Worth buying a new router to get better wireless signal and connection?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Worth buying a new router to get better wireless signal and connection?

Tias

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#80781 4-Apr-2011 17:29

Hi all,

As the title says I'm wondering if it will improve anything.

I recently moved house and I used to be able to get a 100% signal on my ps3 and download at 1.5Mb/s (multiple files at once)
Now my ps3 gets an average of 50% signal and download speeds have dropped to just around 1Mb/s.
This is most likely because there are two wall in between router and ps3 now.

I'm with Xnet and use their Naked Fusion account.
at the moment I'm using the NB6Plus4Wn but I'm considering buying the CISCO SRP527W.

Would this help or is that wasted money?

Any help greatly appreciated!

Ts

wreck90

780 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#455190 4-Apr-2011 17:38

i wonder the same,. I have a belkin-n router, about 3 years old and it is really bad. Sometimes, it cannot even keep up with my adsl bandwidth.

I've been looking at the wndr3700.

Think about ipv6 support too.

The smallnetbuilder website is quite good.

Mighty Ape

Shop Mighty Ape for electronics, games, computers books and more (affiliate link).

Ragnor

8085 posts

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#455199 4-Apr-2011 17:52

If the wall is causing signal loss it's unlikely you will see much gain by changing wireless router. The NB6Plus4Wn is a pretty good unit in my experience.

Have you considered running Cat5E network cable, if there is a will there is a way (under carpet, under floor/housee, in the ceiling etc)?

The other alternative is powerline / homeplug which work over your mains power but they are fairly pricey.

eg
http://www.dynalink.co.nz/products/ethernet-over-power/np204
http://www.dynalink.co.nz/products/ethernet-over-power/np201av

maverick

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WorldxChange

#455220 4-Apr-2011 18:44

I have this setup , the srp527 is great device but the PS3 is only wirless G, really it's far to slow for any type of transfer , media streaming, I have it hardwird and boy what a difference, I stream HD content from my content server no issues whatsoever , I would say you router is fine, invest the money and hard wire it.

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

Tias

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#455478 5-Apr-2011 12:20

Thanks all for the replies!

I think I'll try and move my router to where the ps3 is and hard wire it, I just hope my internet downloads which happen on my media server in my livingroom will still go as fast.

@Ragnor I checked those things out and apparently it's a bit of pot luck, depending on the wiring and how much wiring there is. Do you or anybody have any experience with them?

@Maverick - Is that speedtest image for real? I'm with Xnet as well, but my speedtest shows 2.2Mb/s download and 500Kb/s upload. Ping is 50ms I think,... jealous,...

Cheers.

maverick

3594 posts

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WorldxChange

#455484 5-Apr-2011 12:33

lol It is.......

, But and it's a big But !!
.
..
...
....
.....
......
I am the Ops Manager at WorldxChange and this was from my desktop at work

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

Tias

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#455495 5-Apr-2011 12:48

Hahahaha,.. nice, very nice.
Who monitors your downloads? :)

Can you tell me if my speeds are normal or are they below average please? Couldn't find any reference online.

Cheers!

maverick

3594 posts

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WorldxChange

#455509 5-Apr-2011 13:06

I do .. :), would need to see the modem stats first

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

Tias

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#455514 5-Apr-2011 13:18

hahaha,... You're my new hero!

What stats do you mean?
Tell me to bugger off if you can't be bothered with this though, I'd understand.

maverick

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WorldxChange

#455516 5-Apr-2011 13:20

log onto your router and look for the modem adsl statistics, these will show what your line is connected at and gives an indication on how your connection will perform.

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

Tias

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#455519 5-Apr-2011 13:31

Thanks so much, will have a look when I get home and get back to you.

Cheers,

Tias.

Tias

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#455695 5-Apr-2011 22:08

Hi Phil,

I've checked and under DSL Line I find this;

Line Mode
ADSL2+
Line State
Show Time

Line Power State
L0
Line Up Time
02:05:10:09

Line Coding
Trellis On
Line Up Count
1

Statistics
Downstream
Upstream

Line Rate
14256 Kbps
945 Kbps

Attainable Line Rate
17824 Kbps
945 Kbps

Noise Margin
12.1 dB
14.8 dB

Line Attenuation
20.0 dB
11.6 dB

Output Power
19.2 dBm
12.4 dBm

And speedtest.net gives me this;

Pingtest;

Never had a B ping before moving house, not sure if it's my router that is bung or connection.

Any help would be amazing, and do let me know should you need an assistant at work :)

Thanks again,

Tias.

Beccara

1467 posts

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#455697 5-Apr-2011 22:14

It helps when the speedtest server is in the same building as the teser (I'm guessing :P)

I'm gonna second trying to use powerline networking on this one, It'll be alot more stable for you and simply boosting up the Wifi power is just going to get the RF signal bounced back to the AP even louder.

If you can't for one reason or another then your best best would be to use a stud finder to find the gap between the studs (Assuming they are metal studs) and place the AP on the floor in one of these gaps, then place the PS3 in the same sort of location on the other wall, it should help improve the signal a little but it's a bit of a long shot

Most problems are the result of previous solutions...

All comment's I make are my own personal opinion and do not in any way, shape or form reflect the views of current or former employers unless specifically stated

maverick

3594 posts

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WorldxChange

#455753 6-Apr-2011 06:37

Your stats look to be fine, also run it a couple of times at different times of the day. Are you connected by wireless or plugged directly into the router ?

If your using wireless , try doing it with a wired connection.

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

Tias

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#455824 6-Apr-2011 10:04

Thanks guys,

I did this as a wired test.
Thanks for letting me know this is an okay connection. Are there still any tips for getting a better/faster one though? Different router? Moving house again? :)

I think I'll try those ethernet over power things, to get my ps3 a wired connection, I just hope the wiring in my house isn't from the 50's,...

Thanks again!

maverick

3594 posts

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WorldxChange

#455826 6-Apr-2011 10:05

Not a big fan of the those at all, have trialled a couple with pretty poor results really for the cost of them, if you can go for hard wiring the PS3

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications