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[tjernagel]

I am currently running 2 wireless networks.  The original was Buffalo 11g equipment and it has run flawlessly over the years.

I decided I wanted to move to 5ghz 802.11n and after much searching and research choose D-Link over Buffalo.  I purchased the DGL-4500 router with a DAP-1522.

The router is mounted high in the family room about 30 feet from the DAP-1522.  There is a fireplace between the two as opposed to a normal sheetrock wall.

It's been obvious to me that the 11n standard just doesn't have the range if you run it in the 5ghz band.

Currently the DAP-1522 is reporting a rate of 216 and signal strength of 42%.  Many times the signal is all the way down to 30% or so.

About 3 feet away from the DAP-1522 is my television with built in wifi.  It's connected to the DGL-4500 router with a rate of 270 and signal strength of 80%.

Obviously the DAP-1522 is the problem I'm having with loosing my wifi on the computer.  I've got to get a different bridge that has stronger signal strength.

If I have any complaints, besides the DAP-1522's poor performance, its the lack of support from D-Link unless I pay for it.  Buffalo always had fantastic FREE technical support.  FYI

Any suggestions out there?

Thanks!

[kargo27]

This post is to hopefully make you feel a little better about not purchasing a Buffalo router.

A few months ago I bought a top of the line Buffalo Nfinity router WZR-HP-AG300H.  There have been more complaints on the Buffalo forum due to lack of firmware support and people experiencing wireless disconnects, slow speeds, etc.  There hasn't been a firmware update since May and that one is the original release.  My DGL4500 blows the WZR-HP-AG300H away right now.  I bought the high end Buffalo because, like you, I had great service from my WHR-G300N.

The good news is that the guys on this forum are pros at troubleshooting your problems and work for FREE.

Furry, Harry, Java and others will chime in to help soon.

[tjernagel]

Yep thanks for the info.  I agree Buffalo has gone down with their equipment. 

My only dilemma is finding a bridge that has a stronger signal.  I thought about purchasing the DAP-1555 but the only ones available are up around 200 bucks.  Also considered the D-Link DAP-1525 Amplifi Wi-Fi Booster but still have to research the amplifier.

I'm also to point where I might just run a hardline from the router to the PC...  I hate crawlspaces... 

Thanks!

[tjernagel]

PS:  If I knock it down to 802.11x 2.4 ghz mode both the TV and the DGL-1522 connect to 802.11n.

802.11n rates are:
 
   DAP-1522 - Rate of 54 and 46% signal strength
 
   TV - Rate of 39 and 82% signal strength

802.11g rates are:

  DAP-1522 - Rate of 24 and 46% signal strength
 
  TV - Rate of 24 and 90% signal strength

The weak link still seems to be the DGL-1522.

Has anyone wired external antenna's into the DGL-1522?

[FurryNutz]

I don't think there is a DGL-1522. Have you not have enough coffee this morning? i know i haven't. Hehe.

Can you move the DAP-1522 closer to the DGL-4500?

Are you using single modes on the 4500? G or N?

What security mode are you using? WEP, WPA or WPA2? Preferred security is WPA-Personal. WPA2/Auto TPIK and AES.
What wireless devices do you have connected?
Any cordless house phones?
Any other WiFi routers in the area?
Turn off Short GI and Extra Wireless Protection if you have it. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless.
Turn off all anti virus and firewall programs on PC while testing.
Turn off all devices accept for one wired PC while testing.

Some things to try:
Ensure DNS IP addresses are being filled in under Setup/Internet/Manual? You can find these under Status/Device Info/Wan section.
Turn off ALL QoS (DIR only) GameFuel (DGL only and if ON.) options. Advanced/QoS or Gamefuel.
Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option under Setup/Internet/Manual.
Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking.
Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices on the router. Setup/Networking
Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.
Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP.


What Hardware version is your router? Look at sticker under router.
What Firmware version is currently loaded? Found on routers web page under status.

[tjernagel]

OOPS!

More coffee... DAP-1522...   

[tjernagel]

In all of testing below I'm running 802.11n (5GHz).  Here are some answers:

Can you move the DAP-1522 closer to the DGL-4500? - I hooked the DAP-1522 up to a long network cable and extension cord and have moved it around the living room to find a better signal.  If I put it 3 feet from the router my signal strengh goes up to 82% and rate of 162.  When I bring it back into the living room the signal drops back to the living room it drops back to 40-50% no matter where it seems to be.  I did notice one thing strange.  The IP address the router is reporting for the DAP-1522 changed from 192.168.0.50 to 192.168.0.189.  I have 192.168.0.50 set in the DAP-1522 as a static IP address.  And of course when I open an Explorer window to access it I have to use 192.168.0.50.  192.168.0.189 doesn't bring up anything.  I rebooted both the router and the dap-1522 from within the firmware and it's still reporting the same...  Hard rebooted both devices and ditto...  The DAP-1522 status page is showing IP address 192.168.0.50 but the router is reporting 192.168.0.189.  Weird...  Well maybe not so weird.  It's reporting my computer's IP address.  What is strange is the -4500 was listing the 192.168.0.50 address.  Maybe it's nothing.

Are you using single modes on the 4500? G or N? - Single Mode N, 5 ghz

What security mode are you using? WEP, WPA or WPA2? Preferred security is WPA-Personal. WPA2/Auto TPIK and AES. - Preferred as stated
What wireless devices do you have connected? - 2 TiVo's, 1 printer, 1 TV, 1 PlayStation 3, 1 Xbox 360...  but the 1 TiVo, PlayStation and Xbox are hard wired thru the router so wifi connectivity isn't an issue.
Any cordless house phones? - No
Any other WiFi routers in the area? - All 11g - I have a 2nd 11g network and a neighbor whose signal strength is 10%
Turn off Short GI and Extra Wireless Protection if you have it. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless. - Off
Turn off all anti virus and firewall programs on PC while testing. - Done
Turn off all devices accept for one wired PC while testing. - Did

Some things to try:
Ensure DNS IP addresses are being filled in under Setup/Internet/Manual? You can find these under Status/Device Info/Wan section. - They are
Turn off ALL QoS (DIR only) GameFuel (DGL only and if ON.) options. Advanced/QoS or Gamefuel. - Off
Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option under Setup/Internet/Manual. - Off
Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking. - Off
Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices on the router. Setup/Networking - Done
Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address. - They are
Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP. - Done

What Hardware version is your router? Look at sticker under router. - DGL-4500 H/W is A2; DAP-1522 H/W is A1
What Firmware version is currently loaded? Found on routers web page under status. - Router F/W is 1.23NA; DAP-1522 F/W is 1.40

[tjernagel]

One more quick question...  I moved the DAP-1522 to a spot next to a window in the living room. It seemed to help my signal strength.  I changed my channel width from Auto 20/40 to 20 and to 40.  As I changed the channel width I let it stablize for about 10 minutes.

This is what I found:

I'm still at 802.11n (5GHz) only. 

DAP-1522
Channel width Auto 20/40 with a rate of 243 and signal of 66-70%.
Channel width 20 with a rate of 130 and signal of 100%.
Channel width 40 with a rate of 162 and signal of 74%.

The TV
Channel width Auto 20/40 with a rate of 243 and signal of 78%.
Channel width 20 with a rate of 130 and signal of 82%.
Channel width 40 with a rate of 243 and signal of 74%.

What is this telling me?  Why the 100% signal strength when I go to channel width of 20?  I don't understand...

Strange but...the router went back to showing the DAP-1522 as IP 192.168.0.50...

Thanks for the help!

[FurryNutz]

Just curious, what kind of signal strengths and connections do you see and Single mode N at 2.4Ghz to test?

[tjernagel]

TV doesn't like that...  It's a Vizio 3D XVT3D474SV.  The DAP-1522 is 5 feet from the TV (it doesn't change if the tv is off...).  It needs a better antenna.  I might open it up and see if I can hard wire an external antenna into it to see what happens.  If I kill it... they are pretty cheap to replace...


802.11n only, 2.4 ghz

DAP-1522 - rate of 121 and 66-68% signal
TV - rate of 117 and 84% signal

Obviously the Vizio has a better antenna...

[tjernagel]

PS:  The IP address is holding firm at 192.168.0.50... I don't get it...  That's what it should always be...

[tjernagel]

I just jumped into the firmware for the DAP-1522.  When I do a site survey from it the router is showing a signal strength of 81%.  From the DGL-4500 firmware, it's showing 68%.  I wonder which one is correct?  I'm back in single mode 802.11n, 5ghz, channel width Auto.  DGL-4500 is reporting rate at a steady 243.

[FurryNutz]

Ok, just be aware that 5Ghz best works in line of site or maybe one wall in between. Due to the high frequency, it impacted by building materials and such in between the router and DAP. So the closest you can get the DAP to the 4500 keeping a good balance on distances with the devices would be preferred here.

[tjernagel]

Roger that... Thanks