I put a TV in the garage to have something to look at while we work out. We have a wireless Blu Ray machine out there so we can watch Netflix shows. There are no commercials and there are some good music shows that I can play loud enough so that I don't have to hear my whining and panting.
I bought a WIFI repeater. Per instructions I have located it in a spot where according to my computer I'm getting 5 bars of signal. The repeater is exactly halfway between the garage and the wireless router.
By the time the signal reaches the Blu Ray machine in the garage, the signal is two bars tops. My Netflix starts and stops a lot.
Will another repeater help?
I have the repeater and the Blu Ray in windows where they have straight unimpeded line of sight. This shouldn't matter if I understand WIFI correctly but it makes me feel better.
I relocated the TV and Blu Ray machine to the house side of the garage but that didn't do anything.
Any suggestions?
EDIT: What I actually have is a range extender. This one to be precise:
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Universal ... I+repeater
-
Charlie MV
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1544
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 11:48 pm
hmmm, perhaps more questions that answers , but . . .
the range of WIFI line-of-sight is hundreds of feet.
BluRay is a CD technology.
the player must be "connecting" via a different technology.
WIFI or BlueTooth.
BlueTooth range is restricted - stuff on the order of 20-30 feet
a WIFI repeater would not auto-do BlueTooth
some research / clarification needed....
next up on the med-disturbing list.....
"bars" are only an indication of signal strength
if the download speed from your isp is lacking, you'll get pauses in playback.
download speed varies not only by isp company name but micro-location and time-of-day (I.e. system demand)
bottom line to that: you may have absolutely perfect site to site communications but the isp just ain't delivering the content in time to prevent the start/stop interruptions.
one method of test: when you're in the garage and things are not going well,
got back to the computer directly connected to your isp and see how the download is behaving there.
if the direct to isp computer is seeing starts/stops - the problem is not within solutions available "in your house"
the range of WIFI line-of-sight is hundreds of feet.
BluRay is a CD technology.
the player must be "connecting" via a different technology.
WIFI or BlueTooth.
BlueTooth range is restricted - stuff on the order of 20-30 feet
a WIFI repeater would not auto-do BlueTooth
some research / clarification needed....
next up on the med-disturbing list.....
"bars" are only an indication of signal strength
if the download speed from your isp is lacking, you'll get pauses in playback.
download speed varies not only by isp company name but micro-location and time-of-day (I.e. system demand)
bottom line to that: you may have absolutely perfect site to site communications but the isp just ain't delivering the content in time to prevent the start/stop interruptions.
one method of test: when you're in the garage and things are not going well,
got back to the computer directly connected to your isp and see how the download is behaving there.
if the direct to isp computer is seeing starts/stops - the problem is not within solutions available "in your house"
-
Charlie MV
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1544
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 11:48 pm
I am not sure I have the vocabulary or expertise to answer but...
I have two identical "smart Blu Ray machines with WIFI capability. Their sole purpose other than to play discs is to play Netflix. You are exactly right in that the BR machine that is 15 feet from the wireless router shows a 5 bar signal upon set up.
The garage BR is more like 50 feet from the range extender and on set up it shows two bars max.
I did not see blue tooth anywhere in the BR smart papers. The papers said that these were WIFI BR players capable of receiving and playing streaming services like Netflix.
I have gone into the house and checked the inside BR when I had problems in the garage.
I have a PS3 that I used to use in the house for Netflix but the game controller was too aggravating to use so I bought WIFI capable BR machines. They use remotes that charlie doesn't want to stomp on.
This problem is not like old timey rabbit ears where I can add some tin foil and tweak the position is it?
I really want to fix this. Please ask more questions. And thank you for working with me.
I have two identical "smart Blu Ray machines with WIFI capability. Their sole purpose other than to play discs is to play Netflix. You are exactly right in that the BR machine that is 15 feet from the wireless router shows a 5 bar signal upon set up.
The garage BR is more like 50 feet from the range extender and on set up it shows two bars max.
I did not see blue tooth anywhere in the BR smart papers. The papers said that these were WIFI BR players capable of receiving and playing streaming services like Netflix.
I have gone into the house and checked the inside BR when I had problems in the garage.
I have a PS3 that I used to use in the house for Netflix but the game controller was too aggravating to use so I bought WIFI capable BR machines. They use remotes that charlie doesn't want to stomp on.
This problem is not like old timey rabbit ears where I can add some tin foil and tweak the position is it?
I really want to fix this. Please ask more questions. And thank you for working with me.
-
webmaster
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9484
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
- Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a
Your WiFi Bluray machine is definitely not Bluetooth, it's WiFi, lol.
What's happening is that there is something impeding the transmission of the signal, like a lot of concrete perhaps. Try putting the repeater in the same room as the WiFi BluRay machine and see if that helps.
If that doesn't help, one solution is to log in to your Netflix and go to the link that says Account. Somewhere in there is a setting that you can adjust to lower the quality of the stream from HQ to lower resolution. It won't be the highest quality but you will be able to stream a video without it stuttering.
What's happening is that there is something impeding the transmission of the signal, like a lot of concrete perhaps. Try putting the repeater in the same room as the WiFi BluRay machine and see if that helps.
If that doesn't help, one solution is to log in to your Netflix and go to the link that says Account. Somewhere in there is a setting that you can adjust to lower the quality of the stream from HQ to lower resolution. It won't be the highest quality but you will be able to stream a video without it stuttering.
-
Charlie MV
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1544
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 11:48 pm
There is no concrete. The house and garage are frame. I already tried the extender in the garage. No joy/
The signal at the garage from inside the house is too weak.
At the location the extender still gives a 5 x 5 signal from the router to the extender (approx 40 feet)inside the house . The signal degrades from the extender to the garage(approx 50 feet).
That's why I was wondering if I added an extender in the garage if I could extend the signal from one extender to the next.
Am I correct in thinking that WIFI does not depend on line of sight? Am I also correct in thinking that WIFI is more similar to RF than, for lack of a better example, remote control which depends on line of sight?
The signal at the garage from inside the house is too weak.
At the location the extender still gives a 5 x 5 signal from the router to the extender (approx 40 feet)inside the house . The signal degrades from the extender to the garage(approx 50 feet).
That's why I was wondering if I added an extender in the garage if I could extend the signal from one extender to the next.
Am I correct in thinking that WIFI does not depend on line of sight? Am I also correct in thinking that WIFI is more similar to RF than, for lack of a better example, remote control which depends on line of sight?
-
applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 31060
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
I don't have the tech know how, but here is an example of how wifi behaves in our house:
My kids watch/do various Internet-based stuff on their iPods using wifi. They often lay on the floor at the foot of the bed because wifi connection is unreliable when lying comfortably on the bed at the pillows. Sometimes, they jump up off the floor in a huff and relocate to just outside their bedroom door.
When I'm outside, they facetime my iPhone. It works on wifi when I'm in the back yard, but I'm out of range at the opposite end of the property in the extreme front yard corner, and my phone switches to 3G. FaceTime sucks in 3G.
So my guess is that even a few feet sometimes makes a difference.
My kids watch/do various Internet-based stuff on their iPods using wifi. They often lay on the floor at the foot of the bed because wifi connection is unreliable when lying comfortably on the bed at the pillows. Sometimes, they jump up off the floor in a huff and relocate to just outside their bedroom door.
When I'm outside, they facetime my iPhone. It works on wifi when I'm in the back yard, but I'm out of range at the opposite end of the property in the extreme front yard corner, and my phone switches to 3G. FaceTime sucks in 3G.
So my guess is that even a few feet sometimes makes a difference.
-
webmaster
- Site Admin
- Posts: 9484
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
- Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a
WiFi works like your home cordless phones, broadcasting on similar spectrums. Things like cordless home phones, microwave ovens, garage door openers and other electronics can interfere with the signal.
I took a look at that Amazon page and it seems like the product is receiving quite a bit of negative reviews. It's possible some of those repeaters are defective.
After posting the above I did a search and found this Microsoft page that has a lot of useful advice that can be useful for anyone experiencing wifi connectivity issues.
https://www.microsoft.com/athome/setup/w ... DzsUGvfTCR
I took a look at that Amazon page and it seems like the product is receiving quite a bit of negative reviews. It's possible some of those repeaters are defective.
After posting the above I did a search and found this Microsoft page that has a lot of useful advice that can be useful for anyone experiencing wifi connectivity issues.
https://www.microsoft.com/athome/setup/w ... DzsUGvfTCR
-
Charlie MV
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1544
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 11:48 pm
thanks roger. The windows suggestions that I understand, I've done. There are several ideas that are just plain way over my head. It appears that I have 3 choices:
1-Upgrade wireless router to a more powerful router with a high gain antenna.
2-Try another repeater in the garage.
Both of these I can return if they don't work.
3-Relocate my wireless router as far as the wires allow towards the repeater in the bedroom.
This one is easiest. I'll give it a shot tomorrow.
Windows instructions are difficult for the computer illiterate.
1-Upgrade wireless router to a more powerful router with a high gain antenna.
2-Try another repeater in the garage.
Both of these I can return if they don't work.
3-Relocate my wireless router as far as the wires allow towards the repeater in the bedroom.
This one is easiest. I'll give it a shot tomorrow.
Windows instructions are difficult for the computer illiterate.
Charlie -
a bit further I see (g) WIFI can be extremely fickle - a very short distance one way or the other can make/break it under the right circumstances.
according to the instruction manual for that repeater model there is a LED "Link Rate" indicator - green / amber / red - that should tell you if the repeater itself is getting a good hi-speed signal from the wireless router. you said the repeater is where the computer shows 5 bars - do you also get a green link rate signal on the repeater?
then next leg is from the repeater to the BR machine - where I'm presuming you measured two bar signal strength with the computer? or does the BR machine have a signal indicator?
(just checking...) the repeater should show up as a second point/network - even though it uses the same passkey. I.e. when you look at the "available networks" you should see the wireless router itself (weak signal) and the repeater (stronger signal)
things that raise issues with WIFI include aluminum siding, electrical wiring, overhead wires, etc. - it can be really fickle with mini-dead spots.
as for a second repeater, that particular model appears to prefer longer legs - so a second repeater might be counterproductive
see
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2375098,00.asp
there is another option - a system that plugs into the electrical wiring of the house - creates broadcast points at any outlet. not inexpensive but very effective, especially at distances.
not sure if both system coexist peacefully -
a bit further I see (g) WIFI can be extremely fickle - a very short distance one way or the other can make/break it under the right circumstances.
according to the instruction manual for that repeater model there is a LED "Link Rate" indicator - green / amber / red - that should tell you if the repeater itself is getting a good hi-speed signal from the wireless router. you said the repeater is where the computer shows 5 bars - do you also get a green link rate signal on the repeater?
then next leg is from the repeater to the BR machine - where I'm presuming you measured two bar signal strength with the computer? or does the BR machine have a signal indicator?
(just checking...) the repeater should show up as a second point/network - even though it uses the same passkey. I.e. when you look at the "available networks" you should see the wireless router itself (weak signal) and the repeater (stronger signal)
things that raise issues with WIFI include aluminum siding, electrical wiring, overhead wires, etc. - it can be really fickle with mini-dead spots.
as for a second repeater, that particular model appears to prefer longer legs - so a second repeater might be counterproductive
see
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2375098,00.asp
there is another option - a system that plugs into the electrical wiring of the house - creates broadcast points at any outlet. not inexpensive but very effective, especially at distances.
not sure if both system coexist peacefully -
-
Charlie MV
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1544
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 11:48 pm
Dillbert , pretty much yes to all. The repeater has green red amber. It's reading green. The set up on the blu Ray machine does show signal bars. I am getting 2 out of 5. I have gotten as high as 3 but there seems to be no dependable way to duplicate it.
I am going to try moving the wireless router to the closest point to the repeater that I can. [about 6 feet difference.]
I have labeled the repeater "garage" and that is what the garage Blu Ray sees. FWIW, the computer I'm using is in the room with the house router and is about 15 feet away. It is also in line of sight of the repeater which is down a hall in the bedroom window about 50 feet away with no obstructions. I get the full 5 bars from both the house router and the repeater. I had to tell my computer to connect automatically to the house router. The same applies to the house blu Ray machine which is around a corner from the repeater and again about 10 feet from the house router.
Can you provide a link to the router you mention that uses the house wring? My wireless router does plug into an outlet but I don't think that's what you're talking about.
If relocation of router does not help I guess I'll head to Radio Shack and look into high gain routers. My wife usually approves expenditures that fall under the heading of exercise equipment.
I am going to try moving the wireless router to the closest point to the repeater that I can. [about 6 feet difference.]
I have labeled the repeater "garage" and that is what the garage Blu Ray sees. FWIW, the computer I'm using is in the room with the house router and is about 15 feet away. It is also in line of sight of the repeater which is down a hall in the bedroom window about 50 feet away with no obstructions. I get the full 5 bars from both the house router and the repeater. I had to tell my computer to connect automatically to the house router. The same applies to the house blu Ray machine which is around a corner from the repeater and again about 10 feet from the house router.
Can you provide a link to the router you mention that uses the house wring? My wireless router does plug into an outlet but I don't think that's what you're talking about.
If relocation of router does not help I guess I'll head to Radio Shack and look into high gain routers. My wife usually approves expenditures that fall under the heading of exercise equipment.
here's a review of the (at the time) options
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2399953,00.asp
scroll down to the "powerline devices"
basic theory is, instead of radio transmission of the signals, the signals are sent through the copper house wiring. in the room/space where you want access, you plug a dohickie into an outlet and you plug in a ethernet cable from the outlet doohickie to the device (ie BluRay)
the "advantage" is, being "wired" it runs at best speed delivered by ISP. (pretty much anything wireless runs slower than ethernet....)
for AC powered stuff like a BR player, that has to be near an outlet anyway...
downside, it's not wireless ala' laptop computer in bed no cable thing...
theory would hold however, you could plug another wireless router basically anywhere on the property (the repeater won't work with that setup - it only "receives" internet signals from another wireless router.)
(sigh) I too have a repeater. somewhere, in a dusty box....
good idea, some issues involved.
now 'zactly how to integrate a wireless router 'in the house' with the 'house wired system' is something that needs digging into. from a wires&bits standpoint, one could split the coax signal from the cable/satellite modem with one leg for each system. . . unless the modem/wireless router is a single/combined device.
this technology has been around for a while; early models were a bit iffy, new stuff is apparently pretty dang good.
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2399953,00.asp
scroll down to the "powerline devices"
basic theory is, instead of radio transmission of the signals, the signals are sent through the copper house wiring. in the room/space where you want access, you plug a dohickie into an outlet and you plug in a ethernet cable from the outlet doohickie to the device (ie BluRay)
the "advantage" is, being "wired" it runs at best speed delivered by ISP. (pretty much anything wireless runs slower than ethernet....)
for AC powered stuff like a BR player, that has to be near an outlet anyway...
downside, it's not wireless ala' laptop computer in bed no cable thing...
theory would hold however, you could plug another wireless router basically anywhere on the property (the repeater won't work with that setup - it only "receives" internet signals from another wireless router.)
(sigh) I too have a repeater. somewhere, in a dusty box....
good idea, some issues involved.
now 'zactly how to integrate a wireless router 'in the house' with the 'house wired system' is something that needs digging into. from a wires&bits standpoint, one could split the coax signal from the cable/satellite modem with one leg for each system. . . unless the modem/wireless router is a single/combined device.
this technology has been around for a while; early models were a bit iffy, new stuff is apparently pretty dang good.
-
Charlie MV
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1544
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 11:48 pm
Dillbert, I moved the router about 8 feet and have it almost in line of sight of repeater. There is few if any house wire between router and repeater.
Bad news: The signal bars in the garage remained at two.
Good news: The Blu Ray in the garage passes all of the reception tests at a much higher speed. Neflix comes up faster. When I start a show the show starts faster and the picture is clear. I'll have to lift a few days and walk the treadmill for a few days to know if I've really made progress.
Good news 2: The router is on our wet bar, with the wired side facing the living room...very ugly. The plant stand with my wife's plant covers all the sin so she said I can leave it and she still loves me.
Stay tuned.
Bad news: The signal bars in the garage remained at two.
Good news: The Blu Ray in the garage passes all of the reception tests at a much higher speed. Neflix comes up faster. When I start a show the show starts faster and the picture is clear. I'll have to lift a few days and walk the treadmill for a few days to know if I've really made progress.
Good news 2: The router is on our wet bar, with the wired side facing the living room...very ugly. The plant stand with my wife's plant covers all the sin so she said I can leave it and she still loves me.
Stay tuned.
house current and (outside) high voltage wires create electro-magnetic fields.
wanna' guess what a "wireless" thingie is made up of? (hint: electro-magnetic fields....)
where and how the two 'fields' meet is cause for 'interference'
it's pretty much not possible for you to describe to 'the universe's leading expert on electro-magnietic fields' (ps which would not be me...) the wiring situation in the house and have 'the expert' tell you where the problem is. but here's a hint: ref no wiring between.... EM fields are emitted purpendicular to the plane of the loop. so... nothing 'in between' does not mean nothing 'along side' - actually directly in between has the potential to be less 'harmful'
a house typically has rooms with walls at 90 degree angles and wiring running through the walls....point? everything overlaps.....
it'll take a half dozen very pinheaded geeks with trucks full of equipment to "map" the EM fields around the house/garage - it's really a _lot_ less expensive to go with the moving around trial and error route.
if you can situate, even temporarily, the router and repeater so that the antennas are direct line of sight to each other - that should produce "ideal" communication strength and speed. if they are in direct line of sight and there are still issues over distances of 50-100 feet, there's a different cause for the bad communications.
as you see from the experiment to date, even less than perfect five bars can be good. when the signal strength drops and interference hits the circuit, the repeater and the router go into a "can you hear me now?" loop of sending and resending information packets. that is a throughput killer.
wanna' guess what a "wireless" thingie is made up of? (hint: electro-magnetic fields....)
where and how the two 'fields' meet is cause for 'interference'
it's pretty much not possible for you to describe to 'the universe's leading expert on electro-magnietic fields' (ps which would not be me...) the wiring situation in the house and have 'the expert' tell you where the problem is. but here's a hint: ref no wiring between.... EM fields are emitted purpendicular to the plane of the loop. so... nothing 'in between' does not mean nothing 'along side' - actually directly in between has the potential to be less 'harmful'
a house typically has rooms with walls at 90 degree angles and wiring running through the walls....point? everything overlaps.....
it'll take a half dozen very pinheaded geeks with trucks full of equipment to "map" the EM fields around the house/garage - it's really a _lot_ less expensive to go with the moving around trial and error route.
if you can situate, even temporarily, the router and repeater so that the antennas are direct line of sight to each other - that should produce "ideal" communication strength and speed. if they are in direct line of sight and there are still issues over distances of 50-100 feet, there's a different cause for the bad communications.
as you see from the experiment to date, even less than perfect five bars can be good. when the signal strength drops and interference hits the circuit, the repeater and the router go into a "can you hear me now?" loop of sending and resending information packets. that is a throughput killer.
Last edited by Dillbert on Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Charlie MV
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1544
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 11:48 pm
Okay, it appears as though relocating the router to a very near line of sight to the repeater has done something positive. I did my lifting routine to a full uninterrupted episode of Glee. he picture quality was excellent. My wife tread-milled. Then we did 30 minutes of yoga to a DVD on the same Blu Ray player. Then I switched back to Netflix and did 43 minutes on the treadmill to Star Trek Voyager.
I was deadly serious in saying that the loud TV music and the picture is an excellent distraction to panting and pain.
Much gratitude to all . Dillbert I will still look into the link you put up. The conditions I have now may junk out. But thank you all for walking me through this.
THG
The Helpful Geek?
I was deadly serious in saying that the loud TV music and the picture is an excellent distraction to panting and pain.
Much gratitude to all . Dillbert I will still look into the link you put up. The conditions I have now may junk out. But thank you all for walking me through this.
THG
The Helpful Geek?
well done. certainly weather / atmospheric conditions can impinge on the success, but - altho mebbe not so pretty as one might wish - working is working.....
we have D-Link wireless router - flat box, 5x8 or so, with two stubby antennae on the back.
we have a cat who likes to snooze perched on the router.
if upstairs with the laptop/netbook, I can immediately tell if the cat has flattened one or both of the antenna. trundle downstairs, put the antennae upright / vertical, all works well. like I said, the stuff can be very persnickety.
we have D-Link wireless router - flat box, 5x8 or so, with two stubby antennae on the back.
we have a cat who likes to snooze perched on the router.
if upstairs with the laptop/netbook, I can immediately tell if the cat has flattened one or both of the antenna. trundle downstairs, put the antennae upright / vertical, all works well. like I said, the stuff can be very persnickety.
-
Charlie MV
- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 1544
- Joined: Thu May 08, 2008 11:48 pm
We went for our weekly dance class tonight and Eduardo was sick so we had to find other entertainment. So we kicked in a little money to a few stores and a restaurant to help with the recovery.
I stopped into Radio Shack and the guy didn't offer much help. He did say that they would soon be stocking an "AC" wireless router that was going to be bigger faster stronger and may be worth a shot. It will be $140 so I'll have to wait until the price drops.
I'm a nervous buyer of technology on line because I get the exact wrong thing so very often. I like the brick and mortar stores because I can usually get someone to talk loud and dumb it down to my level. I did find some really nice and cheap ear buds that are soft and have 3 different sizes for the ear hole. Apparently I have small ear holes.
After today's events I've listened to about 20 you tube recordings of Amazing Grace. I love Joan Baez the best.
I stopped into Radio Shack and the guy didn't offer much help. He did say that they would soon be stocking an "AC" wireless router that was going to be bigger faster stronger and may be worth a shot. It will be $140 so I'll have to wait until the price drops.
I'm a nervous buyer of technology on line because I get the exact wrong thing so very often. I like the brick and mortar stores because I can usually get someone to talk loud and dumb it down to my level. I did find some really nice and cheap ear buds that are soft and have 3 different sizes for the ear hole. Apparently I have small ear holes.
After today's events I've listened to about 20 you tube recordings of Amazing Grace. I love Joan Baez the best.
I have a D-Link one and it works all over my house, even on my deck which is the furthest from it. I would say it goes 80' or so, I have not measured and test that. I am about 65' away from it in parts of the house.
I hard wired everything that does not move as hard wire works better, but I have some tablets on the WIFI. I am such a geek that I have 15 things in my house that use the Net. I am also able to have my computers talk to each other over the wires. I also went to college for electronics engineering and have a electronics work bench in my home, you could call me Mr. Geek.LOL
I hard wired everything that does not move as hard wire works better, but I have some tablets on the WIFI. I am such a geek that I have 15 things in my house that use the Net. I am also able to have my computers talk to each other over the wires. I also went to college for electronics engineering and have a electronics work bench in my home, you could call me Mr. Geek.LOL
