Signal Strength

[rodan]

I'd like to see what kind of a signal strength I get on a computer in another part of the house. I have it connected by LAN/network cable to a router configured as an access point.
Since I'm connected by lan, and not wireless, I have no way to monitor the signal strength in Windows XP, ( five bar signal strength meter works only on wireless connections)
Is there any free or trial software I can install, even if only temporarily, so I can check my signal strength on a lan connection?
If my strength is no so good, I wanted to maybe put a more powerful antenna on the router/access point, or something that would boost it.

[junior1]

If you try speedtest you will get a idea to your internet speed.

[Terryl]

For the WIFI try this one, I use it.


http://www.netstumbler.com/2007/04/18/downloads/

And as far as your wired LAN it's only going to be as fast as your internet connection, if you have a 5 Mbps connection, then that all you get, use the speedtest.net as Buddy4406 mentioned to see what your getting.

But between 2 computers on a wired system it should be as high as the router or switch is rated for, a 10/100 Mbps switch will deliver (between PC's) 100 Mbps, a 10/100/1000 switch or router will go to 1000 Mbps between PC's.

But your internet is limited by it's modem speed.

[rodan]

What I am trying to determine, is whether I have good signal strength. I do get good speedtest from the websites, when I run those. My internet is actually on a wireless network, but, the specfic computer I'm wanting to check my signal strength on, is connected to an access point, via LAN, but, the access point, is connected to the main wireless router, from the other computer, via wireless.
I want to know what the signal strength is on the computer, where my access point is connected. Let's say it's a one or two bar on a five bar scale, then, I want to add an antenna onto the access point. But, if it's already a five bar on a five bar scale, then, I can leave it alone.
This computer, connected by LAN to the access point, has no software to show me this. Windows XP will show this signal strength meter on a wireless connection, but, not a LAN connection.
My main computer, in another part of the house, connected to the internet wirelessly, get's about a 1.5 mbps download, 256kbps upload, which is about what I'm supposed to get. But, again, this is not the computer I'm wanting to check, I already get five bars on that computer.

[Terryl]

What is the brand name of the wireless access point?

If it's in the list of equipment that netsumbler uses then it may give you an idea what your RSSI is. (Receive Signal Strength Indication)

A bit of info for us.

How far is it from the WIFI router to the WAP? (Wireless Access Point)
And what is in the way? (interior household walls, brick walls, metal walls what?
What brand is the WIFI router? And does it have an external antenna?
What brand is the WAP? And does it have an external antenna?

Once we get an idea on what the setup is we can come up with a solution.

[rodan]

The routers (one, as the main wifi router connected to the internet, the other one converted to be used as an access point, on the computer I'm trying to figure out the signal strength on.) are Edimax BR-6228n. They do not have a detachable antenna. Does have one, small external antenna of it's own. (3dBi Antenna).

What my plans are, assuming I don't have much signal strength on the one used as an access point, was to buy a router with a detachable antenna, attach a more powerful, external antenna to this router. The model of Edimax that should be able do this is the Edimax BR-6428n. It has a pair of detachable 3dBi antennas.

This leads into another question, I would have, assuming I've made it this far, what type of external antenna, can I attach to this. I have a couple of types in mind, but, I'll save this question for later. I'm leaning on a yagi type, I found on ebay for less than twenty dollars, that does about 18 dBi. Or, maybe look at what someone suggests.

If I have to do this, I'd rather put the external antenna on the router used as an access point, rather than on the one used as a wifi router, connected to the internet. If I do it this way, I don't mind a bulky looking eyesore of an antenna, I might have.

Distance between, I'm guessing 75ft, or less. No metal walls in the way, but, probably about three walls. Not sure what's in there, wiring, insulation, probably foil on the insulation, and drywall. It's probably the walls hindering the signal, but, again, I don't even know for sure if the signal is bad, i may have great signal and not know it.

I don't want to buy or change anything, untill I can find out what signal strength I'm getting at the access point, .

I'll check out that netstumbler software. Not sure is that is one of them I've already checked. I've tried a couple of softwares a few months ago, and didn't find anything, so I dropped the project. Now, I'm hot on it again.

[rodan]

Update: I downloaded and installed Netstumbler 4.0. It does not pick up any device. Probably because the computer it's installed on is connected by LAN to the access point?