Setting up WiFi in a big stone house

Wanderer222 · 12-07-2006 9:08pm #1

hello, I am kind of a newbie to the WiFi thing, but we are thinking about setting up free wifi for all guests in the B&B. I know we need a router, but the house is a solid stone build, so I am not sure about how to set up repeaters and that. Has anyone got any advice?

irlrobins · 12-07-2006 9:58pm

Nice website btw.

As regards router, get a good brand name like linksys, netgear or dlink. Position it somewhere where it will provide coverage of most of the house. For a B&B I think most guests would be happy to get wifi in the living room, so might not be too important to have it in every room. So the one router well positioned will give good coverage.

What sort of broadband do you have? DSL? Cable?

Wanderer222 · 12-07-2006 11:15pm

Thanks for that, we have the DSL at the moment.

irlrobins · 13-07-2006 12:14am

Then you can either buy a wireless router, put ur modem into bridge mode and then connect to router. Or you could buy a combo modem/router and replace your current modem.

Stick to one of the three good brand names. They will offer the best range/coverage. Have a look around and post back with what you think might be good and we can give feedback on it.

JohnnieM · 13-07-2006 12:34am

Belkin and d link do new wi fi access points using whats called by belink pre n and d link call it 104g or somethin like that cant exactly remember their name ... range is somethin like 8 times further than conventional wi fi and six times faster...

Karoma · 13-07-2006 12:42am

802.11n is out and is far too expensive for the moment imho. It's unlikely that high LAN speeds are necessary for the OP's brief - so no need for the speed benefit. Plus, you don't want the range to be too good:p. Pre-n stuff is not a good buy at any rate. Stick with 802.11g.
Do you have a good idea of the wall construction: What sort of bricks are used in the inner walls? Wire mesh used? Also, size of the building sqm? Type of flooring? TBH, I'd say the bedroom is a desired place for WiFi coverage... Ahem.

JohnnieM · 13-07-2006 12:53am

i'd be going for the pre n all right.. as G wont go through many walls .. you need maximum power to even achieve what your aiming for..tbn the pre n will probably only barely do the trick for you any way.. and if its a B&B in the middle of now here and you want to offer free access .. obviously security isnt an issue to neighbours etc etc

Foxwood · 13-07-2006 2:45am

JohnnieM wrote:

i'd be going for the pre n all right.. as G wont go through many walls .. you need maximum power to even achieve what your aiming for..tbn the pre n will probably only barely do the trick for you any way.. and if its a B&B in the middle of now here and you want to offer free access .. obviously security isnt an issue to neighbours etc etc

Pre N isn't going to be much good to guests who have built in 802.11G, is it?

I'm not sure I'd be too willing to install a borrowed USB or PCMCIA card and drivers just to get free wi-fi access in a B&B.

I'd suggest that you start with the Linksys WRT54GL. The firmware can be upgraded to tweak the power output to increase range. It'll work with your customers existing wireless laptops, and you can use a laptop to figure out where to put wireless repeaters, if you need them.

(Caveat - I haven't done this, I've just read about it).

ednwireland · 13-07-2006 9:19am

have the same prob in my house i have a linksys wrt 54g something and linksys repeater to get the signal upstairs linksys repetears only work with linksys gear as well.
the range of the repeater is quite limited and it halves the speed of the connection ive used dlink repeaters (with a belkin ap) and it worked pretty well
looking at the house if you can put the ap's in the loft you may cover the house
it won't work if you put the ap downstairs it wont get through the walls

Karoma · 13-07-2006 2:04pm

If coverage is still an issue: you can install another 1 (Or,hell,even 2 more) 802.11g AP's for the price of installing 802.11n. Again, why on Earth would you fork out for limited, proprietary "pre-n" when "n" has been released? Plus, as pointed out again above: what good is it to those with g cards which would be a helluva-lot more common? Plus, you wouldn't loan anybody an 802.11n card...

JohnnieM · 13-07-2006 9:32pm

pre n will work perfectly fine with a g card..getting up to 20% more range.. your simply increasing the range of the ap.. ok its not optomised but it will work ive used the belkin at 150 mts with ibm laptop with its built in G..across a yard.. but put a wall in the way and forget it..

SouperComputer · 21-07-2006 10:00am

looking at the photo of the place, if yoiu want good coverage get two AP's with detachable antenna and pop them in the roof either side if the building.

Two of these bad boys:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=304365

Mounted on the wall on both sides of the gable will give very good coverage. The best signal is when the waves pass the receiver at a slight angle. So you would position and angle the antenna in such a way that it cuts the most used areas at an angle at the sacrifice of areas that do not need coverage. Your kitchen for example.

Heres a rough sketch, based on what I see in the photo:

This is provided of course you want full coverage.

Please, Please, Pleaseat the very least put a firewall between the Access Points and you own network. The amount of places I have come across with "everyone" access to business-critical data is astounding!

Setting up WiFi in a big stone house

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