powerless repeater needed

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MooPoo

251 posts

Ultimate Geek

#75022 11-Jan-2011 23:30

I am having problems with the wireless signal from one end of my house to the other.

I figure i can put a wireless repeater in the ceiling above the lounge room that is having problems and this will solve the problem.

I can run a ethernet cable from the router (which is in the garage) into the roof and run it up to where it needs to be, so the repeater will be plugged into the router, but there is no power in the ceiling so i need to find out if there is a wireless repeater that gets its power from the ethernet cable, or doesn't need a power source at all.

If anything like this exists, can anyone recommend one please?

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kyhwana2

2563 posts

Uber Geek

#426339 11-Jan-2011 23:41

There's no way to re-transmit wifi signals without power. ;)

But what you're after is Power over Ethernet. You'll need to buy adaptors (2) with a transformer plugged into the wall at one end, with some Cat5/6 plugged into the first adaptor, run that up, then you split off the power and ethernet again. Lesse.

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=347
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/1404631/Even-Fewer-Wires-Power-over-Ethernet-PoE.ht...
http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Cisco-WAP4400N-Wireless-N-Access/dp/B000H46SVY

In the enterprise, you can buy switches that will push power and 10/100mbit ethernet over a single Cat5/6 cable, but in your case, you'll have to get an adaptor that you can plug into power and the ethernet bit into your switch.

http://features.techworld.com/mobile-wireless/236/power-over-ethernet-for-office-wlans/
:)

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sbiddle

30853 posts

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#426358 12-Jan-2011 06:18

Or buy an AP that supports either active or passive PoE and comes with it's own injector. Many do these days.

thorax

75 posts

Master Geek

#426377 12-Jan-2011 08:40

Have you tried increasing the signal strength by reflecting the signal ??

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUTT8wdN_VA

I did something similar with a pizza box and some tin foil, and signal strength went from about -90 to ~ -70db, which is enough to stop my connection from falling from the far end of the house.

jonherries

1388 posts

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#426388 12-Jan-2011 09:05

You could also put a small hole in the ceiling in the corner and run the ethernet down the wall to a power point, and plug in the ap...

Or you could get another router and use it as a bridge (situate it half way between the garage and the lounge). The airport express does this well.

Or you could try moving the original router to see if this helps. I have found that moving mine higher gives me better coverage.

Also try making sure there is plenty of space around the router (ie. without the modem and powerbricks piled on top etc).

Hope this helps.

Jon

MooPoo

251 posts

Ultimate Geek

#426391 12-Jan-2011 09:10

thorax: Have you tried increasing the signal strength by reflecting the signal ??

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUTT8wdN_VA

Now there's an interesting thought!

MooPoo

251 posts

Ultimate Geek

#426393 12-Jan-2011 09:12

Lots of great suggestions that dont cost much. i like it!

ALTRON

577 posts

Ultimate Geek

#426530 12-Jan-2011 14:31

I bought one of these. TP-Link Wa701ND
http://www.playtech.co.nz/afawcs0139235/CATID=/ID=14031/SID=1031190637/productdetails.html

Works mint. Im running it over Power Over Ethernet too.

raytaylor

4006 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#426639 12-Jan-2011 20:49

ubiquiti picostation 2 (non M series)from gowifi.co.nz

All ubnt gear is power over ethernet and they come with the injectors.

If you are trying to repeat a signal however, you must get another access point from the same manufacturer as your main access point / router as the WDS language that they speak to do the repeating isnt auctually standardised so it differs between manufacturers though a few are compatible with others.

The ubnt radio that i mentioned above can be hardwired with cat5 back to your main router and will do the job that way.

Ray Taylor

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