cradlepoint wireless-n ok for a log home?

Zanfirico

I am interested in setting up an evdo wireless network in our house, ideally with a mbr1000 or ctr500. A local wireless guy said wireless-n would be terrible with our house (the interior walls are 3.5 inches solid cedar). Its a small house (about 1600 square feet) in the grand scheme of things, and the router ideally would be in the hall closet, about the middle of the home- 1 hallway and a wall from the great room and kitchen where my wife would like to use her laptop, and 2 rooms-maybe 3 walls max-from where our desktop lives.

Anyone have any experience or advice?
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Zan

im_electronic · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject:

put her laptop in ad-hoc mode (personal or computer to computer mode) then see if your desktop can connect to the laptop. try with the laptop in the closet, then see how far you could get the two apart.

if you have another wireless router put it in the closet instead.

also with n. the laptop would need to have an N card as well.

is the wired or wireless ? i suggest wiring it into the router.

Usmc68 · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:56 pm Post subject:

I have that kind of setup in our 2,000 square foot house. I have the MBR1000 upstairs on top of a cabinet, a 6ft usb extender cable with the USB727 hooked up close to a window. We get excellent coverage all over the house and some. Of course we do not have thick cedar walls (jealous :-0) We get decent speed about 1200 kbps download and 400+ upload (using speakeasy)
The only thing is if you have any machine with g that is as fast as it will go. Kind of like you are only as as fast as your slowest runner.
Love the MBR1000!!!

Semper Fi

billarf · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:11 pm Post subject:

It would be best to have the router and cellular broadband device out in the open, at a central location and near a window. The wireless computer(s) you would be using would perform better in this case if they too were near a window elsewhere in the house.

Other things to consider in regard to WiFi... Remember a laptops WiFi antenna usually resides in the laptop cover/lid. Keep this antenna as far away from power cords and other computer wires as possible. Those cords and wires can interfere with WiFi radio reception. When you are using the laptop blocking /not giving the lids WiFi antenna a clear line of site will impact your WiFi. The lids spacial orientation (which way the lid is facing) will also affect WiFi. SO, you can OFTEN enhance your WiFi reception often by sitting somewhere different in your house when you are using the laptop. Not sitting where the laptop's lid is blocked.. say the lid leaning up against a chair, a wall, etc. would be a bad idea. Working right next to a window for example with the laptop lid facing to the window and unobstructed will be a positive thing. Believe it or not, minimize mirrors if you can in the immediate area. All metallic surfaces reflect WiFi signals, including the thin metal layer found in most mirrors... Another option if hotspot/router has WiFi "N" and using it, is to be using a WiFi "N" capable adapter yourself. If you have a laptop say 2 years old (even newer) you may not have an N capable WiFi adapter in it. You can easily replace the WiFi adapter in the laptop itself with an N capable adapter which will give you better WiFi range if your hotspot and your laptop both are using N. You can also consider trying/buying an add on/external USB WiFi adapter (plug and play) with N capabilities and external antenna. Another thing you can do, especially if you have the option to do so is to change the channel that your WiFi is using. Often WiFi is "stepped on" interfered with intermittently, by other wireless devices, etc. using the same channel. This will cause WiFi to come and go... to lose signal on and off so to speak for no reason. At the very least, be aware that cordless phones and such being used by you or your neighbors may be having an impact on your WiFi if they are using the same channel. Even a microwave oven can knock out/intermittently affect your laptops WiFi. In closing, the above are just thoughts to consider.

billarf · Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject:

Forgot to mention. Go with an MBR1000. Has external antenna's and N.
Your cellular broadband device should have an external antenna port also.

Zanfirico · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:41 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone for all your input. I really appreciate it. Let me add some info and ask a few more questions. We are rural-so no neighbors. Im my ideal situation, this is still theoretical at this point, I don't have any of the hardware yet, the router (I am leaning toward the mbr1000) would have a usb modem connected to a * amp, which would run out an old duct penetration in the closet to the roof outside, where it will attatch to an antenna. The closet is handy because it has electic, and more importantly, has easy access to the roof.

We don't own a laptop yet, or any other wireless, so it will be easy to standardize N. When it comes to testing, should I buy a N usb plugin / local router for the desktop and laptop (and keep the receipt!) just to test the indoor reception? is it easy to put a computer in ad hoc mode (since it will likely be borrowed)?

Would it be better to run an extension piece of wire to the router/usb modem from the amp to get it out of the closet? i just don't know where the heck I'll put it...I worry the basement ceiling has too much metal in it (radiant heat floor aluminum plates, insulation with foil surface).

I'm hoping to figure out if it'll work before spending the money. Any other insight would be much appreciated.
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Zan

Zanfirico · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:41 am Post subject:

So the hitch is this - we don't own a laptop yet (its going to be a christmas present) and don't currently have a wireless anything in the house, so - I am waiting on a * direct connect amp, and am trying to borrow a usb modem and laptop to try out our evdo connection, and thought while doing all this, I might as will try and install a router rather than trying to creatively run ethernet cable somehow to the desktop (can't move it, its in our little office nook).

I realize I am doing a lot at once. The network will be all "N", if I can be sure it will actually get through the walls.

If I can borrow a laptop with a N or G card, should I just try and buy (and keep the receipt) a N or G router / usb plug-in for the desktop? Is it hard to put a computer, especially if its someone elses, into ad-hoc mode? Thank for everyone's help!
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Zan