Telus now offering WiFi Extender -- should I visit MemEx instead?

[Darren Dirt]

In my apartment on our family's various smartphones very often get just 1 bar or inconstent WiFi ... because my router is stuck at the opposite end of my rectangular apartment vs the bedrooms.

So I'm thinking of calling up Telus to see what they offer with this new "WiFi Extender" doohickie.


Before calling them, I decided to first search from within the Telus website for the word "Extender" and found 1 article and 2 forum posts:

The article makes suggestions of stuff that might interfere with strong WiFi...
http://mobility.telus.com/en/AB/TELUS-Smart-Hub/troubleshooting-000944.shtml#main_section_2


The 2 forum discussions have some folks saying Thumbs Down @ these kind of power-plugin extenders... Any idea why?

http://forum.telus.com/t5/Mobility-Services/Telus-hub-in-basement-and-wifi-is-too-weak-on-2nd-floor/td-p/15523

http://forum.telus.com/t5/Internet-TV-Home-Phone/Router-Antenna/td-p/28999



So I also decided to check MemEx -- if this helps noticeably it seems to be a not-bad value; anyone have opinions re. "DAP-1320 N300 Wireless Range Extender" or similar?
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX42865 (or similar)

[Melbosa]

I would consider using your own router with Telus in gateway mode.  You would then get your wireless coverage you need plus all the options it provides in features.

[Darren Dirt]

I would consider using your own router with Telus in gateway mode.  You would then get your wireless coverage you need plus all the options it provides in features.

That sounds overly technical and complex to me.

In my old age I'm actually wanting techie things dumbed-down in my non-work life, heck in 3 years I never rooted my Samsung Galaxy S 1... Is there some way of using "gateway mode" in the router that Telus provides? And what features/capabilities does Gateway Mode give me that would result in wider coverage, compared to the normal settings?

[Mr. Analog]

I probably don't have as much interference as you but I get a strong signal all throughout my property, I don't know how much bigger your apartment is? Are you on wireless N or G (or both?)

Have you tried selecting different channels on your existing wireless to see if there's a channel that works better than the others?

If Telus is going to give you a cheap signal booster then go for it, otherwise I would go with something with more juice I guess. The one thing that sucks about living in a human hive is that there's a lot of signal competing for the same space.

[Darren Dirt]

Have you tried selecting different channels on your existing wireless to see if there's a channel that works better than the others?

...

there's a lot of signal competing for the same space.

Yes to part one, because of part two -- BIG TIME.


On my Galaxy S 3 there is a "radar mode" that visibly shows the various WiFi competing for my local space around my apartment,  checked that yesterday and HOLY CRAP there's a ton!

Most seem to be on Channel 11 (lol @ lazy people!) and a few weeks ago I had switched to Channel 2 and am presently the only one using that (a few are on Channel 1 or 3).

But I guess I should at least try some of the suggestions @ http://mobility.telus.com/en/AB/TELUS-Smart-Hub/troubleshooting-000944.shtml#main_section_2

and then I plan on perusing the FS category page @ http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/category/range-extenders-powerline/29588.aspx -- but especially reading their "extender guide".

[Melbosa]

I've used DLink Wireless extenders before, as well as Linux ones.  I can tell you they are flaky at best.  I would suggest a new Modem from Telus if you are not on the latest one (which if renting you should be able to get for the same rental price), or your own router.

Turning the Telus Modem into a Gateway device (supported by Telus and the make that change) means all the modem does is provide you an IP and you are left up to doing the Edge Device stuff yourself (your own router).  While more technical from a complexity standpoint I find the reliability and horsepower to be better this way, and your router features and security is not dependent on your ISP (so you setup your wireless security and port rules once, etc).  This way you can change providers by what ever deal fits your needs and not have to change your setup of all your devices when you do.

Asus N65U is a great router with long and powerful wireless strength and easy web interface to do what you want to do: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX40619.  Simple and yet powerful in design.  I highly recommend it, and even more so the N66U: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX37448 - but that is more money and probably not really needed for the extra bang for buck in your case.

[Lazybones]

If you live in an apartment 1 router should cover the thing with ease. Get the WiFi junk disabled in the Telus device, get them to set it as a bridge and run your own router.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/ for a list of routers

I would suggest the RT-N66U over the N65U but the N65U isn't bad

RT-N66U
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/31687-asus-rt-n66u-dark-knight-dual-band-wireless-n900-gigabit-router-reviewed

[Mr. Analog]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking Lazy, my parents run their wi-fi right off the Telus model and it's fairly low power, I'm surprised they get the signal coverage they do really. To be fair, there isn't a whole lot of competition in their area and they're an end unit.

It may just be better to get a router than can put out a stronger signal than get another low power relay... time to buy faraday cage wallpaper haha

[Tom]

Just a warning but I think if you have Optik TV as well, they wont bridge their modem for you as they require it to bond the two 25mbps dsl connections together, and handle the QoS for the tv.

I went way overboard with my setup, I have fancy netgear switches, a Soekris 6501-50 network appliance running debian and shorewall, and a Unify AP Pro wifi ap. I have less than no problems with my setup. The AP Pro has a range of like 400 feet, and I can get signal down the block. Interference really hasn't been an issue since I got it. Used to be I'd need to tweak the heck out of my old linksys routers (TWO!) to get signal to both ends of the house mostly reliably. with this one, I have it dead center and it reaches far further than just my house But hey, its the price you pay for reliability and for lack of headaches in the long run.

[Melbosa]

I went way overboard with my setup, I have fancy netgear switches, a Soekris 6501-50 network appliance running debian and shorewall, and a Unify AP Pro wifi ap. I have less than no problems with my setup. The AP Pro has a range of like 400 feet, and I can get signal down the block. Interference really hasn't been an issue since I got it. Used to be I'd need to tweak the heck out of my old linksys routers (TWO!) to get signal to both ends of the house mostly reliably. with this one, I have it dead center and it reaches far further than just my house But hey, its the price you pay for reliability and for lack of headaches in the long run.

Oh yeah you did

[Tom]

I went way overboard with my setup, I have fancy netgear switches, a Soekris 6501-50 network appliance running debian and shorewall, and a Unify AP Pro wifi ap. I have less than no problems with my setup. The AP Pro has a range of like 400 feet, and I can get signal down the block. Interference really hasn't been an issue since I got it. Used to be I'd need to tweak the heck out of my old linksys routers (TWO!) to get signal to both ends of the house mostly reliably. with this one, I have it dead center and it reaches far further than just my house But hey, its the price you pay for reliability and for lack of headaches in the long run.

Oh yeah you did

Yup. But I'm incredibly happy with it. But I know for a fact that you guys probably wouldn't invest as much as I did... I have a thing for fancy tech toys that I actually find useful.

[Melbosa]

Nice to have some decent income hey?

[Mr. Analog]

I wonder if Tom's trailer glows at night? hahaha

[Tom]

Nice to have some decent income hey?

You ain't kidding.

I wonder if Tom's trailer glows at night? hahaha

In that I leave a light on, sure

The AP also has a glowing ring on it, if that counts.

[Lazybones]

If bridging isn't an option, turning the WiFi off on the Telus device and setting your new router in AP mode would still solve the wireless problem.