Wireless Networking

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Sun Dec 21, 2014 11:46 pm

Since moving the PC downstairs, I lose a wireless signal all the time. What's the best thing I can do to improve this? New USB Wireless dongle? Is there such a thing as a Windows Wireless Network Manager?

Are there PCI Wireless Cards? I mean, there are, I believe, but are they any better than USB? It seems crazy that my Internet is just ho hum going through USB.

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 3:55 am

Get one of those repeater things?

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:06 am

Oh. Yeah. That would work.

I'd love to just put a network cable downstairs. I wish I had the um, power to drill a hole in the floor, haha. If I could get a wire going downstairs to my hub all my problems would be solved. I'd have the downstairs looking something like War Games.

RealNC · Post by **RealNC** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:17 am

You can buy a powerline network adapter. You then get Ethernet through your power line.

http://www.techradar.com/news/networkin ... now-930691

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:40 am

I've read about those powerline network adapters but don't know anyone who has actually tried one. If you end up picking one up, let me know how it works.

My internet cable jack is upstairs in a corner of the house. Because of a cat that likes to chew things, I have to leave the door shut to this room which drops the wireless signal throughout the house. I've considered running a longer cable and sticking the wireless router out in the hallway but

I bought a wireless repeater a few years ago and it's terrible. I can't remember if it's an off brand or not but every time the power flickers it loses its settings, which becomes a problem as it starts handing out duplicate DHCP addresses again. It sucks. Every time it resets I have to physically connect to it when an ethernet cable to change the settings back.

Generally speaking most PCI wireless cards come with a big external antenna that attaches so it would seem they might get better reception -- however, they are typically behind the PC and shoved up against a wall so maybe that's why they need them. If it were me I'd either get a wireless repeater or try that powerline thing.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 9:28 am

Thanks. It's odd... I let the main PC alone for the day and it seems to stay logged into IRC.

I get home and use it for five minutes and the connection drops.

I reconnect and it's good for maybe 2 hours.

Then it loses it again.

It's like, WTF? How does it have a great signal all day and then DIE when I sit down to use it after a long break?