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this question is coming from the most non-tech person in the world. it concerns home networking. I am currently using a netgear wnr2000v2 router to connect 2 desktops and 1 netgear switch fs605v3 (for dish sat receiver and toshiba bluray disc player) through wired connections. i also use the wnr2000v2 as a wireless connection for my laptop. all wired connections work flawlessly. the wireless connection is where i have problems. the distance is about 40 feet. sometimes the connection is strong and sometimes i cant connect. no particular pattern. the switch for the sat receiver/bluray disc player is in the family room which is the room i most frequently use the laptop. could i plug another wireless router/repeater/access point into this switch to extend my range? if so what hardware do you reccommend? thanks
Optional Information: Computer OS: Windows XP Browser: IE Already Tried: using laptop in the same room as the wireless router.
a range extender is the simplist solution. 40 feet is not that far. you may have a problem with either the router or the card in your laptop. or there might be some electrical interfearence toaster microwave cell phone that interfears when it is on. almost impossible to say what it would be it might not even be in your house.
you can try changing the channel that the wireless operates on. some channels will get less interfearence then others
http://www.routerlogin.net
into your internet browser.
you will get a log in screen the default is
user name = admin
password = password
go to the wireless section
there will be an entry for channel. the default is 11
pick a different one then is there already
you will have to reconect to the router again from your wireless devices as switching the channel will cause them to lose signal until they reconect
thanks for the response. i will try changing the channel. should that not work and i have to use a range extender could you make a recommendation. is this a wireless or a wired solution? if it is wired can i run it through the switch in my family room? I have already changed the wireless adapter in my laptop. thanks
i believe it is wireless and pretty much plug and play. plug it in and it picks up and amplifies or relays the signal
netgear has a pretty popular one and since you already have a netgear router its a good choice if only so that tech support for either wont say "oh its the other guys fault"
Experience: degree in comp sci. 20+ years install work with networks for small and large companies