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Hi Everyone, I now have working wi-fi on my new 'Orange' package after spending €30,00 on the mobile and €15,00 on a very long eithernet cable because it would not set up via wi-fi Grrrr Anyway i have today been out around our grounds to see how far the signal will go and its not bad bad but could be way better.

Now how do i go about getting a larger signal, I know people have spoken before about range extenders etc but its having somewhere half way in which to put one. I have not really got anywhere so is it possible to plug something into the usb port on the livebox to extend my range? I have been looking at some Alfa stuff with a 1000mw or 2000mw power and can this be plugged into this usb port on the livebox to get me further or is this not possible? What can be plugged in this port? Or what do you think I can use to get the signal further?

I know that some of you have a great deal more knowledge on this so wanted to test the water as they say before I spend money on something I cannot use.

Thankyou
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Firstly how far do you want the radius of your WiFi signal?

Secondly, if I remember correctly your PC/Laptop was not that far away from the LiveBox (I guess you bought 10M cable) so its not exactly well placed for getting the maximum signal. You could try not using the WiFi on the LiveBox and use a wireless Access Point. You can put this where you think is a good place and run an Ethernet cable to it.

As far as I can see the Alfa stuff you are looking at is client based (quite different to an Access Point which is what your LiveBox is) i.e. it connects to your PC/Laptop via the USB port. Its more sensitive and can pick up signals over a longer range and has more power to send signals over a longer range. If you are trying to build a system for ordinary people (like guests) to use with ordinary laptops like yours then this is not the way to go.  You can of course make a large WiFi network covering up to 2.5km if you wish or even bigger but it will cost you quite a lot and you are moving in to a specialized area. There is another problem with these type of devices in that they can loose their WAP key authentication because they use burst technology, you can find out more about this on the Internet.

I can't remember if you have one or more Gites but I assume you are talking about giving them access? By far the best way is to buy a small switched hub, they cost less that 30 Euros. Disconnect your current PC cable from the LiveBox and plug it in to the hub then use a short (1M cable) to connect the hub to the LiveBox. Next run a cable from the hub to the Gite, don't forget what I said, the maximum length is 158M. Connect a WiFi Access Point to the end of the cable in the Gite. If you have more than one Gite then you can use another port on the hub to do the same thing.

Another thing you should take in to account is that whilst you have decent bandwidth (speed) you should divide that speed by the number of connections. So if you have 8Mb and two computers accessing the Internet at the same time then the download speed will be 4Mb each, if you have 4 people it will be 2Mb each. Don't forget the upload (thats you sending stuff to the Internet like answering emails) is normally half the speed of the download. We use this as a rough guide because not everyone will normally be downloading at the same time but when your designing a network you often use this calculation as rough guide for the worst possible case scenario.

 

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Even if you boost the power at the router end unless you do similarly at the remote end all you will do is extend the range at which you receive a signal but have no way to transmit back over the same distance.

Improving the antenna system is the most efficient and cost effective way to effectively extend the range.

For reference, even using a mere 50mw of power, 50% of what most WiFi routers put out, with the correct antennas and short, low loss cable, and given a clear line of sight, it is perfectly possible to operate a reliable Wifi link over many km. Over a sea path it can work to the horizon which, for a 6' person would be something slightly shy of 5km. Increasing the height of the observation point to 10m would extend the distance to ~11 km, again a workable Wifi distance.

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Problem with the LiveBox (I assume the LiveBox 2 is the same as the previous versions in this respect) is the arial is integral and there is no external socket. The Extender via the power socket was blown out in another thread for this guy.

I think either the hub and Access Point route or finding somewhere where there is a power socket (to power the box) a repeater/extender.

To be honest people I know who have Gites deal with WiFi by having a communal area, say a patio, where people can go to get WiFI access. I am sure people have put WiFi in actual Gites but I think they are far and few between.

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Thanks people for your answers. Before I go and buy anything this is what I need it for. We do have Gites but I'm not reallt to bothered about the signal being found inside them.

1. They are not attached to the house we are in so the running of a cable is a no go.

2. I more want the signal to be picked up out in the garden say by the, or around the swimming pool area. I went over yesterday but the signal aws to weak to pick it up well.

3. How can I extend the signal more to this spot which is say 45yds away.

4. I can put some sort of aerial or repeater etc nearer to the window as to make the signal better.

So how would I be able to send the signal from the window to outside. I am using the wi-fi only on my pc's as the signal is fine for me. To take a cable direct means going through walls and under carpet etc. Can I use one of the eithernet ports to plug in a repeater or extender and put that next to a window to help send out the signal better towards the pool area also these repeaters etc can the aerial be changed on them to a slightly larger one to help or is this not possible or worth it. If I have a power socket over at the pool area which I do in the pump house could I then plug something into the power socket there which would pick up the wireless signal and make it a hot spot? Only power available in the pump house no eithernet possible.

Thanks I appreciate all your information and am in need of it before I spend good money on something that will not work for me.

Cheers
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Can you move the LiveBox, even round the room it's in? Don't forget its only a telephone cable that connects it to the phone socket so you can buy a phone extension lead.

If you are getting some form of signal over at the pump house then you can buy an extender. If you have eve's on the roof you may be able to mount it outside. One trick I have used in the past is to mount the extender in a very big tubberware box with the leads coming out off the bottom (stops water getting at it) or if you can't get a big one mount the extender upside down in a smaller one so the arial and leads stick out the bottom. You can always paint the (tubberware) box to match the wall colour.

The Linksys by Cisco WRE54G Wireless-G Range Expander from Amazon is pretty good and has very good user reviews (user reviews are a much better source than so called 'experts' in magazines). Actually they are cheaper on the German Amazon site when you take postage in to account.

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As Will - EDIT: Q - says the problem with the Livebox is the lack of facility for connecting an external antenna. This is not necessarily insurmountable as it's perfectly possible to open the beast and modify it but it's a job for an expert plus of course unless you have bought your own it's not your property.

As enticing as the USB port may appear you have no means of configuring it for extenal devices so I think you can forget that, you might however be able to do something via USB at the remote end, something like the Alfa gear you mentioned earlier. Thistype of kit is commonly used on boats etc. and with the height advantage of a mast and a decent antenna quite significant ranges are achievable, in the order of a couple of miles or more.

A couple of things you might try in the meantime:

Locate the livebox as high up as you can in the property and as near to a window on the side of the house as you want the access.

Try moving it around in that position, on it's side, it's end, etc. etc.

Try changing the radio channel, it's possible you could have some interferring signals from cordless phones etc.

EDIT:

Brief but worth a read. http://www.francetelecom.com/en_EN/press/press_releases/cp091006en2.jsp

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[quote user="AnOther"]As Will says[/quote]

Who? [:(]

As you said earlier its no good using an alpha box because you need a matching Access Point plus if you use one for the laptop you also need a power supply for the Alpha box as it does not get its power from the USB port which defeats having the ability to move around with a laptop. I think, on the info given, that an extender is the way to go.

Thebiga - Do not under any circumstances open the LiveBox and muck around with it. As AnOther says (hope I got the name right [:P] [;-)]) you really do have to now what you are doing and all your warranty becomes void, it could end up very, very, expensive for you.

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Right please bear with me on this guys and I thankyou for your information but I would like more as I'm not completly upto speed on stuff like this.

1. The Linskys range expander mentioned how does this fit to the livebox, Does a eithernet cable go between the two?

2. Can I then place the expander either against the window or as suggested in a plastis box outside.

3. Should this then give me a better signal at the pool area and then could another one be placed at the pool to make a wi-fi hotspot.

4. Would this expander just plug into a power socket and pick up the other signal and expand that or if not how would this work as I have no eithernet or phone line possible at the pool area.

Sorry for all the questions but I just want to get it right first time.

I don't have to do anything with the wireless signal going to my pc's do I as I have had enough hassle already getting these working, It does not change does it with the expander?

I look forward to more of your knowledge.

Thanks

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The Linksys extender does not connect to anything except power, it's like a little relay station which picks up a WiFi signal and retransmits it.

If you have a MAC then ideally THIS is what you want. there are other varieties available but I don't know if they will have MAC drivers.

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Its a stand-alone unit that only requires a power socket. Basically it sucks the WiFi signal out of the air, amplifies it and the re sends it. So there is no need to have any cable connecting it to the LiveBox either directly or indirectly. Obviously you need to place it within range of the existing LiveBox WiFi signal but then you did say you just about got a signal at the pool but it was very weak which is why I suggested using the pump-house as you said it had a power socket (to power the range expander). Place it on the wall facing (roughly) the direction of the place where the LiveBox is and as said try to better the position the LiveBox and give it some height.

If you have for instance the LiveBox, the rest of the house, then the garden and finally the pool you might be able to mount the range expander at the end of the house. Not only would it probably give good coverage to the pool area but also that end of the house.

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[quote user="AnOther"]The Linksys extender does not connect to anything except power, it's like a little relay station which picks up a WiFi signal and retransmits it.

If you have a MAC then ideally THIS is what you want. there are other varieties available but I don't know if they will have MAC drivers.

[/quote]

Come on now your confuse the man. How will he know all his guests will have a Mac? Not only that but it again uses the USB port on the Laptop so he would have to buy at least a couple and each person would have to install it and its software before they could use it. Its also directional, far, far too complicated. With the extender I have suggested it does not matter if its a Mac or a Windows system or what version of operating system its using (well unless its really ancient like Windows 95) you can connect and there is no software to install. Keep it simple is the best way to go. [;-)]

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Would there be any problem in say mounting one expander at the end of the house where it picks up the livebox signal and if I then dont get a good enough signal around the pool area putting another one in the pumphouse so giving me a even larger area.

Can you use 2?

Or I have seen a lot of aerials available for outside use with a high gain dbi. A lot have 'N' style connectors which I don't know about but could the Linskys aerial be unscrewed and a higher gain aerial attached and placed outside or what could be attached to such aerials to make them wide range, Another sort of expander maybe! What do you think.
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I don't know if the LiveBox can 'pair' two units and create a three way bridge although I doubt it because you are going beyond what it was designed to do. What you need is a professional router and create a proper WiFi switched network. I think you either buy two on the chance that one won't work, buy just the one or get a professional network designer/engineer who knows what they are doing in to set it all up for you but then it will cost you money, around £200 a day (we are in a recession) + travel + expenses + the cost of the kit.

Talking of bridges, you can always stick a second ethernet card in your PC, run a cable to a better place and add another access point if you have Windows XP Pro or Windows 7 Ultimate but thats probably something you will need to get somebody in to do and you will have to leave your PC on all the time for it all to work.

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Thanks Quillan, I think just the one expander then will be fine. I will try and move around the livebox to get the best possible reception at the pool area and then put the expander in the pump house at the window.

Even if the signal is a weak one will the expander still boost it to a good level around that area then.

Thanks
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Sorry AnOther, Was not ignoring you but I don't have a MAC just a normal very new pc, Well the one i'm on at the moment anyway. Thanks for your input I did notice.

Thanks to the 2 of you. Until next time I need information on these blinking things!
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[quote user="Quillan"]

Can you move the LiveBox, even round the room it's in? Don't forget its only a telephone cable that connects it to the phone socket so you can buy a phone extension lead.

[/quote]

This procedure is not recommended as it usually means your adsl signal deteriorates towards poor levels.

Use a range extender or throw the Livebox away and buy a proper modem with an external antenna and wds option (wireless distribution system). WDS allows you to extend the WiFi range the same way your mobile phone switches from base station to base station as you move.

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The maximum length from the master socket to the ADSL router is 30M. If you already have a poor line then this would decrease in length. Seeing as the OP has 8mb bandwidth he can't be far from the exchange (wish I could get 8mb). If memory serves he also has a phone connected to the LiveBox so swapping it for another router is not really an option. Of course there are other things he could do but its a bit beyond the technical knowledge of the OP* as well as cost. What he has works fine for him he just wants to get a better signal round his pool area for his guests (and himself).

* I don't mean that in a derogatory way, I know some men who can't even wire a 13A plug, to each his own.

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