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Router information please....

3 replies

flowertop · 24/02/2011 15:18

I have a 3 storey house with very thick walls etc. and the router I have is currently on the top floor. When I use my computer downstairs it is very slow and keeps disconnecting. I guess I need another router to make the connection stronger? If this is the case how do I choose which router to buy and is it easy to align the router to my two laptops. The original router was supplied professionally and can't remember who did this. Also would be good to know how to do this myself. thanks

OP posts:
TheSpook · 24/02/2011 15:34

Our house is like that.
DH has a very clever little gadget which plugs into a mains socket and send the internet through the house electrical system. We run a computer upstairs and an x box in the living room. It connects to the router via ethernet

Niceguy2 · 24/02/2011 16:23

Firstly, where is your BT master socket? Do you have a socket downstairs instead of on the top floor? Due to how wireless works, you may find having the router downstairs works better and you can still receive a signal upstairs.

Assuming you don't have a socket downstairs, the best bet is to get a pair of homeplugs like TheSpook has linked to above. You can get some from ebuyer like these

What you do is plug one near your router with a cable. Then the other downstairs and a cable into your laptop.

However, if you havent already spotted the fundamental flaw in the plan, its that you will need a network cable connected to your laptop at all times. Not ideal if you are sat in your lounge and since you mention laptops (ie. plural), this could be a pain.

You can however, buy one of these which uses your power lines to extend the network but then wireless from the plug to your laptops. However, you will need a normal homeplug like this to plug in upstairs and connect using a network cable to your router.

Now in theory homeplugs all conform to the same standard but in practice they can be a bit picky so you may need a techie friend to sort it out for you but of course the costs are far higher than a pair of standard homeplugs.

It all depends on what you need and your budget.

Personally I'd drop a network cable down the side of the house, drill some holes and install another router.

NetworkGuy · 24/02/2011 16:27

Another name for the same sort of unit is "HomePlug" and on Ebay you can sometimes find a "starter pack" which has two identical units at prices from say 30-35 pounds for the pair.

I have installed a number of such units in homes of clients where for one reason or another Wi-Fi has proved unreliable.

There's also a unit which is an access point - a hybrid device, providing Wi-Fi and HomePlug functions in one, so wireless connections can be made and data goes to/from another HomePlug device...

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