2 wireless routers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Metspitzer
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Metspitzer

My sister lives in another state. When she got DSL, I bought a
Linksys router, and with the help of Usenet, figured out how to set it
up with DSL.

The first time the power went out, instead of wating for the service
to be restorded, he reset the modem. So we both kind of agreed that
she would subscribe to the DSL's wireless service.

Well I now put a wireless card in my niece's computer. She only gets
one bar from the current router.

I was wondering if I could plug the Linksys into the current router
and see if she could get a better signal from the Linksys?
 
Steve said:
So why do you think the problem is with the router and not the
wireless card?
Click to expand...
Also are you sure your niece is picking up the DSL modem's wireless hookup
or another, say from next door? If not sure or unsure of the SSID of the
DSL modem, power it off and see if your niece's computer still shows a
wireless feed of one bar. SSID can also be optionally turned off.

Is your sisters computer actually using wireless or is it connected to the
DSL modem using an Ethernet cable? Reason I ask is some of them ship the
DSL modem with the wireless transmitter turned off in the settings. If that
function has not been turned on by someone, either your sister, you, or the
DSL tech support then your niece may not be seeing that DSL modem at all,
but someone else's modem.
 
Also are you sure your niece is picking up the DSL modem's wireless hookup
or another, say from next door? If not sure or unsure of the SSID of the
DSL modem, power it off and see if your niece's computer still shows a
wireless feed of one bar. SSID can also be optionally turned off.
Click to expand...

Because my niece connected the first time, I assume their router is
unsecured. They live around 20 miles from the closest red light so I
am also pretty sure they have the only wireless router for many miles.
There house is at the maxium limit for DSL. They were even turned
down the first time they tried to subscribe.
Is your sisters computer actually using wireless or is it connected to the
DSL modem using an Ethernet cable? Reason I ask is some of them ship the
DSL modem with the wireless transmitter turned off in the settings. If that
function has not been turned on by someone, either your sister, you, or the
DSL tech support then your niece may not be seeing that DSL modem at all,
but someone else's modem.
Click to expand...
The main machine is hardwired but, my nephew has a Xbox or some kind
of online game console. That is the reason for the wireless router in
the first place. My niece didn't live there at the time.

My computer skills are limited, but my sister can barely turn one on.
My nephew is 15, but he is the computer guru of the house. He can at
least do what the people at tech support tell him. I live the next
state over. It is about 45 min away.

I tried using a wireless network card to get her system configured
here at my house, but after 3 different cards, I concluded that her
machine didn't meet the hardware requirements and was not going to
work anyway. I had to buy a USB wireless dongle to connect to my
router here, and that is what she is using there.

She does not use her computer much, so I am just learning after over a
month that it only gives her 1 bar, or I would carry the dongle back
and get a more powerful one. It worked fine here, and my router was
around the same distance from computer. I have a Linksys router here.
 
Metspitzer said:
Because my niece connected the first time, I assume their router is
unsecured. They live around 20 miles from the closest red light so I
am also pretty sure they have the only wireless router for many miles.
There house is at the maxium limit for DSL. They were even turned
down the first time they tried to subscribe.

The main machine is hardwired but, my nephew has a Xbox or some kind
of online game console. That is the reason for the wireless router in
the first place. My niece didn't live there at the time.

My computer skills are limited, but my sister can barely turn one on.
My nephew is 15, but he is the computer guru of the house. He can at
least do what the people at tech support tell him. I live the next
state over. It is about 45 min away.

I tried using a wireless network card to get her system configured
here at my house, but after 3 different cards, I concluded that her
machine didn't meet the hardware requirements and was not going to
work anyway. I had to buy a USB wireless dongle to connect to my
router here, and that is what she is using there.

She does not use her computer much, so I am just learning after over a
month that it only gives her 1 bar, or I would carry the dongle back
and get a more powerful one. It worked fine here, and my router was
around the same distance from computer. I have a Linksys router here.
Click to expand...

Ok, to get back to your original question, yes the Linksys can most likely
be added to the existing router but to be sure I would need to know what
model the Linksys router is. Knowing the DSL modem model would be a plus
too. With the Linksys info I can check the manual to verify a few
options/settings to make sure.

Another options might be adding an optional (larger) antenna on the USB or
on the DSL modem one has a removable antenna. Possibly repositioning the
DSL box higher or closer to the niece's computer.
 
router here, and that is what she is using there.
Click to expand...

Enhance a bit the signal ( set wifi hardware to lower/slower/limit
speed like 802.11b-Only) !

Enhance existing antenna using some add-ons like those on down links
(check pics and data, its in my native slovene laungage, so you won´t
understand anything, but pics can tell a lot too :-)

wifi USBkeY range Enhancers-boosters ´4 Dummies´
http://www.wlan-sat.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=26476#26476

some tetrapak enhancement for default antennas coming with wifi cards
& routers ...
http://www.wlan-sat.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=37739#37739

Universal UsbKeY 1-5GHz directional 5-10dBi Can-Antenna
http://www.wlan-sat.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=37635#37635

in English :

http://www.instructables.com/id/How_to_make_an_active_wifi_tetrapak_antenna_fast/
:-))
 
My sister lives in another state. When she got DSL, I bought a
Linksys router, and with the help of Usenet, figured out how to set it
up with DSL.

The first time the power went out, instead of wating for the service
to be restorded, he reset the modem. So we both kind of agreed that
she would subscribe to the DSL's wireless service.

Well I now put a wireless card in my niece's computer. She only gets
one bar from the current router.

I was wondering if I could plug the Linksys into the current router
and see if she could get a better signal from the Linksys?
Click to expand...

I bought the dongle from Staples. Although they have a 14 day return
policy, I was able to take it back and switch it for a stronger model.
The catch is that the stronger model also has more hardware
requirements. The old P2 450 is about at the end of the line.

I wish I had seen the suggestions to move the router and try to extend
the range by using another antenna before the swap, but I will try the
stronger one.

If the new dongle will not work on the old machine, I shall try some
other suggestions.

Thanks
 
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