Help on boosting signal from Router to iPad 2

Professor Snugglesworth

I'm an iPad 2 owner now, and the only quibble I have with it is that it seems to have trouble connecting to my router while I'm downstairs (my router and modem are upstairs). The iPhone is able to connect just fine and has never had any issues, but with the iPad I'll either get regular speeds, slow speeds, or just plain disconnect messages.

So I was wondering if there was anything I could do with the settings on the iPad and/or Router so that they can play nice. The router's a Motorolla with DOSCIS 3.0, and I can provide further info if needed.

Professor Snugglesworth

Can no one help with this?

bowen

Are you sure your iPhone is maintaining the connection the entire time? The thing I've noticed with the iPhone is it'll switch between WiFi and Cell without telling you even if it's brief.

I'd wager the larger issue is that the router is having a hard time going through the floor because of natural interference from floor/carpet/insulation/pipes/electrical.

Arrath

I've read from several sources that most router antennas have a 'doughtnut' shaped broadcast footprint, and that turning the antenna sideways should help boost the signal in multi-story buildings.

It may be voodoo, but I do it with my router and haven't had a problem connecting on other floors.

Professor Snugglesworth

This one doesn't have an antenna.

Apothe0sis

Professor Snugglesworth wrote: »

This one doesn't have an antenna.

It has one inside if not outside.

This looks neater but can be a less effecient method of shooting out the wifis.

Though the doughnut thing is the case for most antennae except, I think the omnidirectional options.

Commander_Keen

I suggest using the Ubiquity nanostation m2 (not the m5). You just plug it into your existing router and it boost out its own wifi signal. You will connect to it with your ipad (not the moto. router) and you should be golden. Doesnt matter how big of a house you have this will def work. I use one myself. I have gone all the way to the end of my street and have received 100% signal. Just make sure you put a good wep password that no one can crack on it. Cuz your neighbors might try lol.

Professor Snugglesworth

This thing?

How does it connect to my router?

Also, I should probably show you the type of router I have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UI2FPE

bowen

How are you even getting wifi without an antenna? I'd imagine it's practically difficult to get it in the room. I see the connector on the back.

Djeet

I think it's in the housing as Apothe0sis said. I think that thing that looks like an antenna connector is the RG-6/co-ax connector for the cable signal.

That ubiquiti device looks like you'd plug into your network via Ethernet on the left-hand side and screw on an antenna on the right-hand side (link). It's a PoE device so you'd need a PoE switch or something that injects PoE to the device.

Are you actually seeing fewer bars on the iPad2 or getting connection drops (while bars are still displayed)? I know my iPad2 had some wifi weirdness the first few days I had it, right after I upgraded to 4.3.1. Can't explain why, but the issue resolved itself automagically (I did reset the device a couple times).

Apothe0sis

@Commander Keen et al


Don't use WEP use WPA(2). WEP is broken. So broken.

Commander_Keen

lol I totally posted the incorrectly. Your right about WPA. I wasnt paying attention when i posted that. But yes to answer your question professor you connect it with a cat5e. It works very good. I use one myself to feed internet to my bedroom from my office for my wireless blu ray player for netflix. Before i was only getting 29% connection from my router. Now i get 100 all day. And im unsure about the POE deal. My router is a dlink DIR-655 And i didnt do anything special to get it to work. Just connected it then remoted into it for the setup for WPA. Thats it.

Commander_Keen

*that incorrectly. lmao

Abracadaniel

Boy learn the edit post button

Commander_Keen

Oh wow lol. Thanks for the tip smart hero. I'm sorta a noob when it comes to forums. I 4chan a lot. There isn't an edit button on there. But now i know and knowing is half the battle.

Professor Snugglesworth

Bought this WiFi extender to try and help the low signal in my house's living room: http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-Universal-Wi-Fi-Extender-WN3000RP/dp/B004YAYM06/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1315436349&sr=8-2

So far it seems to be doing the job. I get a full bar with the iPad, and it opens up pages real fast. Video streaming is still a bit on the slow side, but that's not something major (if there's some configuration tricks I can pull, however, I'd like to hear them).

I might give Comcast another call, though, as I shouldn't have to resort to such devices.

Abracadaniel

That depends entirely upon the size of your house and it's method of construction and the location of your router within. Wifi isn't magic.

That said, there are some options for boosting the signal strength of your router by installing an alternative firmware like DD-WRT or Tomato on it.

If you aren't comfortable with the idea of reflashing your router's firmware (and thereby potentially bricking your router) don't even bother googling either of those.

I have a similar Netgear model with DD-WRT and it works great. Used to have a Linksys with Tomato but it didn't have wireless N.