I have a 4 story townhouse and need to get wi-fi coverage to all floors ,what are my best options for good signal .

thanks

HI 007cableguy,

i would use a router that is capable of the 5Ghz band, which is stronger / reaches further than the regular 2.4Ghz band.

usually newer and the better routers provide both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands for their signal, running via 802.11n/g/b

please note your computer/notebook/smartphone would also have to be compatible with the 5Ghz band... iphone4 for example is not, even providing 802.11n standard.

(however I am not sure if the use of the 5Ghz band is allowed for private wireless networks in Thailand - missing a part of the gvmt regulations here; however for example the Apple Airport Extreme or Time Capsules sell as well in Thaialnd - with 5Ghz band)

place the router in the 2nd or 3rd upper floor. try if signal strength is sufficient.

if not, WDS (wireless distribution system, just google it if you dont know) ...

...or using an old linksys with the WRT-DD Software as a wireless client with another router next to it connected by a regular ethernet cable, then using another channel on the connected second router, would allow wider coverage for wifi.

howeer, this "solution" carries the problem that you then would have two different logical wireless networks in your home - and would have to switch always from the one to the other (for example if you carry your smartphone from ground floor to 4th floor)

regards - boogey

i would use a router that is capable of the 5Ghz band, which is stronger / reaches further than the regular 2.4Ghz band.

I keep reading/hearing that, but it is the direct opposite of my experience.

I have dual-band Belkin WiFi/modem/router and dual-band Belkin USB adapter in my two-floor townhouse. The router is in the bedroom at the top of the stairs, and my computer on the ground floor with USB adapter is pretty much beneath the router. So maximum penetration should be one concrete ceiling/floor.

I *always* get (a) stronger signal (more bars) and ( faster speed reports using 2.4Ghz.

Right now, I switched between the two connections:

2.4 Ghz = 4/5 bars @ 117.0 Mbps,

5.0 Ghz = 2/5 bars @ 54.0 Mbps.

(FWIW, my notebook's old internal 2.4Ghz WiFi adapter also routinely gets >100 Mbps connections, often >125 Mbps.)

What's up with that?

Want more coverage put more power, a yagi antenna placed in between this will do more than you want, but get prepared to piss off alot of neighbors if you live in any residential area. Otherwise a cheaper and more polite way would just to buy a cheap wifi repeater.

,

i would use a router that is capable of the 5Ghz band, which is stronger / reaches further than the regular 2.4Ghz band.

I keep reading/hearing that, but it is the direct opposite of my experience.

I have dual-band Belkin WiFi/modem/router and dual-band Belkin USB adapter in my two-floor townhouse. The router is in the bedroom at the top of the stairs, and my computer on the ground floor with USB adapter is pretty much beneath the router. So maximum penetration should be one concrete ceiling/floor.

I *always* get (a) stronger signal (more bars) and ( faster speed reports using 2.4Ghz.

Right now, I switched between the two connections:

2.4 Ghz = 4/5 bars @ 117.0 Mbps,

5.0 Ghz = 2/5 bars @ 54.0 Mbps.

(FWIW, my notebook's old internal 2.4Ghz WiFi adapter also routinely gets >100 Mbps connections, often >125 Mbps.)

What's up with that?

Why would a yagi piss off neighbors?

I am not arguing,, I don't know much about it?

A yagi wouldn't, the amp would because you cause alot of radio interference for other because of your signal strength

I have the best Belikin forget the model number and it goes up 3 floors, but on iphone 4 a bit weak but still works, laptop is almost full bars. the router is on the first floor not the 2nd. as said before if you put on the 2nd floor it may come close to working for all floors. you might need a wireless repeater if you can not put on the 2nd floor 4 floors is pushing it even from the best routers. before I had a cheap g router and I had to put o 2nd floor to get any signal on the 3rd at all. a yagi would be cool if you want to share with neighbors a short distance away but in this case I think a yagi would be over kill for sure