed.
Before I even start on sorting out their network and access
controls in
general, I initially need to boost the signal throughout the
entire
property. Now normally when I do this it's at businesses who
happily
splash out on big expensive gear - often with a Cisco badge on
it - that
I'm quite familiar with but this is a different environment
from what
I'm used to.
Their budget is effectively zero but I don't mind spending
some of my
own cash to get a TP-link repeater or something, which I'd
rather do
than muck about with cantennas and tinfoil for a DIY solution.
So anyone got some good, concrete recommendations for consumer
level
gear to this purpose, preferably something that you've used
yourself
successfully? I initially thought to replace the router's
aerial with a
proper one but sadly the Sagecom only has an internal aerial,
so it
would probably be more trouble than it's worth. I also had a
look
through my box of old/spare wifi routers to see if any of them
could be
repurposed but annoyingly not one of them offers the
functionality (I
thought it was supposed to be common?) or supports reflashing
with a
decent firmware like Tomato, etc.
Much obliged for any suggestions.
Regards
I know it's not what you were asking - and a relatively
expensive option given the zero budget - but would a Powerline
solution work? It would be more reliable and faster than WiFi,
or would the residents be more often using kit that has no
Ethernet port, such as phones, tablets and the like? Possibly
worth investing in one Powerline set with another wireless
router say on the first floor to maximise range while minimising
outlay, or maybe even one on each floor so each WiFi router only
has to reach its own floor? The Powerline plugs would set you
back a bit, but the routers perhaps not so much?
Just a thought.
Julian
there are powerline wifi plugs, basically a plug with an aerial
and some basic security options. They actually put out quite a
powerful signal if the electrics are up to it - equal if
not better than a wifi bridge between two routers I reckon. But
yes, zero budget is a problem...
S
I'd forgotten about them.. mine just have a single Ethernet port,
not sure which would be cheaper TBH, plugs plus router, or plugs
with WiFi built in - interesting to hear they give good coverage..
might upgrade the ones I have.
Julian
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