Wireless Connection

[LennDawg]

Alright, thanks Jason. I'm gonna pick up a nice Purple one haha

[LennDawg]

Ok.. I ended up picking up a Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Searc...rchSection=All

Am I going to run into problems with this? An employee at CC said I should just replace my Wireless G Router with an N router. Should I have done that instead?

[LennDawg]

Ok, this thing keeps picking up and losing signal but when i check on the PS3 it says the Signal Strength is 100%, somebody help?!

[JasonR]

I have used this with a few PCs and if you are getting 100% signal, I would have a hard time saying it is your network. What does a wireless PC do?

[LennDawg]

I'm not sure I'm understanding your question... My laptop works fine throughout the house, but as soon as i step into this new edition on my house, the signal goes wacky.. even with this range extender set up in there now. My PS3 will connect to it and then disconnect from it 5 minutes after...

[JasonR]

So the computer and PS3 do the same thing?

[LennDawg]

Right.. I'm thinking about just returning this thing and going with a N router that the guy at CC said. I dont know..

[JasonR]

Might want to give it a shot.

[JasonR]

Just to let you know though, it is very unlikely you have any N devices. So, the addition of the N isn't going to do you much good. I would get a G with rangebooster if it saves you money.

[LennDawg]

Could you explain the difference between the N and the G?

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by LennDawg

Could you explain the difference between the N and the G?

The three differences: speed (or throughput), distance and transmission.

Speed for a wireless G system is 54 Mbps/s max with a range of approx 35 meters, though real world conditions lower this significantly while keeping the througput high. This can can be extended based on additional technologies such as MIMO systems. These also primarily used 2.4 GHz frequencies.

Wireless N adds standard MIMO technology (Multiple-input, Multiple-output) by adding additional antennas to boost the maximum throughput to 250-300 Mbps (different manufacturers claim different throughputs) and a range of approximately 70 meters. These use both 2.4 and 5.8 GHz frequencies.

Now wireless N has some other features which are beneficial, but for the mainstream computing and networking public, are not as important as the three listed here.

[LennDawg]

Thanks for the clarification. So would the N router work with my PS3 and laptops? I don't see why they wouldn't, just want to make sure...

[Snowgod]

I can see that the real problem here is that your wireless base station has something that blocks the signal in it's line of sight or you have another 2.4ghz device conflicting with you signal. anything metal will block the signal and as it travels in a straight line, that could be an appliance (fridge, stove, etc.) or a mirror in a bathroom vanity or if you have a tile wall, they may have used metal reinforcement. If not a blockage it may be a wireless phone or a neighbor may be transmitting on the same or close frequency. try moving your base station around and see how it affects your signal. Also try changing frequency to a different channel. I have had to use the European software on a router that had a conflict as they are allowed 14 channels to our 11(not FCC approved). Good luck

PS. 2.4ghz needs a hole larger than those in chicken wire fencing for a signal to get through and I have seen it used to reinforce Stucco houses in Florida.

[Bobby Henderson]

Lots of different things in a house can chew up a WiFi signal. Metal studs in the walls can be a problem. Copper coiling in a water heater nearby can interfere with the signal.

One other thing to consider is updating the firmware in the router. I had trouble getting my PS3 to connect with my Linksys WRT54GS router. After getting the latest firmware for that model from Linksys' website the PS3 connected easily.

[LennDawg]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

Lots of different things in a house can chew up a WiFi signal. Metal studs in the walls can be a problem. Copper coiling in a water heater nearby can interfere with the signal.

One other thing to consider is updating the firmware in the router. I had trouble getting my PS3 to connect with my Linksys WRT54GS router. After getting the latest firmware for that model from Linksys' website the PS3 connected easily.

Hey, thanks for that. I went over to the site and downloaded the lastest firmware. I'm still gettin a crappy signal in the room tho (actually got worse, from 45% to 27% now). The good thing is that my PS3 and laptops have been staying connected tho (Laptops been connected for 2 days straight now, no disconnections). My last bet is to try moving the room that the routers in. See how that goes. If not I'm going to have to get a better router i guess. Thanks for everybody's help...

[actionhank]

Originally Posted by LennDawg

Ok, this thing keeps picking up and losing signal but when i check on the PS3 it says the Signal Strength is 100%, somebody help?!

Thats why I said you should have gone wired man, it almost never disconnects. Plus its the easiest to set up, basically all you need to know is how to use a hammer.

"CAT 6 500MHz UTP Cable" is what you need from monoprice. The length and color is up to you.

This is what you need to run it along the wall, all hardware stores have it:

Originally Posted by LennDawg

Hey, thanks for that. I went over to the site and downloaded the lastest firmware. I'm still gettin a crappy signal in the room tho (actually got worse, from 45% to 27% now). The good thing is that my PS3 and laptops have been staying connected tho (Laptops been connected for 2 days straight now, no disconnections).

Are you sure about that? Cause Windows typically loses signal but reconnects in a second. It's so fast that it doesn't matter when you're just surfing the web, probably won't notice. But in a Call of Duty match you'll notice, cause you're back in the game lobby.

[Bobby Henderson]

My last bet is to try moving the room that the routers in. See how that goes.

What kind of Internet connection do you have? Cable? DSL?

If you have DSL and phone jacks in various places around the house you'll have a number of placement options for the router. Just plug the phone line filter/splitter thingie into the nearest phone jack where your PS3 is located. Hook the router up to that. It doesn't even have to be connected to a PC (although I do recommend setting the router where you can log into it only with a hard wired LAN connection).

If that doesn't work, then you'll probably just have to run some physical network cable. PS3 is Gigabit Ethernet compatible.

[choctaw]

Originally Posted by Snowgod

I can see that the real problem here is that your wireless base station has something that blocks the signal in it's line of sight or you have another 2.4ghz device conflicting with you signal. anything metal will block the signal and as it travels in a straight line, that could be an appliance (fridge, stove, etc.) or a mirror in a bathroom vanity or if you have a tile wall, they may have used metal reinforcement. If not a blockage it may be a wireless phone or a neighbor may be transmitting on the same or close frequency. try moving your base station around and see how it affects your signal. Also try changing frequency to a different channel. I have had to use the European software on a router that had a conflict as they are allowed 14 channels to our 11(not FCC approved). Good luck

PS. 2.4ghz needs a hole larger than those in chicken wire fencing for a signal to get through and I have seen it used to reinforce Stucco houses in Florida.

Wow... thanks for that...........

I knew certain things interfere with the WiFi, but I didn't know all those common household appliances kill the signal that way. I figured it was just blue-tooth items such as my phone an/or ipod. I have my ps3 in the room about 25 ft away from the router, and in between it is The water Heater, a bathroom mirror, and my sisters digital photo frames.

and they wonder why the hell i lag on COD4.......Would opening ports help any at all ???????

[LennDawg]

Ya, I'm going to go for the Wired connection if moving the router to a different room doesn't work. I have a cable modem by the way..

[actionhank]

Originally Posted by choctaw

Would opening ports help any at all ???????

No