Extending BT2700HGV wireless signal

[grdesign]

Morning everyone.

Have BT Business Broadband installed running on a BT2700HGV. Everything is fine, but when we actually ordered this, we took an engineer installation and paid for it as we stated specifically the building is a large building and we need WIFI coverage.

Engineer came, installed it all, broadband is working, but simply stated he was only there to set it up, and couldn't help with wireless extension queries. So waste of time and money for us there.

So I bought a Netgear WN2000RPT WiFi extender as I have used this before allbeit on other routers.

Problem is, I can connect up to the BT router, but when using the WN2000RPT extended network, cannot gain internet access. Having set this up on home routers, it's always just worked straight away.

BT are now saying they won't help and we should sign up to their IT support service. All I want to do is talk to someone about the router settings, but seems impossible as the actual broadband does not have a fault.

Feel a bit annoyed as signed up telling them our needs, which they were quick enough to sell us an engineer for, but now it seems they are not interested as were now a customer.

Can anyone help on here? I just need to know the best way to extend the wireless range (powerline not suitable).

I believe it's something to do with the "disable routing" option. But as no one seems willing to help without further payments, I'm left a little stumped!

Many thanks.

[Fiona]

Hi

I am not sure what technical information you need, there is a technical specification sheet available here. If you can outline the information you are looking for about the router i am sure either myself or other forum users can try and help.

Kind Regards

Fiona

BT Business Forum Moderator

[grdesign]

Hi Fiona,

Many thanks. Basically I need to know the best way to extend the wireless coverage.

I have a netgear wifi extender, which does connect to the router, but does not let you connect to the internet. Just states no internet connectivity.

Having looked on the internet, it seems to be common with wifi extenders and the BT routers.

I can't run wires and use access points and the powerline solution would not work as there are 3 seperate electricity supplies within the premises.

I believe, having read some info on the internet, there is a setting (WDS??) on the bt router which is currently not allowing the wifi extender to work.

We don't mind buying extra hardware, but need to know where to start really. Tried to speak to the technical helpdesk who said they can't help, and to ring the IT support guys. Rang them, only to get given another number, which happened to be the technical helpdesk again who said they couldn't help. Been told I can have a site visit, but it will cost us again.

All I need to know is the best way to extend the wireless coverage to the 40% of the premises that is not covered. This was the whole point of paying an engineer to install the broadband for us as I was told by sales he would be able to reccomend hardware etc...the engineer said he just sets up the broadband nothing more. 

Not sure if the router should be set on Bridge for example, and if so, what does this involve, I'd assume I would be turning the router into a modem using this setting, so would be losing wireless altogether. Was just hoping to talk to someone about it as I'm sure there are business's where wifi does not cover their total floor space, so there must be solutions which work.

I realise this is a vague query. But without knowing where to start I can't really make it any clearer.

Thanks.

[Fiona]

Hi

I have had a quick look at the extenders documentation, from this it looks like WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) is the security used for the extender and device (such as wireless router or PC) to connect.

NETGEAR calls this method Push 'N' Connect—you might be prompted to press a WPS button on the modem/router or Extender instead of entering a Passphrase.

We use a passphrase for our wireless connection, which is the WEP key found on the router.  From the Datasheet it says that it will work with WEP security which our router uses, but you can't use the quick push 'n' connect method (WPS).

The FAQ on the Netgear site also say that you don't need to enable WDS on the router. I have had a look to see if i could find any other information on this and the BT Router but i couldn't see anything that would help.

I have looked at the Residential Shop and the Business Shop and this product is available for sale, so it is very Likely that our IT Support team can assist you with this. I do understand that you may not want to pay the additional costs but if you have an advanced service and at times may need additional help the extra cost may be worth it to have advanced technical support 24 / 7. You can find information on the IT Support team and what they can do for you here.

On the BT Business Direct site, there is the option to have a prefessional install of the equipment, if you select the product then click on the link for professional installation.

I'm afraid the standard technical support could not assist with the setup of this hardware, there may be other business users on the forum that could offer some further advice.

I really hope you get on ok,

Kind Regards

Fiona

BT Business Forum Moderator

[_AtaLoss]

There is a great product which can take your broadband round the house using your power cabling - so from your router you would just plug into a special power socket and you could then pick the encoded bandwidth from a plug in a remote location round the house/office.  Can't remember what the product is called though!

[alastair]

Ethernet powerline adapter.

not used them but have heard some good things

[thehillsarehere]

Hi,

Having the same problem as you - and also unable to use the mains thingy, so went with the wireless extender. Again, works fine for homhub, but not so good for business hub.

My symptoms were a little different - the wireless extender would connect to the internet for a while (5 mins) and then lose internet access for a couple of minutes and then connect again. Very annoying.

It might be worth asking the BT guys whether the business hub has an access control list for enabling or blocking certain devices from connecting. I checked on mine but couldn't find anything.

Sniffed around the netgear website and found this http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/14239 - check out the last question. It talks about enabling a local a local dhcp server(whatever that is) on the extender. Just switch it over 5 minutes ago and magically still connected. 

Perhaps someone on this forum could give an indication as to whether this setting would be a likely culprit.

Let me know how it goes,

Mark

[RichCreedy]

what you need is a couple of these http://www.netgear.co.uk/wireless_access_point_wnap210.php  

and 1 of these http://www.netgear.co.uk/dgn3500.php