[RFI] HomePlug OK?

[Mike Kirkland]

A WiFi extender/repeater (a single band type like most consumer units are)
will cut your data throughput rate by around half. Think SIMPLEX packet
digipeter.

Better solutions to consider might be:

1 - Better antennas on the WiFi router (in ham radio it IS all about the
antenna after all).

2 - Multiple WiFi access points (not routers) hard wired to the the router
using ESS. This is how places like hospitals and office buildings have
large coverage areas with a single connection.

Also, an issue to consider with using the provider's access point is that
many of them (like Concast) are hosting public WiFi access points on your
connection for there other customers. They will claim that this does not
effect your "download" speeds which could be true but it also shares the
router's single simplex radio's throughput. Don't get mislead by the
multiple antennas on a WiFi access point, it is a simplex radio.

This is also a good time to mention that it is a good idea to stay at least
two WiFi channels away from other users (on the 2.4 GHz band) for the same
reasoning. The 2.4 GHz WiFi channels overlap.

A WiFi scanner on an Android device is a interesting diagnostic tool.

In my home network the provider's equipment stops at the cable modem and an
Asus AC66 running Linux takes it from there. Most consumer routers have
junk for software and are not very secure.

73,
Mike
NS6Q



On Sun, Sep 2, 2018 at 4:43 AM Dave Cole (NK7Z) <dave at nk7z.net> wrote:

> Jim is absolutely correct, the cable company wanted five bucks a month
> to supply crappy wireless.
>
> Also, I don't want them in my network, nor do I want to pay them five
> bucks to create God knows what type of security hole in my network...
>
> Best to get your own router, create a DMZ between your router and the
> cable modem, then you control everything on your end of things...
>
> 73s and thanks,
> Dave (NK7Z/NNR0DC)
> https://www.nk7z.net
> ARRL Technical Specialist
>
> On 09/01/2018 09:37 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> > On 9/1/2018 6:31 PM, GaryK9GS wrote:
> >> I have a TP Link range extender and it works really well.
> >
> > Why are we locked in to wifi routers supplied by internet vendors, which
> > are likely to be whatever they could buy the cheapest? There are a lot
> > of very good WiFi routers around -- read the reviews to find them, don't
> > be a cheap ham and buy one of them! I'm using an ASUS RT-AC66U. Feed
> > your internet modem to it.
> >
> > Besides -- if you check your bill for internet service, there's a good
> > chance you're getting charged a rental on that unit, which you could
> > probably buy for a year or two's rent.
> >
> >>   Wireless router is in the basement, roughly the center of the house.
> >
> > The only good reason for sticking it in the basement is to minimize
> > coverage to your neighbors. I see pretty good signal from one or two
> > neighbors that are at least 250 feet away.
> >
> > Also, look at power settings and channel assignments, and check what
> > channels your neighbors are using. I use WiFiInfoView from this company.
> > http://www.nirsoft.net/  Also their Wireless Internet Watcher shows you
> > all the connections to your network. Both are free.
> >
> > 73, Jim K9YC
> >
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