Networking and Wi-Fi - Getting Through the Wall

Introduction

Wired LAN (local area network) systems can seem confusing enough.  Add WiFi (radio broadcast) to your LAN, and things can get even more complicated.

Wired LAN systems are the most reliable, but the most difficult to install in an existing building because of all the holes you need to poke into the walls (etc.) to get all the wires pulled to different locations.

WiFi systems avoid the need to connect everything with wires, and allow you to move about freely within your network broadcast range, but they can be complicated to safely install, and they are susceptible to radio-frequency (RF) interference, which makes them less reliable.

Radio interference occurs when a device in range of your network system is operating at or near the same frequency as your WiFi router band(s).  They have thought this through.  Interference is generally not common.  But many devices that are not primarily designed to emanate radio-frequencies can do so, and in an intermittent fashion, which can cause occasional and random drop-outs in your WiFi Network.  Tracking these problems down can be very difficult.

Good Placement of your WiFi Router can help a lot to prevent the most common forms of signal interference.  Placing it up high on a wall or bookcase for example, as well as away from any metal objects and/or radio frequency producing devices is a really good idea.

There have been volumes of information written about WiFi Network Security, so this is not the place to go into that in depth.  Suffice it to say though, that no matter what kind of (recent) WiFi security protocol you use, there will always be potential for your system to be compromised.  About the only thing you have going for you is the sheer popularity and quantity of WiFi networks.  But the possibility of your WiFi network being cracked is only limited to how much you trust who is in range of your system (your neighbors, who is on the street, etc.).  Public WiFi networks with pass-phrases are only as secure as who is using them, so again, there is a trust issue going on here.  WPA2-PSK and 802.11n are the most common recent security network protocol  tools used today.

The latest (Jan-2014) and greatest WiFi security protocol is 802.11ac, but you will need to replace all your WiFi Network Broadcast devices (routers, repeaters, etc.) to take full advantage of this new protocol.  Using updated adapters would be best too.  These new routers should be backwards compatible with current (b/g/n class) adapters.  A Network Adapter is the equipment used to connect your device (notebook or tablet PC, etc.) to your WiFi broadcast router.

Routers are primarily a sending unit, while Adapters are primarily a receiving unit.  The communication actually goes both ways however.

Following are a few suggestions and tips for using either Wired or WiFi.

Sometimes the best solution can be a combination of the two.

Passing Wires Through a Wall

Here are a few suggested items for making a quick, yet neat, pass-through in a standard wallboard wall.  By using the pop-in box or bracket, it is easy to install a blank cover-plate if the wires are later not needed and removed.

A pop-in box or bracket can be really convenient and easy to install.  Just be sure that you do not damage any existing wiring or plumbing when you cut the hole.

Most of these products can be purchased in quantities from 1 to 10.

The boxes and cover-plates come in 1-gang and 2-gang options.  For example, a single-gang box is like a single wall switch, a double-gang box is like a double wall switch.

Sometimes you can get far better WiFi coverage if you pass a wire through a wall into another room or hallway to get closer to a more central (and higher) location, that could also be more free of possible RF interference.

Low Voltage Mounting Bracket
These make for an easy access to get through walls, between two rooms or into a hallway for example.  A cable pass plate can be used, there are may choices.  A blank cover-plate can be used as well.  these come in a variety of styles.  Some additional searching is easy to do.

Recessed Cable Wall Plate
This clever example can be mounted either way.  There are many other options.

Here is a site dedicated to various home connectivity products:
My Cable Mart
That link is a list of various cover-plates and brackets, to give you an idea of what is available.

Choose a WiFi Router

The best way to choose a router is to read some reviews, or choose what is popular at on-line shopping sites.

Extending your WiFi Network range can be fairly simple to do.  Some terms you may run into for that are:

• WiFi Range Extender
• WiFi Repeater
• WiFi Booster
• Network Bridge

A WiFi range extender and/or repeater that also includes a network bridge is a device that will extend your current WiFi network range of reception, plus give you a LAN port to plug a cable into.  So in a way, the best of both worlds.  (You are still mostly dependent on the WiFi signal however.)

The most important part of a WiFi system is the antenna.  A good antenna system will help a lot with both reliability and range.
What is the best WiFi antenna for me?
That is a really comprehensive article on the subject.  Some additional searching may be helpful.

Router

Here is an example of a popular 300 Mbps single-band (2.4 GHz) router:
TP-LINK TL-WR841N ... mfg. page
This device includes:

• Wireless network speeds up to 300 Mbps (mega-bits per second)
• This provides adequate data transfer to watch streaming HD movies for example, from a site like Netflix... or to make VoIP (telephone) calls over the Internet (including webcam calls like Skype).
• WPA2-PSK Security
• This is the most common of the current security protocols, and in general is still very effective.
• Four 10/100 Auto-Sensing LAN Ports
• For easy wired networking.
• One WAN Port
• For your Internet connectivity.  (This port connects to the incoming signal from your ISP or Internet Service Provider).
• Wi-Fi On/Off Button
• This feature is really handy if you want to temporarily turn off your WiFi.
• Power On/Off Button
• This can make it a lot easier to easily re-boot the router, it there is a connectivity problem, etc.
• WPS Connect Button
• WPS, "WiFi Protected Setup", is a convenient connectivity feature that allows the connection of devices to your network by pressing a button, as opposed to entering in a pass-phrase.

Range Extender

Here is a relatively simple device that will allow you to easily extend your network broadcast range:
TP-LINK TL-WA850RE ... mfg. page
Wi-Fi Range Extender, Repeater
This device includes:

• 300 Mbps Range Extender (2.4 GHz band).
• Suitable for "High-Bandwidth" applications (video calling, HD Streaming, etc.).
• Compatible with other 802.11n/g/b wireless devices.
• Applies to most currently used devices.
• WPA2-PSK security encryption is supported.
• Good security protocols.
• WPS Connectivity.
• Easy push-button connectivity.
• RJ-45 Ethernet Cable Jack (see note below).
• Allows this device to be used as an Ethernet Bridge.
• Smart Signal Indicator Light.
• A signal strength indicator, to assist in locating the device, and monitoring performance.

Dual-Band vs. Single-Band

My experience so far with Dual-Band Routers is that they are not worth the trouble.  Most folks are confused by the whole idea, and though the 5 GHz band is supposed to be faster and have greater range, I've not really see that (especially on the extended range).  I suppose it depends on the router though.  Especially in terms of broadcast power for that particular device.

However... A major benefit of a simultaneous Dual-Band system (which is the common configuration on the market today) is the separation of the bands, and data transfer.  Basically, you are getting two WiFi routers in one, which is the biggest benefit of this system.

There are many (mostly older) devices that only operate in the (slower) 2.4 GHz range.  (Higher Frequencies are capable of carrying more information, faster.)  The 5 GHz range is better suited for watching HD Movies (like Netflix), Audio+Video Calls (like Skype), Gaming, and large data transfers.

As far as I know, there is no way to use a Concurrent WiFi Adapter (they don't exist?), and receive both bands at the same time on a device (like a PC).  i.e. On the receiving end you get one or the other, not both.  So those big numbers you see in ads for Mbps are the combined output of the router, which is not a bad thing.

If you want to get higher throughput (above 300 Mbps) in either band however, be prepared to get your wallet out, these routers don't come real cheap!

The speed vs band designation is generally identified as follows:

• N150 = 150 Mbps (typically 2.4 GHz)
• N300 = 300 Mbps (typically 2.4 GHz)
• N600 = 300 + 300 Mbps (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz respectively)
• N900 = 450 + 450 Mbps (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz respectively)
• N1200 = 300 + 900 Mbps (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz respectively)

Other variations can apply.  Be sure to read the specifications to be sure that you understand what it is that you are actually supposed to be getting for each band.

This support article by Netgear does a really good job answering the question:
What does the N150/N300/N600/N750/N900 mean?
Of course they use their products to illustrate the differences, but that is OK.  Personally, I find their products to generally be a very good choice.

Notes:

Ethernet Cable Connector

RJ-45 vs. 8P8C
8P8C (8 position 8 contact) is technically the correct term for the Ethernet Cable Connector that is most commonly used today.  Use of the term "RJ-45 Ethernet Cable" is so pervasive in the industry however that most folks (including manufacturers) will use it in discussions, and even in specification lists!  If you want to truly test someone's knowledge about networking however, you can try and throw this term / difference out there.

Setting the DHCP Server

The DHCP Server setting should be turned on if you only have one router, or on the very 1st router (connected by the WAN Port to your Internet Source) in a series of routers.  In other-words, if you connect a series of routers together to expand your network (such as adding WiFi points via Wired LAN or Booster connections), the 1st router is a DHCP Server, and the rest of them are not.  (Disable the DHCP function of the following router(s) and set them to obtain an IP address dynamically.)

Additional Resources

Google: WiFi Range Extender

Google: Add a Wireless Access Point

Wi-Fi Booster Review - Top 10 Reviews
Some notable examples... mostly dual-band:

• ZyXEL WAP3205 V2 - $40
• Mfg. Page
• It is not clear if this is a dual-band system (probably not), but they make it sound like it could be very easy to set up (though actual user reviews are contrary.)
• It is a "best value" deal.
• Netgear AC1200 EX6200 - $110
• Mfg. Page
• Excellent Range (450')


• Uses the newest 802.11ac wireless networking standard.


• Blazing Speed (up to 1200 Mbps total output).
• Only with full dual-band connectivity, otherwise they are all the same, around 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band.
• Dual-Band (2.4 / 5 GHz)
• Excellent additional features (such as USB 3.0 and 5 Gigabit LAN Ports).
• Also worth a look:
• Netgear AC750 EX6100 - $90
• Mfg. Page
• Belkin F9K1106 - $70
• Mfg. Page

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