Improving B970 WiFi range

[Shred]

I have recently bought a Huawei B970 HSDPA router.

It works well and all, but the WiFi signal is too week to connect to my PS3 down stairs.

Do any of you know how I can boost the signal? Apparently the antenna connector for it is only for GSM.

 

[morkhans]

I have recently bought a Huawei B970 HSDPA router.

It works well and all, but the WiFi signal is too week to connect to my PS3 down stairs.

Do any of you know how I can boost the signal? Apparently the antenna connector for it is only for GSM.

Correct the antenna connector is for an external GSM antenna.

Either you need to move the router to a more central place, or you will need to run a network cable from the router to the PS3. Other option is to run a network cable to a place downstairs and connect another access point to it.

 

[Shred]

Thanks, its a pitty there are not two connectors.

 

[ndoda25]

I had the router setup in the study area and I could connect to the router from the living room, but it was faulty and they replaced it with a new one after i had to take it to vodaworld for a month.

The new one I range is now less, It is setup at the same place, but can only get to it from the passage and in the living room and bedroom no more wireless coverage.

I thought there is something wrong with the router but was not in the mood to take it back and wait another month. What could be different between the routers?

 

[kingrob]

I had the router setup in the study area and I could connect to the router from the living room, but it was faulty and they replaced it with a new one after i had to take it to vodaworld for a month.

The new one I range is now less, It is setup at the same place, but can only get to it from the passage and in the living room and bedroom no more wireless coverage.

I thought there is something wrong with the router but was not in the mood to take it back and wait another month. What could be different between the routers?

Morkhans mentioned in another thread that you must have a look if the switch on the router is not set on external antennae. If it is, that's your problem.

Mine works extremely well....I'm sitting 12m from it and get 4 bar reception. Not sure what the range on the B970 is.

 

[ndoda25]

Morkans mentioned in another thread that must have a look if the switch on the router is not set on external antennae.

Mine works extremely well.

I checked that, it is set exacly the same as the old one. And the range is very limited, I use it in the study only and it is set to internal antennae as was the old one.

I guess I will try to set it to external then back to internal and see if i get anything.

 

[FireTelkom]

You can use a Wifi Extender that will work with the B970's WDS system. I am running a system where I extend my Apple Extreme with two Apple Express through my house. This gives me full coverage over the 80 meter long house with double brick walls for all internal walls.

I tested the Apple Express with my B970 and was able to extend the network as well.

 

[nuyork]

As mentioned in my other post in the Vodafone B970 Router thread:-

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=2820585&postcount=133

From my experience the internal wifi antenna is limited, but you can connect an external wifi antenna which should make a big difference.

That connection for the external antenna is not for wi-fi, but for the 3G antenna. If you connect an external antenna on there, it will not increase your wi-fi range.

What you need to get is a range extender - Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander

I've setup one of these before and they work very well and improved the coverage throughout a very large house.

Do you know where I can get the antenna from? Google does not know...

If you want an antenna to better your 3G coverage, then PoyntingDirect sell external antennas for the B970 router - High gain antenna with 7 meter cable

If you want to improve the wireless (wi-fi) coverage of the unit, you'll need a range expande - see above.

Oh yeah, when setting up the Wi-Fi Extender rather set your B970 to no security, then setup the wi-fi extender, then set your security back to WEP or WPA.

I've read extensively that the Linksys Range Extender has some weird problem with WPA2.