Range of 802.11b vs G

[fran403]

I have a D-link 802.11b router and the network works fine except that a distant computer from the AP has very marginal connectivity. This continues despite using an improved D-link antenna and a repeater. I was wondering if a G router/AP would have increased range. Does anybody have similar experiences and information?


Thanks

[M/Q]

Actually 11g will be worse as it has less output power than 11b. Using a repeater is not the best solution for weak signals. If there is no possibility of running additional cable to an AP that would obviously be the best. Nest best would be to setup a bridge link to the remote AP. Repeating requires a much stronger signal than most people realize. Also it really reduces your bandwidth. What kind of antenna system do you have. Also adding another AP to the router in a location closer to the remote AP might be another solution.

[rasmasyean]

In an 11g, when it falls to a lower bandwidth, would it still be faster than an 11b, falling to its respective lower bandwidth? Is that how it works? i.e. 50% would be 22 vs. 5.5?

[M/Q]

Essentially that is how it works. I believe the more sophisticated systems are based on packet corruption and signal strength together. As the signal strength falls to a certain level, the firmware recognizes that and then jumps down to the next lower data rate. It will continuously monitor this parameter. I am not exactly sure what signal level percentages precipitate the drop, as I believe that is vendor dependent.

I think I see where you are going with this. I have ran a few tests and 11g is not even a player when thinking about anything over 100m. In my rather crude tests, the data rates where less than 11b even at 100m.

[fran403]

My problem computer is about 80 feet from the AP on a different floor in an older house. I have tried playing with the antenna and the location of the AP without success. I have used a laptop to assess signal strength to the area where the computer is and signal strength is low or very low or absent. Running cable from the AP is difficult, although not impossible. The cost of running cable would be about $200. Thus, if G would give more range...then a new G router/AP would be cheaper. But it sounds like G has a shorter range than previous iterations.

[M/Q]

11g would be a bad thing to consider in this application. You have two options. The best overall option is figure out where the WAP should be located to get access to the location you want. Then decide if it is possible to run a CAT5 cable there. It will create the least amount of long term problems and scale the best, if other clients are added.

The second option is to create a wireless repeater out of a WAP. That is possible but it has to have better than average signal strength with both the client and the router. This is very important, please do not belittle this point. It will also reduce the bandwidth downstream of the WAP acting as a repeater by half. So, that is why I strongly suggest the cable route. Now, that said and you are aware of the options, it would be smart to get the WAP from DLink (to stay with same vendor) and try it as a repeater. Then if it does not work, think about stringing a cable to where it will work.