Wireless power level

[FLYNNE]

Hello

I use a BT Business hub -2Wire (Firmware V.6 etc).

I note that the wireless power setting is on 1 -the minimum (approx 25 miliwatts).

The hub is situated in a old hotel having thick brick walls which severely restricts reception in most of the hotel rooms.

I want to increase the wireless power level to 3 or 4 i.e 75 to 100 miliwatts.

How can I achieve this by using the hub itself without any other equipment whatsoever.

If I cannot do this myself then I expect BT to do it for me.

Your Suggestions Please

Regards

Flynne

[Sogo7]

Hi Flynne double check your firmware version I seem to recall the wireless Power level  was raised to setting '3' by default for v.6 (All previous BT firmwares defaulted to setting '1' - 25mW).  

There is growing pressure from OFCOM and several others to have the present wifi power limits increased but don't hold your breath. Short of using one or two wifi repeaters to improve coverage throughout the building there is no easy fix but at £20 to £30 they are good value for money.  Alternatively running cat5 cabling everywhere is a very  costly excercise however some of my clients had success using an induction antenna loop, it's  crude and cheap but does give slightly better results.

Basically you run a single wire along the skirting boards and under carpets into and out of every room and wind one end around the routers antenna. You can't cheat and use the central heating pipes because they are earthed. Last time we did this we used incredably thin 'wire wrap' wire just .25mm in diameter and spotted it down with blu-tak (100m roll is about £15)

[FLYNNE]

Hello Sogo7

Thank you for your reply.

My firmware version is 6.1.1.48.1-enh.tm yet my power level is still set to 1.

I am right in assuming that BT will not alter the wireless setting at my request.

If that is so then I object to that attitude since I pay for the use of the Hub and should be given the legal maximum I require.

Regards

Flynne

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[OldWolf]

Hi,

Not sure where the information is coming from, but you can't alter the power level on a Business Hub.  The last time you were able to adjust any power levels was on an old firmware enabled 1800HG, and that was years ago.

The only reason that happened was because the 2-Wire router was made in the US, and they have different rules on wireless power (i.e. their limit is higher than ours), but the option was left in.

Only thing you can change is the wireless channel, which is a different thing.  If you want to check what's on the various channels in your area then you can use an Android app called Wifi Analyzer, which is **bleep** handy.

Hope that helps.

Cheers.

Dave A

[FLYNNE]

Hello Dave

We may be talking at cross purposes.

I did not mean that I am able to alter the power level.

However I do expect BT to alter it for me .

Am I being unrealistic in expecting them to do so ?

The hub is their device and should be able to cinfigure it as they please.

Regards

Flynne

[markp]

Hi Flynne,

I am sorry, but the firmware within the BT business hub does not allow either yourself of BT to change the wireless power level. If you wish to be able to do this you would need to purchase your own router that has this capability.

Regards

Markp

[OldWolf]

Hi,

Fair enough in the end, but what you would then be asking is for BT to break the law.

As far as I am aware the Business Hub was set up within the legal limits for wireless in the UK.  Increasing it would mean going outside those limits.  This was the problem with the old 1800HG, as it actually let people go beyond what it was supposed to.

So, I would have to say that yes you are being unrealistic.

Cheers.

Dave A

[FLYNNE]

Hello Dave and MarkP

I am still missing the point.

My present wireless power setting is 1 i.e 25milliwatts.

If I had it changed to level 3 by BT i.e 75 miliwatts this would be within the legal limits for this country which is 100 miliwatts maximum.

Therefore BT. would not be breaking the law.

Sorry to be a pain

Regards

Flynne

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[OldWolf]

Hi,

Well to be honest I can only go by what I was told, but I'm curious to know where you got your information from.

Cheers.

Dave A

[MHC]

The legal limit in the UK is +20 dBm which equates to 100mW.    The US is exactly the same

The older V4 hub would provide 100mW and teh v5 could be tweaked (through a browser) to get the same level.

I have had exactly the same problem on several sites where we now have a v6 interfacing to the DSL line and a v4 attached to it to give the high power required.

I and my clients have asked BT many times and have NEVER had a sensible answer.

I will be just a few doors away from 2wire in California later this month - I might just ask knock on their door and ask why!