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Range extender for iMac and Macbook air wifi
I have a 2010 iMac 21.5 desktop which has an internal wifi router so that I can connect to my ISP from my 2011 Macbook Air 11" in the room immediately downstairs, and another room almost 20m away dow...
The concern is with the latter: access to the iMac through the modem connection.
Due to the vagaries of Wi-Fi and its sensitivity to the environment, it's difficult to come out with an outright recommendation that is guaranteed to meet all of your needs. You could start off by purchasing a Wi-Fi router with external antennas and use it in place of your iMac, which you seem to be using as a hotspot. The Wi-Fi router is likely to broadcast a much stronger signal. It will also consume less power than your iMac, which you can turn off when not in use.
The signal from the router may or may not be strong enough to reach the studio. The walls between a house and the garage are often very thick. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing a priori whether the signal will be strong enough. You may need to supplement the router with either a wired Access Point (AP) or a wireless range extender. A wired AP is preferred because it is usually faster, but you must be willing or able to run an Ethernet cable or set up a Powerline network that will allow you to set up an AP in or near the studio. Otherwise, use a range extender.
You could even start with a range extender and continue using your iMac as a hotspot.
THanks again!
I like the suggestion of using an AP while retaining the iMac as a hotpot. My Ipstar Modem (comes with my Ipstar satellite dish courtesy of my ISP) has only one ethernet outlet so I cannot connect both an AP and the iMac.
A friend lent me an old AP - an XH8175 DSE 802.11g AP (originally purchased form DSE an Australian/New Zealand electronics chain). I positioned that mid way between iMac and studio and did originally get a signal on both macs but it was remarkably slow and now I do get a signal in the studio. I am thinking there might be much more powerful AP's available perhaps?
The specs on the AP I have on loan are: 2.4GHz upto 54Mbps. 3dB gain antenna. Transmit power 15dBm+/- 1. Receive sensitivity 11Mbps: 10.5BER at -80dBm; 54 Mbps: 10.5BER at -65dBm.
Operating Range (Indoors): 802.11b 35-60m; 802.11g 20m. Data rates: 802.112b 11/5/5/2/1 Mbps, 802.11g 54/48/3624/18/12/6 Mbps auto fallback.
Looks to me like the choice of 802.11 b or g gives a trade off between distance and speed. Unfortunately I cannot open the web address that enables me to see which setting I am presently using or change options, I would have suspected it was the 802.11g.
Roger
I suspect that any modern range extender will outperform your friend's old AP. 802.11g is limited to 54 Mbps, but real world speed will be around 21 Mbps. The range on older Wi-Fi devices has usually been pretty poor.
I'll reiterate that installing a wired AP is much better than a wireless AP. A wireless AP can be up to 50% slower due to the need to relay traffic between the router and devices via Wi-Fi. If your Internet service is not that fast, then a 50% Wi-Fi speed penalty may be ok (it could still be faster than Internet).
There's another reason to replace your iMac, functioning as a hotspot, with a real router: security. It sounds like your ISP's modem doesn't have a firewall. Therefore, your iMac is open to the Internet and can be directly attacked by anyone on the Internet. While Mac OSX does have some ability to protect itself, including a basic firewall, you should really install a router to partition your home network from the Internet. It's better to have a router as the front door to your home network than your iMac.
I think you should get a router, first. Then, supplement it with a range extender if its Wi-Fi signal can't reach the studio.
Thanks yet again.
I checked with my ISP and you are right, no firewall on the Ipstar modem, and they do sell a router with wifi and 4 cable outlets.
I am wondering whether the vulnerability of my iMac you describe is through others being able to access it through the wifi hot spot it provides (which would be unlikely as we are 1km from any neighbours or public access) or through the ethernet/modem/satellite connection.
Anyway, thanks so much for your advice and recommendations.
Roger
The concern is with the latter: access to the iMac through the modem connection.