Networks Wireless Network Probs, Suggestions Needed...

Hey guys,

Recently i have decided that i am fed up of running cables (mainly because i have just moved into a very large house which is around 20 metres long and running cables would be a nightmare). So i have forayed boldly into the world of wireless (Look mum, no wires! ). Now before i go on to my 'concerns' here is my current setup:

Gear:
- Linksys 802.11g access point (patched to wired network)
- 1 x Linksys 11g PCI card
- about to expand to another PCI card and a PCMCIA card.

The access point is at the back of the house on the first floor, and this is where it will be staying because it is in easy reach of my internet gateway and switch. Currently the single client PC (with the PCI card) is at the front of the house on the same floor. It is approx 13m away from the access point and their are 2 solid brick walls in the way. The PC with the PCI card is on the floor under the desk. All gear is currently using the atennas that come out of the box, small low-gain swivelling antennas that plug into the back of the Access Point and the PCI card. Note: the atenna for the PC is therefore buried behind the PC and a desk.

With just the above i have a 'low' signal strenth (2 out of 6 bars in windows) and 10-18mb/s speed. Now i know i shouldnt expect to get 54mb/s but sometimes it drops to as low as 5mb/s which is not what i was expecting over such a relatively short distance.

I plan to expand and have a second desktop PC on the second floor almost directly above the Access point. It would be approx 5-7m away at max and would be impeded by the ceiling/floorboards/carpet.

Basically my concerns are:
1) Im not getting enough bandwith or reliability from the current PC considering the short 13m distance.
2) Perhaps i need to consider a stronger antenna on the client of access point.

So basically i wanna know:
a) will a new antenna help?
b) if so, is it better to relocate the PC one since it is buried under a desk? Or should i put a stronger one on the access point?
c) considering i want to expand and have another client upstairs, should i upgrade the access point antenna as suggested above?
d) I would need an omnidirectional antenna for the access point, but would it be better to get a directional antenna for the client if that was appropriate?

Thanks a lot!

 

Yea brick/stone/anything really solid will interfere with your signal...

If your AP, or wireless adaptor, is close to a wall try to get it farther out into the middle of the room away from walls as its like if you drop a stone into a pond...When the ripples are small *when the signal just came out of the AP* it wont take much to stop them but once they have time to get larger it takes something bigger to stop it all. That may help a little bit and sorry for the crappy explanation....

As for the computer upstairs it will probably get better signal than the one on the same level depending on whats in between them in the roof of the 1st floor...

1.) If your just net sharing it shouldnt matter much unless you have a +5mb/sec connection.

2.) Good luck, I havent seen much out there for linksys

A.) Possibly but doutfull

B.) Refer to above postage

C.) Wouldnt make much off a difference I dont think

You may also want to check out some of the 108G *108mb/sec* thats starting to hit retail now....