[bibamus]

At the moment I have an iMac and 3 laptops and iphones working wirelessley through a Belkin wireless adsl modem/ wireless G router. ( cant remember the model and dont have my specs to hand to read the tiny tiny writing!)
I want to extend the range as I regularly use my laptop and iphone up the garden.
I have seen the D-Link DIR-825 wireless router and it seems to offer the range I want.
So, two questions.
1, can I use this connected to my Belkin modem?
2, if not, can you recommend a good modem to use with the DIR-825?
or ( ok, three questions) 3, recommendations for a good range 802.11n wireless modem / router

Thanks in advance

Allan

[mickevh]

In order to benefit from the "extended range" offered by a replacement 802.11N "router," you would also need to fit 801.11N wifi adapters to all your client devices too. (Equals extra cost.)

Another contributor here often cites that it's best to think of 802.11N as "deliving better throughput at any given range than ABG" rather than a dramatic increase in the wifi footprint. The "strength" of wifi signals are mandated by law, and N is not permitted to be any more powerful than ABG.

One of the "challenges" with "up the garden" is that you're utilising wifi signals that have transitted from indoors, through the walls and out (and vice versa) thus it's "weaker" but usable signal than if you sat next to the router indoors. However, in the garden, it's more likely that you will also be encountering all the weak-but-usable signals from everyone else in the neighbourhood that has wifi (and that's becoming lots these days.) If you want to check, download InSSIDer onto a laptop, take a wander up the garden and see what you can see. (A few years ago I did this on the corner of Baker St & Marylebone Road in London and found 200 in a matter of seconds - though I did feel a dick sat on the pavement with a laptop.)

To extend the range "up the garden," the best way would be to place an "access point" (no need for a full fat "router") there and cable it back to your main "router." Or maybe experiment with moving your current "router" near to a window that overlooks the garden and see if it's any better.

[bibamus]

Thats a pretty comprehensive reply, thankyou, and also quite a few things to think about.
I suppose the easiest option is to move the modem to a window overlooking the garden, if I bought into the N equipment, I could utilise the N adapter already sitting in my Mac which then would be a little further away from the modem.
I am relatively lucky in that there are only 3 other wireless networks around us, that dont reach to the end of our garden.
I like the idea of an access point though, is there a limit to cable length?
Allan

[beerhunter]

Originally Posted by bibamus

I like the idea of an access point though, is there a limit to cable length?
Allan

100 metres, assuming CAT5 type cable.