Home Network... HELP

[SilentEdge]

Basically this is the situation: I live in a 2 story home that is 125 feet long by 30 feet wide. I need to get a wireless signal from one end of the house to the other.

I purchased a wireless repeater from Fry's on the understanding I could run a wireless signal from one extreme of the house to the other like follows:

Modem-Router------------------Repeater-----------Wireless laptop

However, the only signal I was recieving was the one from the router - which is dodgy at best.

Is anyone out there a network pro who can help me?

[Autoload]

I'll assume that the wireless repeater (access point) is of the same manufacturer as the router and it is published that this wireless repeater (AP) will communicate with your particular router.

If so, then you would need to set up the encryption type and security features (WEP/WPA/Encryption/Passphrase) on the repeater exactly as they are on the wireless router as well as setting the MAC address and mode correctly on the repeater.

[Lazerblade]

Autoload's words are wise. The repeater needs access to the router in order to traffic the signal, and I'm assuming that anyone who comes here frequently AND runs a wireless network at home knows enough to use security, either WEP or WPA, on their wireless network, as well as using NAT features on their wireless devices. The brands of the devices don't necessarily have to match, so long as they are compatible. The repeater should have either an address that you can access wirelessly to set it up for your network, including security types, or it should have a LAN port on it for direct connecting to access this feature.

[Autoload]

Another thing to consider is the feasability of moving the base router to a more centralized area in the home. This all depends on cable input from your service provider, but if you have a room in the center of the house where you can set up the modem and wireless router you may be able to get decent signal without the repeater.
 
I did this in a couple of three story home with folks that had offices set up in their basements. There is no rule that says the computer must be physically close to the modem/router so I put the router/modem on the ground floor of the house and now devices on the second floor and the basement have excellent signal strenth instead of weak signals from the second floor to the basement.

[SilentEdge]

This is my Router:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=201522&pcount=&Product_Id=179477

This is the repeater I was told by the ignoramous at fry's would work:
http://www.airlink101.com/products/ap311w.html

How can I check published compatability?

Moving the router to a central location is a no-go. There are no cable access points in the center of my house.

[Autoload]

Well, I always use equipment from the same manufacturer.  However, it looks like that universal repeater 'should' work.

Have you configured it with the exact same encryption levels and passphrase as the base wireless router?

[SilentEdge]

Yep.

I think I'm going to return it and try to hunt down somewhere local that carries their brand repeater.

Blah so much work!

[MONOLITH]

There are no cable access points in the center of my house.

Run a coax extension?

[SilentEdge]

Run a coax extension?

Como?

[99ways]

Como?

get a splitter and run it under the carpet or under the floor if you have access.  I would get a splitter from your cable company and not a cheap one from radio shack.  stay away from those.

[SilentEdge]

Problem again. My entire downstairs is wood or tile. No carpet in sight. I have to get a desktop down there (w/o wireless) as well as the wireless laptop. I also have to get a desktop in the 2nd floor corner. Blah.

[99ways]

would it be more convienent to rout it outside the house to the downstairs??

[Lazerblade]

get a splitter and run it under the carpet or under the floor if you have access.  I would get a splitter from your cable company and not a cheap one from radio shack.  stay away from those.

I don't know what cable company you go through, but most of the ones I've dealt with in the past have had cheaper splitters than what you'd find at Radio Shack.

For broadband cable internet you'd want an in-line or in-splitter filter anyway, which most people, including cable installers, seem to forget or not know about.

As for setting up your wireless network or getting a signal throughout your home, what about those setups that use regular electric lines and outlets to network? Seems to me if you're having trouble getting a signal throughout the home that might be your best option.

Alternately, you could run your cable/coax along the top edge of the wall, or even inside a drop ceiling, instead of through the floor. Or run it in the basement and simply have a floor-based hook-in plate mounted to the floor near the corner of a room. What might help to give us an idea of what you're attempting or what you need, or simply to see the layout we're "looking" at, is post some pics or rough sketches of your home layout. Blueprints would be nice but I don't think you need to go that far to relay the visual information.

[99ways]

I don't know what cable company you go through, but most of the ones I've dealt with in the past have had cheaper splitters than what you'd find at Radio Shack.

Comcast.  with theirs, they explained the difference and  I have seen the difference myself.

[Mofoka]

TSE, are you still having this issue? I work for a technical support contract and before I commense with a really long winded post on how to setup the two devices I want to make sure you still need some assistance.