WIRELESS G BROADBAND ROUTER

I'm not sure what the issue is with the range extender. The  WRE54G doesn't connect directly to the router, which is probably the issue with some other Linksys extenders.

The other approach (which is what we're using) is to add an access point in a location that requires a stronger signal than is available directly from the router. That requires an Ethernet connection to the access point, which may make it impractical.

Jim

My problem is similar to the one of John Bartels (except my antenna cannot be removed!):smileyhappy:
My Dell Wireless 2350 Broadband WLAN Router Swiss will not reach the room, about 90 ft away where I want to set up my Dimension 8400 PC with the Truemobile 1450 WLAN USB Adaptor. There are steel-concrete walls in between, yet the signal is nearly strong enough. Surely, a directional antenna could make the difference.
Could somebody tell me if there is a device which could be plugged into one of the RJ-45 sockets of my router (10mB/s is fine for me) and do the trick? :smileyvery-happy:
Maybe someone might even venture to recommend one model over another...

I will be pleased to receive advice and use it. :smileyvery-happy:

Message Edited by GuidoC on 02-24-2005 03:32 PM

Thanks Jim

That's what I need, an extender (repeater).:smileyvery-happy:
Even the electricity cables in that room can not be plugged into, the system there being totally separate from the rest of the house. Would anyone know of a compatible model?

This is my setup: a Dell Wireless 2350 WLAN Broadband Router Swiss (Dell Part# DW23501) a Truemobile 1450 WLAN USB Adaptor and a Dimension 8400 PC (in that far off room).

Your help will be greatly appreciated!  Guido :smileyvery-happy:

Guido,

Unfortunately, Dell has not released the documentation for the 2350 either as an online HTML document nor as a separate download. I searched extensively for even a scrap of information about configuring a 2350 as a bridge/repeater, and found nothing.

I don't know whether anyone here has any additional information about the 2350, or whether a call to Dell Support would be helpful.

See if you can find anything in the user manual about using the 2350 as a bridge. There's no doubt it's possible with the 2300, but that's an entirely different device.

An alternative would be to replace the 2350 with a pair of devices from Linksys, D-Link, or others that would in fact allow one to be used as a repeater.

I wish I had better news! :smileysad:

Jim

Dear Jim

Thank you very much for the research. What would the Forum be without you. :smileyvery-happy:
I will now have a new look at the manual, then attempt to activate Dell Tech Support and may in the end replace the router setup. Will let you (and the Forum) know if something interesting comes up. :smileywink:

Sincerely, Guido

Thanks, Guido! Those of us that help people with Dell router problems would really like to know more about the 2350!

Jim

Dear Jim

Consulting the manual of the DELL Wireless 2350 WLAN Broadband Router has been relatively arduous. The Swiss manual is in htm format, it is a German translation with quite a few "copy paste" artefacts from the English version and does not have a proper search function. The result is that (a) additional identical 2350 router(s) can be combined to construct point to point or point to multi-point access points or set up bridges. The FAQ section specifies that exclusively identical models have to be used. Additionally, it refers to a section in the user manual, which is not present in my German version. :smileymad:

Consulting the technical service of Dell Switzerland required only moderate patience. I was informed that the 2350 device cannot be used with repeaters and bridges. The recommendation came fast: have the 2350 router be picked up by Dell, ask for a refund and buy a different device elsewhere. So that's what I will do.:smileywink:     Note: only a restricted set of Dell products are available in Switzerland. 

So here is my flow chart, if someone will comment and offer advice, I will be very grateful! :smileyvery-happy:

A: buy a 54 or 100 mBs Router with one or two removable antennas from SMC, D-Link or US Robotics (others?)with at least 6dBi Gain
Query 1 which routers would (not) be compatible with the Truemobile 1450 WLAN USB Adaptor on my Dimension 8400 PC, who knows?
Query 2 do both antennas on such devices send & receive or are the functions separate, who knows?

B: monitor the signal I get into the desired location behind the Swiss-quality armoured concrete wall.

C: if signal is too weak, add directional antenna to router (assuming it sends and receives singnal...)

D: try to establish communication between router and the Truemobile 1450 WLAN USB Adaptor on my Dimension 8400 PC

E: if signal is still to weak, try building up a bridge with an identical directional antenna on the far side...

Guido,

It's a bit unnerving to get contradictory answers from Dell CH Support and the manual! I think Support has it right, especially given the state of the 2350 documentation. Are there any markings on the 2350 suggesting who the actual manufacturer may be? Perhaps we could locate better documentation if we could determine who actually makes the 2350.

The steps you listed sound right. It may be that a router with higher output power and higher gain antennas will be sufficient. Note that the 100 mBs speeds offered by some manufacturers are not standardized, and will only interoperate with products from the same vendor...somewhat like repeaters! :smileysad:

I've asked one of the other Forum Regulars who knows much more about radios and antennas than I do to take a look at this thread and offer any suggestions he may have. The same invitation goes to anyone else who may be able to offer suggestions!

Jim

Thanks Jim for the detailed infos :smileyhappy:

The instruction book, the manual and the markings on the 2350 router are all no help, none give a hint to the actual constructor of the device. No clue, which Google can assign! :smileymad:

The concept behind the Dell 2350 WLAN Router is simple and functional: built up a network with as many 2350 Routers as you need. However, it does not allow for Swiss-grade concrete walls and nasty corners requiring more gain and/or directional bundling of radio signal.

So there we are, I will welcome comments from the Formum Regulars, in particular infos on the functioning of one versus two antennas of different WLAN routers. :smileyhappy:

Guido

Guido,

I can help a bit regarding the issue of one versus two antennas. Try searching Google for wireless router diversity antenna. You'll find quite a bit of information about the purpose of the two antennas. Here's one thread (from searching Google Groups) as an example. I have a Netgear ME103 access point, and there's quite a good discussion in its manual about diversity antennas...unfortunately, the manual is copyrighted, so I can't quote from it. Here's a link for that document (a 2.97 mb. PDF file).

(edit) Have you tried changing the channel the 2350 is using? It might be that "tuning" the 2350 would change the reflection patterns enough to make a repeater unnecessary. In my own setup, that wasn't sufficient to stabilize reception, so I installed two access points, one in each end of our residence.

Jim

Message Edited by jimw on 02-27-2005 10:44 AM

You are a gold mine, Jim. Thanks to you I have learned a lot. Certainly the link to the Netgear ME 103 documentation ( ftp://downloads.netgear.com/files/me103_reference_3_16.pdf ) is super. It is noteworthy that only one radio-frequency port called "primary RF port" receives and sends. This is the one where a directional antenna should be mounted. smileyvery-happy:
By the way, it is OK to cite copyrighted sources provided you give the link! :smileywink:

Certainly multiple access points are ideal in most set-ups - except to pierce inaccessible Swiss bunkers separated from ones home by NEUTRAL, concrete-steel-reinforced, territory ...

Thanks again, Guido

Guido,

Here's another site that may be helpful: http://www.freeantennas.com/

Jim

Brilliant, just the right thing for DIY enthusiasts with minimal theoretical and practical know-how!:smileyvery-happy:

Thanks, Jim

 

That was the source I was going to offer.  I have had success with the homemade reflectors, extending ranges from spotty to solid.  Try one at each end and you just might support 54mb at the Dimension.