Wireless signal vs Concrete floor

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jwinters

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#92703 4-Nov-2011 08:07

Hi I have a networking question

I m looking at getting a NETGEAR DGND3700 WIRELESS-N DUAL BAND N600 GIGABIT ADSL2+ MODEM 4-PORT ROUTER for the upstairs part of my house but was also wanting to know if the wireless signal was able to go through a reinforced concrete floor to my basement where my wifes new office is going to be set up?

I was thinking of using NetGear powerline but emailed there support team and they told me that it wouldnt work due to the phase line splits into multiple power circuits at the distribution board.

Other thoughts were buying a Range Extender

So I thought I would come here to get some advice, any help would be very appreciated

theEd

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#541031 4-Nov-2011 08:53

jwinters: wanting to know if the wireless signal was able to go through a reinforced concrete floor to my basement where my wifes new office is going to be set up?

Ultimately your best bet is going to be some form of wires. Invest the time/money in structured cabling, it's worth it in this kind of situation.

You could probably rig something together by setting up a few APs in repeater mode through a non-concrete part (e.g. staircase between floors) but it'll be hit and miss.

sbiddle

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#541035 4-Nov-2011 08:59

Simple answer is that it's impossible to know. Wireless signals are impacted by steel and concrete, however there is no magic formula for measuring the impact.

The only way you'll know is to try a device and see if it works. If it doesn't your options would be to go for higher gain wireless devices to use as a bridge between the two locations.

If you have existing coax cabling you could look at HCNA options. Snappernet sell some HCNA devices for a pretty good price that enable 100Mbps ethernet over coax. I've been trialling these for the last month and am very happy with the performance. I'm sure theEd will be able to help you if you're interested in these!

theEd

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#541094 4-Nov-2011 11:32

sbiddle: Snappernet sell some HCNA devices for a pretty good price that enable 100Mbps ethernet over coax. I've been trialling these for the last month and am very happy with the performance. I'm sure theEd will be able to help you if you're interested in these!

You mean the Netsys NH-310H and NH-310S?

jwinters

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#541632 6-Nov-2011 10:10

theEd: You could probably rig something together by setting up a few APs in repeater mode through a non-concrete part (e.g. staircase between floors) but it'll be hit and miss.

Ill give this option a go cheers for all the helpful advice its much appreciated, if there is more advice please feel free to post

oxnsox

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#541646 6-Nov-2011 11:12

You'll also find that changing the antenna orientation on the AP (or router) may improve signal in the office....
But as others have said it's hit and miss.

webwat

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#541841 7-Nov-2011 00:06

Problem is that you might get some (but not much) wireless signal through a single concrete floor, but the best signal propagates directly out perpendicular to the antenna. Try different antenna angles and then start testing with a bigger antenna on the accesspoint. The HPNA device theEd found above would have to be more useful though.

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cyril7

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#541869 7-Nov-2011 06:10

The best solution by a country mile is to operate two APs, one on each floor and run a cat5e or cat6 cable between them. Is it really impossible to run a cable between floors? It might pay to get a data cabler or sparkie to investigate, what might seem impossible to you is just normal work for these guys.

Cyril

jwinters

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#543943 10-Nov-2011 20:09

Thanks for all your help and advice guys i went with a EnGenius ECB9500 802.11b/g/n Wireless Multifunction Access Point placed it up high by the stairs and it worked a treat

so again cheers guys and thanks