cheapest way to extend a wireless network

Bell Canada provided me with a modem+router that works well, but has less than adequate range. What are the cheapest ways to extend the network range? (the unit doesn't have an SMA or TNC port)

a direct wire connection would be cumbersome in my house...

This is the best I have found so far:
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicati....asp?EdpNo=2399650&csid=ITD&body=REVIEWS#tabs

Thanks a lot

 

Too pricey for an extender/repeater.

cheers ...

 

Here is an idea for you. If you have any old wireless routers.

http://www.dslwebserver.com/main/fr_index.html?/main/wireless-router-as-access-point.html

 

sparkyman, that would be the easiest as I have an old router, except as I mentioned a wired connection to the new access point would kind of defeat the purpose for me (unless I got a really long wire which would then be cumbersome). My router already has wireless, I just want to extend the range.

qhn, any ideas on where to find a cheaper one in Canada?

Thanks!

 

I haven't tried this but wireless bridging might work with your old wifi router.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/1563991

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_bridge

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge

New:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Distribution_System

 

k so just to add this to the discussion, this is what I am working with:
2WIRE 2701HG-G (Bell Canada distributed modem+wireless router)
another of the above (could I just have two networks connected to the same DSL account??)
D-Link DL-524 wireless router
six computers in a large house...

I can buy other units if necessary, but I really don't want to spend more than $100 (preferably even less).

 

Looking around I found that your D Link router with 3rd party firmware can do wds. The 2 wire can not, so if you look through the link in the above post you can find the cheapest peace of hardware and make it work for you.

http://www.broadbandreports.net/for...ake-the-2Wire-2701HGG-not-a-router-just-modem

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r22286649-How-do-I-turn-off-DHCP-on-2Wire-2701HGG

 

Thanks a lot sparkyman! while I read up on that I have a parallel question:
The location in my house (my bedroom) where I now have very bad and unusable reception used to have pretty good reception! I don't know if routers 'wear out'? or something like that, but the reception has been getting worse for a few months now. I have also read that the 2wire has outstanding range and my room is only about 50 feet away through two walls and a floor (down)... Maybe I can fix the router and not worry about another one? (sorry maybe I should have mentioned this earlier :-/ )

Thanks again

 

Try this, cost about $.05

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/837885/wifi_antenna_hack/

 

technically, it helps us understand what kind of distance are you talking about and what kind of house and how may floors

in my case, i place the router / wireless adsl near stairs in the cieling of the 1st floor so that in can raech the rooms on the 2nd floor and provided coverage on the whole first floor

in your case, it seems that the cheapest way to do it is either relocate your router or change the antenna to a higher gain

 

good idea, but unfortunately my 2wire router has no external antenna...

 

You could get a linksys 54g router then but dd-wrt or tomato on it then set it to repeater mode unless tomato does not have this.

 

How would one upgrade the antenna if it is built into the router, not one that u can simply unscrew off and replace?

 

Upgrade antenna, update firmware (I'm not sure if there's any science behind this, but it seems like I get a better signal with newer firmware on most routers I've tried it on).