Wireless network expansion and 360 solutions

Szechuanosaurus

This is basically two problems which might end up being simpler to solve simultaneously.

Problem 1.
Expand coverage of my home wireless network and improve speeds across various rooms in home.

Problem 2.
Get my Xbox 360 online in the most cost effective manner possible.


Details, details, details.
My main internet access point is on the first floor in a room that juts out from the front of the house at the external wall.

Rough Floor Plan

                    ___W____
                   |                |
                   |                |
                   |                |
                   |                |
                   |                |
                   |                 -----------------------
                   |                                             |
----------------                                             |
|                                                                |
| X                                                             |
|                                                                |
|                                                                |
|                                                                |
|                                                                |
|                                                                |
|                                                                |
-----------------------------------------------------

W = Wireless Modem on first floor
X = Xbox location on Ground floor.

Edit: My floorplan seems to have gone a bit broken, but you get the idea.

This is non-negotiable. My main PC connects directly to the broadband modem from here which needs the fastest access speed possible. However, whilst the main wireless hub being on the first floor means decent coverage, it's not ideal. If I have my laptop at the same location as the Xbox, I'll get maybe 1 or 2 bars depending on whether doors are opened or closed (The Wii does Ok with it for software updates and the Wii Store but I've never tried online gaming with it). It also means that the Xbox can't be connected by network cable to the main modem, so I may be looking at having to purchase a wireless adapter for it.

Queries for problem 1.
What is the best way to expand wireless coverage across the rest of the household? What model and make of wireless range extender is most effective and where would be the best place to position it? Ground floor somewhere or near the rear of the house on the first floor?

Queries for problem 2.
Is network cable direct to modem or official 360 wireless adapter the only options for getting the 360 online? Are there cheaper alternatives to the official adapter? Could I plug it via network cable into an iBook connected to the wifi network? Depending on the location of the wireless range extender, could I get one that would let me plug the 360 directly into it via the network cable so it dual-functions as a range extender and wireless adapter for the 360?

AngelHedgie

Okay, the big question is going to be whether or not you can install wires. Hands down, this is always going to be the best solution if possible.

Szechuanosaurus

I don't particularly want to if I don't have to. I own the house, so it's feasible, but *effort, sigh*. I like the flexibility of wireless as well. What you can't see in that diagram is that on the ground floor the xbox is in a living room, there's a kitchen dining room next door, a conservatory and a back garden, plus a multimedia room, top right (where the 360 and Wii will be relocated too once we've got it cleared out and can afford a new TV and couch). So even if I did wire up the living room, I'd still want a strong wifi connection everywhere in the house anyway.

AngelHedgie

Well, the thing is that wired will always give better performance than wireless. That said, there's nothing wrong with running wireless, but adding some wired aspects can make for a more flexible network.

I am concerned with some things you've said - for instance, why is your computer connected directly to the modem? Does the modem act as a router?

Zonkytonkman

you're going to want to look into flashing a router with a free third party firmware. Some versions out there do what you want.

The main thing is to buy a supported router. Find the software you need, make sure it has the featres you need, then purchase a router that is on its supportedhardware list.

Willeth

Use a wireless bridge in the room with the Xbox. You can hook the 360 to it with cable, and extend your wireless network, in one fell swoop.

Evil_Reaver

Willeth wrote: »

Use a wireless bridge in the room with the Xbox. You can hook the 360 to it with cable, and extend your wireless network, in one fell swoop.

IIRC, a wireless bridge will not extend the wireless network.

I recently set up a wireless bridge for my Xbox 360. My cable modem and wireless router are in my office and I just ran cable from the office to the living room to get my 360 online. Wanting to get rid of the cable, I flashed a Linksys WRT54G router with the DD-WRT firmware so that that I could turn it in to a wireless bridge. The way it works is that the 360 is wired to the Linksys and the Linksys talks to the other AP via wireless, in turn letting the AP distribute IP addresses via DHCP. The Linksys does not broadcast as an AP; it only talks to the other wireless router to pass packets back and forth.

I think you are thinking of a wireless repeater, which actually does extend a wireless network.

Szechuanosaurus

Evil_Reaver wrote: »

Willeth wrote: »

Use a wireless bridge in the room with the Xbox. You can hook the 360 to it with cable, and extend your wireless network, in one fell swoop.

IIRC, a wireless bridge will not extend the wireless network.

I recently set up a wireless bridge for my Xbox 360. My cable modem and wireless router are in my office and I just ran cable from the office to the living room to get my 360 online. Wanting to get rid of the cable, I flashed a Linksys WRT54G router with the DD-WRT firmware so that that I could turn it in to a wireless bridge. The way it works is that the 360 is wired to the Linksys and the Linksys talks to the other AP via wireless, in turn letting the AP distribute IP addresses via DHCP. The Linksys does not broadcast as an AP; it only talks to the other wireless router to pass packets back and forth.

I think you are thinking of a wireless repeater, which actually does extend a wireless network.

Resurrecting because...

I believe I have a Linksys WRT54G router which I used to use with my old broadband modem that didn't have a built in wireless router. If I understand you correctly, you're saying I can get a third-party firmware and flash the old router to act as a wireless network adapter for the 360?

Care to post links for downloading said firmware and instructions on how to use it for me? The router is redundant now, languishing in the bottom of a drawer, so this would be a perfect solution to getting the 360 on the wireless network on the cheap whilst also recycling some old hardware. A very elegant solution IMO.

As I understand it, after that if I want to strengthen my wireless network I need to get a repeater to extend and strengthen the wireless network to the downstairs rooms?


Wee Edit: I'm having a wee read up on this DD-WRT firmware. Could I also use this DD-WRT thing to turn my USB Epson Laser printer into a network printer that could be used by either a Mac or PC connected to said network if I used the Linksys router with that instead of the Xbox?

Zeon

the DD-WRT firmware will let you use the WRT54G as a wireless bridge. It works awesome, and its how i have my living room peices connected to my network, since my roommate wouldnt let me run cables.

However, it will not expand the range of your wireless network, as far as i know, because im pretty sure it wont accept clients onto the wireless network, since itself is a client. Though i dont know for sure, as the routers are only about 15 feet away from each other so i have no practical way to test this.

But no, i dont think you could turn that printer into a network printer, unless you mean having it plugged into a PC, then sharing it and making it available on your network. But the wireless router wont really help with that at all.

PirateJon

Clarity:
A wireless bridge will allow one network segment to talk to another network segment and that's it. Think point-to-point, just like an ethernet cable. Typically you can't have anything but bridges talking to other bridges so you'll need to wire the device (xbox or PC) to the router.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge


If you're wanting to extend your wireless coverage, you want a repeater. It will accept wireless client connections and repeat them to the upsteam connection. You can do a repeater/bridge, but that may add too much lag. http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Repeater_Bridge


Printer + DD_WRT wont work unless you have a network-enabled printer. The _best_ option to get a printer on the network wirelessly is this: http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/.

Evil_Reaver

You need to read the following webpages:

http://lifehacker.com/368094/wire-your-living-room-over-wi+fi-with-a-bridge - The concept of a wireless bridge

and

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3639271 - Using a hacked Linksys WRT54G router as a wireless bridge