Wifi extender recommendations?

[clasqm]

Hi guys

Next year we will be moving from our townhouse into a big house. A seriously big house.

This is/will be 2013 and wifi is not negotiable. I have an Apple Airport Extreme plugged into an iBurst modem and it works fine. But I doubt it's going to provide coverage for the whole house.

So, I'm looking for recommendations for wifi repeater/extenders known to work well with the above setup. I know you can flash an old Netsys router etc etc. No thanks, too much like hard work. Plug in, switch on, enjoy wifi in another corner of the house, that's what I need.

 

[Segg]

if you're using the airport extreme then the airport express should do the trick just fine, apple tech loves apple tech so the setup should be easy as well, reason I know, tried to extend a wireless network with the airport express but according to the apple forums its bloody difficult to get it working unless you have another airport express/extreme, me I always lay some cat5e ethernet cable and put in an access point/wireless router its much easier imo

 

[encrypted]

I was gonna say get the same brand as your AP, but you have a crapple.

Get a Linksys or Netgear.

Plug in, Switch on, Run the software (nothing is plug and play, it needs network info), Profit.


Edit: By linksys or netgear, I mean extenders. They both have.

 

[seven7seven]

I recently helped a friend extend their wireless coverage into their guest cottage/flatlet.

We investigated using a wifi range extender/repeater but decided to rather go for an Ethernet over Power-line solution from TP-Link (http://www.dbg.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=18_74&products_id=831) since we could place the second wireless AP in a central position for the cottage instead of "half-way" between the cottage and main router, as well as the fact that a wifi repeater would have dropped the wifi throughput by half.

So far it's been working great.

 

[Dean]

First off, to the guy who slated your AP, ja... that's where I stopped reading.

An Airport Express will be the easiest setup you'll experience - this coming from someone who owns 1 Apple product in the previous-generation iPod Nano.

Further than that, I love using the D-Link DAP-1360. It's a multifunction AP/Bridge/Repeater with generally better reception than the Cisco RE1000's (which have internal antennas). The setup will be slightly more technical than the Airport Express, but you should get good results. I haven't compared its signal strength to the Airport though so that's a bit of an unknown - although Apple wireless products are generally very good.

 

[encrypted]

There's a reason I slated the airport, the express is probably not up to the job.

Physics dictates that the "cute little box" is not really going to exceed 2dbm on the antenna, absolutely any review will pretty much backup the coverage problem. If your going to be rebroadcasting (and halving your wireless speed) you want a lot to start off with.

I have no doubt it will be the easiest thing to configure, but the cute form factor is a problem.

Now have a look at a TP-Link extender for example: http://www.dbg.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=1_55_56&products_id=744

Your getting MIMO antennas and a total power of 230% more than what the apple is offering, for HALF the price. It's a no brainer.

It's still easy to use, insert the cd and answer the questions.

He said seriously big, Iv'e seen houses where 3 AP's still missed spots like the cinema in the basement, I have also seen places where some walls are so thick 15 metres becomes an issue.

 

[bwana]

There's a reason I slated the airport, the express is probably not up to the job.

Physics dictates that the "cute little box" is not really going to exceed 2dbm on the antenna, absolutely any review will pretty much backup the coverage problem. If your going to be rebroadcasting (and halving your wireless speed) you want a lot to start off with.

The Airport express has a max radio output of 20.5 dBm. Not sure how that measures up against the 20 dBm TP-Link extender you mentioned but there you go.

I've got one of the older models (slightly different shape and you can't configure it via the iPad) and it's great. I always take it with me when travelling as many hotels still only offer ethernet wifi and it only takes seconds to set it up as a hotspot in the room.

 

[Dean]

He said seriously big, Iv'e seen houses where 3 AP's still missed spots like the cinema in the basement, I have also seen places where some walls are so thick 15 metres becomes an issue.

If the house is one of those, I've played with all the extenders available and none will do the job. Nothing remotely stable, that is.

Should this (really, really big) be the case, OP has little choice other than to either run cabling to a few average APs, or use a couple of seriously heavy duty (read: pricetag) APs (still linked via a cable)

 

[clasqm]

Thanks, everybody

 

[hj2k_x]

Is there a brick n mortar store that stocks these things? Incredible corruption even? Our walls are thick and I need one to extend the wifi into the bedroom. The router is in the study. Distance-wise not far but 3-4 walls between the router and the bedroom.

Any assistance would be much appreciated

 

[Space_Chief]

In my house, my retina Mac Book Pro 15 (as well as my previous MBP 15 2010 model) and iPads struggle with Airport Extreme Base Station (5th gen) with only one wall and several corners. The Netgear DGN2000 is neither better or worse. PCs seem to struggle less.

 

[alatheia]

I am migrating to Apple and currently I am using a MBP Retina with some i5 chip, 8GB RAM and ML up-to-date, not yet Mavs. I also have an iPhone 5 with iOS7 and a second iPhone, a 5S. We are going to set up a small office with max 5 staff and also a home office. I have planned much around http://www.apple.com/airport-time-capsule/ but what I am reading here is making me worry a bit. In the office, I plan to use either an iMac or a Mac Mini to run Mac Server from, while using it for basic accounting and admin. Would it be better then to rather use cable instead of wireless? We will have an incoming NeoFibre or NeoOmni internet connection to provide for VoIP. One would obviously want stability and avoid latency.

 

[[)roi(]]

I recently helped a friend extend their wireless coverage into their guest cottage/flatlet.

We investigated using a wifi range extender/repeater but decided to rather go for an Ethernet over Power-line solution from TP-Link (http://www.dbg.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=18_74&products_id=831) since we could place the second wireless AP in a central position for the cottage instead of "half-way" between the cottage and main router, as well as the fact that a wifi repeater would have dropped the wifi throughput by half.

So far it's been working great.

+1 best quick any easy solution by far. WIFI extenders are more pain than benefit.

@OP: Alternatively physically (Ethernet) wire up your areas; at a minimum hardwire the links between all the WIFI routers, as you would do with the Ethernet Powerline adapters.

Both solutions allow you to run the WIFI routers at maximum signal strength i.e. No speed loss.

 

[[)roi(]]

I am migrating to Apple and currently I am using a MBP Retina with some i5 chip, 8GB RAM and ML up-to-date, not yet Mavs. I also have an iPhone 5 with iOS7 and a second iPhone, a 5S. We are going to set up a small office with max 5 staff and also a home office. I have planned much around http://www.apple.com/airport-time-capsule/ but what I am reading here is making me worry a bit. In the office, I plan to use either an iMac or a Mac Mini to run Mac Server from, while using it for basic accounting and admin. Would it be better then to rather use cable instead of wireless? We will have an incoming NeoFibre or NeoOmni internet connection to provide for VoIP. One would obviously want stability and avoid latency.

I run 6 Apple airports wired together with the TP-Link Ethernet over Powerline adapters -- the end result is a very fast home / office network with no speed drop offs for WIFI.

Basically using a combination of both wired and WIFI is always best; don't even bother with WIFI extenders (Apple or any other)

I'll post an Apple document that explains this in more detail. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260

Ps. You can achieve this type of setup with any WIFI router; it certainly doesn't have to be Apple.

Also we discussed this topic at some length here:
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthr...-fi-Issues?p=11383139&viewfull=1#post11383139

 

[alatheia]

I run 6 Apple airports wired together with the TP-Link Ethernet over Powerline adapters -- the end result is a very fast home / office network with no speed drop offs for WIFI.

Basically using a combination of both wired and WIFI is always best; don't even bother with WIFI extenders (Apple or any other)

I'll post an Apple document that explains this in more detail.

Ps. You can achieve this type of setup with any WIFI router; it certainly doesn't have to be Apple.

Thanks…..the Apple bit is more for TimeCapsule (backups) than networking. I have thought of using non-Apple network devices, backing up does not have to be to a Time Capsule either, as it can be done to the server from user machines and the server doing backup to a remote server in turn, on the same VPN.

It will be nice to use iPhones as VoIP phones at office or home office, unless someone has a better solution based upon practical experience. As I have said, I am new to Apple. (Battery life worries me as the iPhone5/S won't make 18hrs even with limited use, it seems.)

 

[[)roi(]]

Thanks…..the Apple bit is more for TimeCapsule (backups) than networking. I have thought of using non-Apple network devices, backing up does not have to be to a Time Capsule either, as it can be done to the server from user machines and the server doing backup to a remote server in turn, on the same VPN.

It will be nice to use iPhones as VoIP phones at office or home office, unless someone has a better solution based upon practical experience. As I have said, I am new to Apple. (Battery life worries me as the iPhone5/S won't make 18hrs even with limited use, it seems.)

I would definitely not advise you to use a Timecapsule for backups. Restoring is a major issue -- so slow, something you only realize when you need to restore.

Rather buy a bunch of USB drives and connect it directly to your Macs; if you shop around the price should be about the same.

Also there have been many discussions around backup solutions for the Mac -- so search for these.

Smartphone battery life is certainly a problem, that's an unfortunate price we have to pay for having a smarter or more capable phone.

VOIP is certainly an option, as WIFI antennas typically use less power than the cellular ones. I suggest you start a new thread to discuss this, as there will be quite a few options, setups, ... to consider.

 

[alatheia]

I would definitely not advise you to use a Timecapsule for backups. Restoring is a major issue -- so slow, something you only realize when you need to restore.

Rather buy a bunch of USB drives and connect it directly to your Macs; if you shop around the price should be about the same.

Also there have been many discussions around backup solutions for the Mac -- so search for these.

Smartphone battery life is certainly a problem, that's an unfortunate price we have to pay for having a smarter or more capable phone.

VOIP is certainly an option, as WIFI antennas typically use less power than the cellular ones. I suggest you start a new thread to discuss this, as there will be quite a few options, setups, ... to consider.

Thanks for all the advice, points taken and will follow your suggestions.

I am just glad that this post here saved me trouble in future, especially as far as Airport & signal integrity is concerned. It once again shows that reading up still is not (test) driving!

 

[[)roi(]]

Thanks for all the advice, points taken and will follow your suggestions.

I am just glad that this post here saved me trouble in future, especially as far as Airport & signal integrity is concerned. It once again shows that reading up still is not (test) driving!

No worries, good luck.

Ps. Rather avoid Apple's TimeCapsule completely as it's over priced, far too slow and unreliable for backups and there's other alternatives that will be far better and will save you money.

The Apple WIFI only routers are good solutions, but shop around as there are many capable (and often cheaper) routers from other manufacturers.