Wireless repeaters

Tablets, cell phones, laptops, smart televisions, media players, game consoles, printers, network attached storage, security systems, even your thermostat, smoke detectors, light bulbs and refrigerators.  All of these devices (and more!) can now send and receive information over an internet connection.  We have never been more connected.

Wireless devices are generally scattered throughout the home; your television on the ground floor, gaming system in the basement, your laptop and a printer in the third floor office, etc.  When they’re spread across multiple rooms and multiple floors, your devices may not have optimal wireless signal strength.  Conflicting devices, building construction and neighboring wireless networks are all possible causes of failure and can be difficult to identify.  Sometimes, the issue can be as simple as the distance from the wireless router being too great. In all of these cases, you can try expanding your wireless network as a possible solution.

The first thing to evaluate is the wireless router, itself.  We often hear people tell us their router has been working fine for many years and they do not feel a need to replace something that isn’t causing any problems.  A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.  This is often the case with your wireless network.  If your laptop supports wireless N distance/speeds (150MPS+), but you still have a wireless G (54MBPS) router, your network may be running much slower than it should.  The same can be said for older computers using wireless G wireless cards and connecting to a wireless N network.  This could cause the newer wireless N router to bring the whole network down to the slower wireless G speeds.  Keeping these devices current can greatly improve performance for both speed and distance.

If upgrading hardware doesn’t work, you can also expand your network with wireless repeaters or a wireless bridge.  These are devices that expand your wireless network either by connecting them in another room or on another floor in your home.  Some devices require being plugged into a network cable, some can be connected wirelessly and some even connect through a standard power outlet using your existing power cables.  Not all devices are configured the same way, but the end result should be the same.  The new device will function in addition to your existing wireless router to push the signal further in your home.  The optimal placement of these devices will depend on the location of your devices and the construction of your home, but this can often be easily determined by a process of elimination.  If you try a repeater in one room/floor, but do not notice improvement, you can try moving it to another room/floor.

This process can be as simple or as difficult as your level of comfort with this type of technology, the construction of your home and the types of devices you own.  Since most wireless repeaters do not require altering your existing network configuration, we encourage you to try one to see if it is something you can address on your own.  If this process seems too daunting or if you just want to ensure it handled professionally, contact us today.