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Digital Lifestyle
Internet, Networking, and Wireless
A little help with Airport Express and Extreme?
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<blockquote data-quote="cwa107" data-source="post: 1461933" data-attributes="member: 24098"><p>Unless the home is very large (3500+ square feet), more than one wireless access point should not be necessary. In most cases, simply positioning the wireless router properly is enough to create decent range.</p><p></p><p>This is important, because if you don't address the underlying problems and simply throw more hardware at it, you're going to have spent a lot of money to accomplish what could have otherwise been done with a few common sense changes to your existing hardware. </p><p></p><p>First and foremost, in a multiple story home, the best place for a wireless router is up high (second story). The WORST possible place is in a basement - which is more often than not - the place chosen by folks who have signal issues. NO wireless router, no matter how good, can compete with concrete walls, steel beams, furnaces, hot water heaters, etc. Yes, it can be a pain to move a router/modem to a different spot, but it can and should be done if possible.</p><p></p><p>Additionally, make sure the wireless device is NOWHERE NEAR a microwave oven, cordless phone base, baby monitor or any other device that emits radio signals. These can inhibit the router's radio.</p><p></p><p>The AirPort Extreme is a decent enough wireless router, but it's middling in terms of range and it lacks some important security features like an SPI firewall - not to mention that it can only be configured by special, proprietary software, rather than a web page like most routers. For the price, it's simply not all that competitive. It IS easy to configure, and if that's key for you, then it might be worth the money. </p><p></p><p>I haven't been a big fan of Netgear routers in the past, but given its stellar reviews, I recently picked up a Netgear N900 (WNDR4500) at Costco for $139 and I couldn't be more pleased. I am now getting strong signal in every corner of my home, including problem spots like my deck and garage. For the money, it bests the AirPort Extreme in nearly every conceivable way - it's even very easy to setup (no CD needed, everything is done by going to a web page).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="cwa107, post: 1461933, member: 24098"] Unless the home is very large (3500+ square feet), more than one wireless access point should not be necessary. In most cases, simply positioning the wireless router properly is enough to create decent range. This is important, because if you don't address the underlying problems and simply throw more hardware at it, you're going to have spent a lot of money to accomplish what could have otherwise been done with a few common sense changes to your existing hardware. First and foremost, in a multiple story home, the best place for a wireless router is up high (second story). The WORST possible place is in a basement - which is more often than not - the place chosen by folks who have signal issues. NO wireless router, no matter how good, can compete with concrete walls, steel beams, furnaces, hot water heaters, etc. Yes, it can be a pain to move a router/modem to a different spot, but it can and should be done if possible. Additionally, make sure the wireless device is NOWHERE NEAR a microwave oven, cordless phone base, baby monitor or any other device that emits radio signals. These can inhibit the router's radio. The AirPort Extreme is a decent enough wireless router, but it's middling in terms of range and it lacks some important security features like an SPI firewall - not to mention that it can only be configured by special, proprietary software, rather than a web page like most routers. For the price, it's simply not all that competitive. It IS easy to configure, and if that's key for you, then it might be worth the money. I haven't been a big fan of Netgear routers in the past, but given its stellar reviews, I recently picked up a Netgear N900 (WNDR4500) at Costco for $139 and I couldn't be more pleased. I am now getting strong signal in every corner of my home, including problem spots like my deck and garage. For the money, it bests the AirPort Extreme in nearly every conceivable way - it's even very easy to setup (no CD needed, everything is done by going to a web page). [/QUOTE]
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A little help with Airport Express and Extreme?
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