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Better router or wifi extender


Stratovarius
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I have ac68 at TV console area. Have lan ports in my room. But it connects to my android box.

But wifi in my room is still patchy especially with closed doors. Usually it's only 15 mbps only which is liveable.

 

Bought a cheap tenda router from aliexpress but it can't f ING act as an access point. Anyone knows if a cheap tp link wireless n router can do that? The 20 plus dollar one at challenger.

 

Don't want to spend too much.

Not going to move my router also.

My starhub d link router was donated to my in laws place. So I don't have any other spare routers...

I had a TP-link wireless repeater which I used for 2 years. The standard firmware sucks, every week I have to reboot it, as it will just stop working.

 

From then on, no more TP-link products for me.

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Funny thing is I have two very solid pre cast concrete walls between my router and the PC in my study.

 

I don't get any drop off in download speed at all. Not even 0.1Mbps.

It depends on the wall. My wifi signal drops like a stone after the structural wall that bisects my flat, so I have to put it right there, else there will be weaker signal on the one side.

 

It still works, but at perhaps half the speed.

 

But I know my wifi signal can't pass through two normal walls and one structual wall -- extremely weak signal at perhaps 5% of the speed.

 

 

My personal preference is also to position the router in a central place rather than to use other workarounds, which cost more and have their own issues.

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Turbocharged

Thanks. Think I give it a try.

what about setting up another router since all your rooms have lan port?

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Turbocharged

I have ac68 at TV console area. Have lan ports in my room. But it connects to my android box.

But wifi in my room is still patchy especially with closed doors. Usually it's only 15 mbps only which is liveable.

 

Bought a cheap tenda router from aliexpress but it can't f ING act as an access point. Anyone knows if a cheap tp link wireless n router can do that? The 20 plus dollar one at challenger.

 

Don't want to spend too much.

Not going to move my router also.

My starhub d link router was donated to my in laws place. So I don't have any other spare routers...

Try using this

http://www.asus.com/sg/Networking/RPAC52/

 

Place it in a room/wall socket halfway between your tv console and your room.

 

I'm also using AC68 which used to have zero to minimal reception in my MBR. This solves the problem.

 

Haven't need to restart it since buying it in March, only issue is that for 5ghz it can only utilise the lower channels.

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Try using this

http://www.asus.com/sg/Networking/RPAC52/

 

Place it in a room/wall socket halfway between your tv console and your room.

 

I'm also using AC68 which used to have zero to minimal reception in my MBR. This solves the problem.

 

Haven't need to restart it since buying it in March, only issue is that for 5ghz it can only utilise the lower channels.

 

ha asus stuff expensive leh. Thanks for the recommendation though.

 

Most routers are able to act as wireless access points i think, no need to buy something specifically designed to be a WAP/wireless extender since i already have the lan port in my MBR.

I just need a cheap wireless N router for my MBR when I'm in my room at night with aircon on and door closed. So looking for cheap solutions. I will probably leave it powered off in the day.
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I m using one of these in my master bed room.Like TC,my router is in living room,wifi signal to my bedroom only 2-bar which is two walls away.

After installing these,my room pc plug directly to this powerplug,can get 80mbps.

Blue-ray player see on-line movie using wifi can get full bar.

Tablet snurf net also full bar.

All these run together at one go no problem.This option works for me.

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ha asus stuff expensive leh. Thanks for the recommendation though.

 

Most routers are able to act as wireless access points i think, no need to buy something specifically designed to be a WAP/wireless extender since i already have the lan port in my MBR.

I just need a cheap wireless N router for my MBR when I'm in my room at night with aircon on and door closed. So looking for cheap solutions. I will probably leave it powered off in the day.

 

 

sleep that time, best is no router beside

best lah

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sleep that time, best is no router beside

best lah

 

Switch off at night la.

That's why i want a cheap solution, cos it's specifically for a short duration everyday. I will only switch it on when I'm having trouble receiving in my room.

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Hypersonic

 

 

ha asus stuff expensive leh. Thanks for the recommendation though.

 

Most routers are able to act as wireless access points i think, no need to buy something specifically designed to be a WAP/wireless extender since i already have the lan port in my MBR.

I just need a cheap wireless N router for my MBR when I'm in my room at night with aircon on and door closed. So looking for cheap solutions. I will probably leave it powered off in the day.

 

I have seen those TP-link multiple function router that can configure WAP that are mini in size. I think it's a good idea as you can also bring it for your travel.

 

http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/cat-9_TL-WR710N.html

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Currently using Asus RT-AC87U in the living room, which is big improvement over the older RT-N56U due to many walls blocking coverage (in the MBR) . Supplemented by TP-Link's TL-PA411 homeplugs for the PC/NAS in MBR. If using homeplugs, you will need direct connection into the wall socket and not through power extension block (and worse if it has surge protection in place).

 

Previously using Linksys Extender for the MBR but it is not stable and if signal from router is weak, it drops off sometimes.

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Didn't see this in challenger. Will try to look for it. Looks good.

 

different comms set for different bandwidth / dismesions [grin]

 

router.jpg

 

incense_joss_sticks_st.jpg

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I bought an Aztech powerplug previously to use in my MBR but broke down in a week. Went to exchange for a wifi extender instead but not much improvement.

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If you know some basic networking and have a spare router lying around, you can use the spare router to expand your network without losing half the bandwidth compared to using a wifi extender.

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If you know some basic networking and have a spare router lying around, you can use the spare router to expand your network without losing half the bandwidth compared to using a wifi extender.

 

U need to have a wired connection right.

 

Main router -> lan cable -> 2nd router to act as wireless access point

 

vs

 

Main router -> 2nd router acting as wireless repeater (halves bandwidth)

 

To make it a wireless access point. Not difficult, just set the 2nd router to static IP (eg 192.6.1.255) outside the assignable range of the original router (router will allocate IPs to devices using it to connect to internet ranging from 192.6.1.002 to 192.6.1.254).

Switch off the DNS part of the 2nd router. Change the SSID to the same one (if u want) and make sure the channel each is using don't really overlap. Though with AC routers, i think there will be some overlap?

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Yes yes you're right. My bad forgot about the lan cable portion.

 

 

 

U need to have a wired connection right.

 

Main router -> lan cable -> 2nd router to act as wireless access point

 

vs

 

Main router -> 2nd router acting as wireless repeater (halves bandwidth)

 

To make it a wireless access point. Not difficult, just set the 2nd router to static IP (eg 192.6.1.255) outside the assignable range of the original router (router will allocate IPs to devices using it to connect to internet ranging from 192.6.1.002 to 192.6.1.254).

Switch off the DNS part of the 2nd router. Change the SSID to the same one (if u want) and make sure the channel each is using don't really overlap. Though with AC routers, i think there will be some overlap?

 

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I bought an Aztech powerplug previously to use in my MBR but broke down in a week. Went to exchange for a wifi extender instead but not much improvement.

 

The TP-Link Homeplug Kit (2 LAN ports out) is also an extender by itself and they claim does not lose as much bandwidth as a pure wireless extender/repeater. That said, I have never really tested the speed but I am happy with the connection stability and no need to run new LAN cables.

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