wanting to switch WAP equip, can you help?

[BajaBoggs]

I am sick and tired of my airports. I have three of them, different models and ages. ALL of them have fluctuating strengths. I believe the problem is interference from other devices and equipment maybe in the area? Anyway, I thought maybe buying a WAP with outstanding signal output would make a difference. Any thoughts? I am willing to buy new equipement.

Thanks!

[styrafome]

Before you buy anything, have you already tried:
* the Interference Robustness option
* finding out what channel your neighbors are on and setting your APs to a channel far away from theirs
* checking your situation against this tech note (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58543)

Since radio output is limited by FCC regulations, it may not be possible to (legally) buy a unit with much more brute signal strength than another. New technologies like 802.11n are probably a better way to go, although 802.11n is not yet ratified, I think. You could try a MIMO (http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2005/04/08/review_wpn824/page20.html) router.

[BajaBoggs]

I am not the best at this technical stuff, but does this device broadcast the signal around the house? It says in the review that it "listens" to more than one signal at a time, so I thought it might only receive the signal or something?

NETGEAR RangeMax 240 Wireless Router, 802.11g, b


http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=SEARCH&Ntt=Netgear+RangeMax+240&N=0&Dx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&D=Netgear+RangeMax+240&Ntk=All&product_code=336149&Pn=RangeMax_240_Wireless_Router

[theunfrailhale]

few questions...
do you have any cordless phones? not cell phones, cordless phones....
if so check the frequency. if they are 2.4 Ghz they are more than likely adding to, if not causing your problems... if that IS the case, get rid of them, and see how it works. if its not much better then check your channel. if you live in close proximity to other ppl like in an apt complex, there may be multiple broadcasts on the same channel, which is never good. a good program to view wireless networks and their status is KisMAC. you can google it and get a free DL. install it and run it, have it scan for signals, and compare the channels. if there are any overlaping yours, change it and see what happens.

let me know if this helps, if not, ill come up w something else.

as far as "covering the house" in wireless signal, if youre referring to netgears illustrations comparing networks, its purely for 'ideal' comparison. radio waves dont stop for miles, they just deteriorate beyond recognition. even the ones coming from your base stations.

and interference robustness is good.

also whats your proximity to the router?


let me know what works.

[BajaBoggs]

been gone, but just checked in on this thread. thank you for replying, I'm going to download that program and get back with an answer. yes i have cordless phones, have no way of getting rid of them because of the lack of phone jacks, so what else can i do about that?