D-Link Pre-n router range

I bought the D-Link DIR-655 pre-n router today, along with the D-Link Xtreme DWA-652 PCMCIA Wireless Network Adapter - 300Mbps, 802.11n (Draft N). However, the range seems to be the same as, or in many instances, inferior to, my previous 802.11g router (D-Link DI624). However, the range seems to be equal to (or in many cases, worse than) my previous 802.11g router. Are there any settings you guys would recommend my tweaking so I get better range?

Thanks

 

Doing a quick search on wikipedia, Wireless N uses 2.4-5 GHZ, whereas wireless G uses 2.4 GHZ. It is to my understanding that the higher the frequency, the less penetration through solid objects. Therefore, how can the industry boast a higher range than wireless G with wireless N, when both use the same frequency?

I suffer from this same problem, except with a wireless G router. When my friend gets the wireless N, I imagine my situation will also remain the same. Personally, I'm going to put WRT on my router and see if upping the signal strength a small amount will net any gains (yes I know, it may damage my hardware). Otherwise I guess I'm going to have to buy a repeater.

 

PC magazine had an article show that they were not any better than a 11g. Showing the max distance of 80'. I get that range on low power with my 11g setup. I have discovered that external (PCMCI, usb) generally out perform what is built in to lap tops, by a wide margin at times. This is due to that fact it does not have to deal with all of the noise inside the notebook.

Most all wireless routers come with low gain 2dBi antennas. Where as if yo bought just a AP, most all come with High gain antennas, 5+dBi. The dbi is a log scale so there is a huge boost in performance with every dbi gained.

My internal Raylink 2500 11g will not hardly stay connected at 10' with my AP on HI. But my PCMCI 11g card will go over 50' and through 4 wall on low power. So I do not have much faith with built-in.

 

My results are quite different than all of yours. I've tried the DIR-624, Linksys WRT54G, and the Dlink-SuperG routers.. they all came up short for me. I was even using their respective PCMCIA/USB external network adapters and all their results were disappointing.

Until last year, when I finally purchased the DLink DIR-625 (Pre-N) router and I couldn't believe how much more range I got out of it. This was using the Pre-N PCMCIA card that goes with the router. I have the router located on my 2nd floor in a room I've converted to a computer room. I use my laptop on the main floor and I get 80-100% signal through 2 walls and 1 ceiling.

I get roughly 50% signal in my basement which is amazing, because that's going through 2 ceilings and a few walls.

I recently got my Dell with the Intel Nexgen N card and I couldn't believe how much range that card has. Intel really did their homework and initially I was unable to connect @ N speeds or N mode to my router. With DLink's help however, I was able to resolve that issue and get a theoretical speed of 144Mbps @ N speeds. I wasn't expecting to connect @ 300 Mbps with the Intel card since the spec hasnt' been finalized and still has a long way to go.

Either way I'm quite satisfied with my DLINK Pre-N router and Intel N card.

hehe, I can post a screenshot of my wireless settings page from my router to see if you want to try those settings. However, I'm not sure if our settings pages will be the same since yours is the newer Pre-N router.

 

Huh, I didn't notice that. Thanks for pointing it out to me. Anyways, I've set mine to broadcast on 2.4ghz so it won't matter.

When you say you don't have much faith with built-in, you mean the antennas built into the notebook right? No matter what I use - built-in or PCMCIA - I can't connect in the bedroom. Also, what is the difference between Access Points and Wireless routers? From my understanding, Aps were suppose to be more limited than Wireless Routers.

It's nice to hear that you are getting such singles. I currently use Firmware Version: 1.03 with Hardware Version: A1/A2. I left all the settings at their defaults except I added a WPA2 passkey, changed the admin password, put it on 11N-only mode, and changed the SSID. I browsed through the settings pages more extensively after I first post and I can't find any settings that needs to be changed.

 

AP is the wireless part of the wireless router. Since they share all resources they just don't work as well. Beside 99% of wireless routers only come with 2dbi antennas. Where 80% of AP come with 5+dbi antennas.

It is well know that standalone AP out perform wireless routers significantly. My USR AP has a range of 300+ ft. My AP supports Bridging, multi-point bridging, Client AP + several other functions that I don't use. Some even support multipile SSID, mine does, so I could seperate users.

 

So you're saying I should get something like Netgear / RangeMaxNEXT / WN802T / 300Mbps / 802.11n / Wireless AccessPoint

or

Linksys / WAP4400N / 300Mbps / 802.11n (Draft-N) / Wireless Access Point with Power Over Ethernet (PoE)


instead of my current wireless router?

 

Netgear limits the free (phone) tech support to 90 days, but unlimited email. If I recall it is the top performer on the 11n side.

The Linksys is a very nice router. PoE give you another option that works very well. Should cover your needs for may years.

Either one is a good choice. If you decide to use the PoE to locate the AP in a high usage area you will like it, but will limit your speed. I think the max for PoE is like 85mbps spec with real life numbers in 35-40mbps. To achive max speed you must use the GigE port from a GigE router.