Help me improve wifi reception Macbook Pro

Ern Dog

My wifi reception for my Macbook Pro is mediocre. It will sometimes drop out or go real slow. My internet is through a satellite because I live in the mountains. The router is in the garage because I'm sharing it with my landlord and the garage is in the middle.

I know getting an Airport Extreme base station would help, but that's a $179 solution.

Anybody ever try one of these $40 Wifi Boosters: http://www.betterwifirange.com/?gclid=CIXzjq_esqQCFQsEbAodxS5y0Q

Any other inexpensive suggestions?

Thanks.

bigaudiofanatic

Actually hate to tell you but macbook pros have some of the best reception. I to have satellite but my router is in the basement. Are you running a N router? You could also use a replicator or extender to boost the signal as you posted.

Ern Dog

Lasareath wrote: »

I've tried boosters with mixed results. The best way is to run an Ethernet line to the cable modem and into your apartment then hookup your own wireless access point.

Can't do that because I'm sharing it with my landlord, so I need to keep the access point in the middle between us.

Is there a booster you recall that worked well?

xsmi

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB321/AirPort-Express-AirTunes

greg2350

Ern Dog wrote: »

Can't do that because I'm sharing it with my landlord, so I need to keep the access point in the middle between us.

Is there a booster you recall that worked well?

I think Lasareath was saying to run a second access point keep the 1 in the garage and run a ethernet cable to your apartment and hook up a second access point.

mantis

xsmi wrote: »

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB321/AirPort-Express-AirTunes

+1,
You need to hard wire it to your network closer to where you use your Mac , then set it up to extend your wireless network. It works excellent when hardwired but not so good if you try to go wireless to wireless.

The Airport Extreme is worth every cent of 179.99. You will pay this or more for a good high quality router. Anything under a 100 bucks is crap unless you have no demands on it then the lower budget routers are fine.

Better routers better NAT tables better traffic and management.

Sherardp

+1 with running a hardwire from the 1st modem to your room, then setup additional wireless N router. You could run a small switch too.

Ern Dog

Cool, thanks guys for the suggestions.

Ern Dog

Oh, one more thing. What the difference between N rounters and G routers? One better?

Further looking and I found out that I'm using a D Link WBR 1310. Looks like it's a cheapo. Is there a better one people would recommend? Has to work with Mac and PC.

mantis

N routers are 1000 and G routers are 100. In wireless the G can work up to 54 and N can go around 300 or so.

I plain terms the N routers have the ability to send more data both wired and wireless. This does not give you faster internet. A G router 10/100 will run just about every single USA connection to peak , it's computer to computer and wireless is where you will benefit from the N routers.
When it comes to Networking , if you buy "the cheap on" you are asking for problems. Buy the best you can afford , it will pay down the road.

I think you should get a Apple Airport Extreme router , yes they cost more but they are rock solid. I use them in big jobs big networks , guest networks and lots and lots of traffic without any problems or slowdowns.
You already own a excellent Mac why make the experience less then what it can be?

Dan