Extending Wireless Network - Currently Have Telkom Mega 100WR & Apple Time Capsule

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ThapeloP

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I hope someone can help me with the following.

I have a wireless network that I set up a while ago and it has been working very well except for the very poor range of the wireless network. The wireless network has been set using a Telkom Mega 100WR router which is hooked up to my desktop which is located in my study.

I have been trying to extend the range of the wireless network but have not received good easy to follow advice to date. My wireless network signal is way too weak and I lose it as soon as I am about 7m away from the 100WR router.

My main problem is that there are many walls between my study where the Telkom 100WR router is currently located and other areas in the house where I would like to use my laptop. I have a Apple MacBook for a laptop and I recently bought an Apple Time Capsule 1TB machine primarily to backup my Macbook but since it also came with an Wireless Type N Router installed, I was hoping to have my wireless network range boosted now that I have 2 routers.

There has been no improvement whatsoever in my wireless network range and am very keen to get assistance on how I can practically boost my wireless network range. I am not sure if this has to do with how I have connected the time capsule onto my existing wireless network. Unfortunately I have not been able to get any form of assistance from either Apple representatives in RSA or Telkom. Am wondering if there is anyone who can assist me in getting to extend my wireless network range given the above scenario.
 
Ethernet cable and a second wireless access point would probably do it. Anyone have any advice?

Alternatively a larger wireless antenna for the router.

Apparently the Airport Extreme Wireless signal is pretty strong and it is also dual band - have you tried connecting the Time Capsule to the Modem (by cable) and using that as the wireless access point? The cable in this scenario could be long with modem in one room and long cable somewhere else where the Apple router is (or a short cable).
If the above scenario works, it is apparently possible to use Airport Express units as wireless repeaters.

There is another scenario which uses your mains and outlets and a wired network with wireless access points which can be plugged into the wall outlet.

I should say that Apple stores and Telkom are only good at taking money but not giving good advice. I had a similar issue and their staff (at CW) were pretty unhelpful and smug.
 
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The Airport Extreme (Time Capsule) unit is dual band and apparently has strong signal. Read through this series of comments here:
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/06/23/022239/Cheap-ADSL-Holds-Up-80211n-Router-Design?from=rss
and see that it works very well.

It is probably best to use the Time Capsule (AE) unit as a the base station/access point for the wireless network - maybe have it connected by cable to your modem and somewhere near the middle of the house, ideally higher than other things?
 
It's all about the way you setup your extreme. I suggest you do a factory reset (using a ballpoint pen, there is a small hole in the back to do a reset - see your manual) and start over again. Set it up in a remote location where you are wanting to have better coverage, and open airport utility in your MBP (your MBP and extreme should be cabled during setup). Using airport utility (in your folder applications/utilities) set the extreme up.....but when questioned what type of setup you want, choose "extend my wireless network" or wording similar to that - dont choose any of the other options, like a new network, or wireless printer etc. Go right through the setup, it will ask you which network to extend, and select the Telkom router. Complete the setup, and if all is setup properly, the green light will light on the extreme. It is now setup, and you can place the extreme anywhere in your house that needs a better signal (obviously the extreme still needs to be in range with the telkom router, or the light will change to amber). You now have a new 'hotspot' centered around your extreme, but linked to your telkom router. It will NOT show up as a new network, it will show as the telkom router, so you connect as usual.

I use the smaller Airport Express units, they are cheaper, and do the same job. They terminate in a wall plug, so once they are setup you can move them and plug them in anywhere that you need better coverage. I have an extreme, but it is setup connected to a 1TB hard drive, so I can access the hard drive wirelessly
 
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Or just get one of these.. It's a seriously good wireless router and excellent value for money... I use one at home and at the office. Signal in my house is strong throughout as it is at the office..
 
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surfs-up said:
It's all about the way you setup your extreme. I suggest you do a factory reset (using a ballpoint pen, there is a small hole in the back to do a reset - see your manual) and start over again. Set it up in a remote location where you are wanting to have better coverage, and open airport utility in your MBP (your MBP and extreme should be cabled during setup). Using airport utility (in your folder applications/utilities) set the extreme up.....but when questioned what type of setup you want, choose "extend my wireless network" or wording similar to that - dont choose any of the other options, like a new network, or wireless printer etc. Go right through the setup, it will ask you which network to extend, and select the Telkom router. Complete the setup, and if all is setup properly, the green light will light on the extreme. It is now setup, and you can place the extreme anywhere in your house that needs a better signal (obviously the extreme still needs to be in range with the telkom router, or the light will change to amber). You now have a new 'hotspot' centered around your extreme, but linked to your telkom router. It will NOT show up as a new network, it will show as the telkom router, so you connect as usual.

I use the smaller Airport Express units, they are cheaper, and do the same job. They terminate in a wall plug, so once they are setup you can move them and plug them in anywhere that you need better coverage. I have an extreme, but it is setup connected to a 1TB hard drive, so I can access the hard drive wirelessly
Click to expand...

If I may ask, how many brick walls does the AE unit's signal reach?
 
PeterCH said:
If I may ask, how many brick walls does the AE unit's signal reach?
Click to expand...

At least 3 or 4, and coupled with a distance of about 30 meters, but will probably do more - I haven't really tested to see how far it will go, but it covers my whole house
 
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Thank you for all of your input. I will try the suggestions you have brought forward.
 
surfs-up said:
At least 3 or 4, and coupled with a distance of about 30 meters, but will probably do more - I haven't really tested to see how far it will go, but it covers my whole house
Click to expand...

Thanks. Maybe putting it at the other end of the house would do the trick then. Will have to find a test unit.
 
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