Hello, I have a BEFW11S4 router set up on the second floor
of my apartment. The wireless signal on the first floor is
weak and I would like to boost it. Running CAT5 wires from
second floor to first is inconvenient, so I will not consider
this option. I do not wish to replace the router on the second
floor with a better one that reaches further. I want to find
a device that I can place on the first floor that will boost
the strength of the signal that I already have. Right now the
network is unsecured and I want to leave it that way. 

The BEWF11S4 belongs to my friend, so I want to make no or minimal changes 
to my existing setup. This means no firmware upgrade (if such option exists).
Currently I can connect wirelessly on the second floor with my laptop running
Windows or Linux. I want my new setup to be OS-independent as well.
In general you do not have to explain how to get wireless to work under Linux
unless my settings are non-standard, e.g. I have to choose a
particular channel, etc. In that case I expect that you have tried
this configuration yourself and it worked for you. Optional
consideration: what if I wanted to have a wired access on the first
floor? (That would eliminate some potential problems with non-Windows
OS). The total amount of money I can spend is less than $100. Also, I
can catch a few of weak signals on the first floor from my neighboors.
I want to make sure that I can filter those out or that they cause no
interference. Thanks

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Request for Question Clarification by maniac-ga on 17 Oct 2005 17:58 PDT

Hello Parubok,

Would you be willing to consider replacement antennas for the BEFW11S?

For example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/12-Linksys-WiFi-3x-Booster-Antenna-7dB-HGA7T-Pair_W0QQitemZ5814592337QQcategoryZ61816QQcmdZViewItem
[yes - the sale is over... but this gives you an idea of cost]
which was offered for about $36 for the pair of antennas.

I might suggest a wireless bridge but don't see any alternatives
within your price range [I answered a similar question for another
customer but the D-Link bridge that was capable is too expensive].

If you have a machine on the first floor with a wireless adapter, it
may also be possible to do something like this:

  antenna -- wireless adapter -- PC 1 -- switch  -- other PCs

where "PC 1"  acts as a router for the other PCs on the first floor.
That way you only need one "enhanced" antenna and a low cost switch
(less than $20).

  --Maniac

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Clarification of Question by parubok-ga on 19 Oct 2005 17:06 PDT

>>> Would you be willing to consider replacement antennas for the BEFW11S?

Hello Maniac, 
I must have mentioned this: I do not have any physical access to the
BEFW11S. This may sound strange, but my roomate (who is the owner of
the box) locked it inside of a drawer and only a power cord is
sticking out through a hole that he made. He is abroad for one
semester and I do not want to break his stuff.
Any other solutions?

> If you have a machine on the first floor with a wireless adapter, it
> may also be possible to do something like this:
> 
>   antenna -- wireless adapter -- PC 1 -- switch  -- other PCs
> 
> where "PC 1"  acts as a router for the other PCs on the first floor.
> That way you only need one "enhanced" antenna and a low cost switch
> (less than $20).
> 
> --Maniac

I like this idea. I cannot mount the enhanced antenna but I would like to
try to use a PC computer. Cam you tell me more details? What are the
minimum hardware requirements for this setup? What about OS:
Windows/Linux? What if (forget about the cost at this point) I wanted
to use a Mac mini for that? Does MAC OS have enough tools for such
configuration?

Also, PC1 is to be connected to other PCs through a switch. Can I use
a wireless router instead? I'd like to have a wireless access on the
first floor as well?

Thanks

Have you considered the Hawking HWUR54G Repeater.  Its supposed to
work with all makes of Wifi Access Points.

Alan Gahtan
<a href="http://www.gahtan.com/alan">Computer and Information Technology Lawyer</a>