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extending WL range for a 420

 
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rogerpatel
Advisor

extending WL range for a 420

Hi can you please advise,

We currently have a HP Procurve 420 wireless access point setup in one of our clietns house's, the system works fine however the range does not cover the 1 bedroom upstairs.

Is is possible to add another 420 access point and install it upstairs, there are no network points upstairs so it will need to conect somehow wirelessly to the downstairs 420 and then extent the range.

If so i need to know how to configure this and also whats it called.

Thanks
9 REPLIES 9
Mohieddin Kharnoub
Honored Contributor
Solution

Re: extending WL range for a 420

Hi

The ProCurve 420 doesn;t support wireless bridging, and
Its better for you to have an External Antenna connecting to the existing AP to extend the range.

Check this J8442A - 2dBi indoor omni-directional

http://www.hp.com/rnd/products/wireless/420_series/accessories.htm#5_2_7dBi

Good Luck !!!
Science for Everyone
rogerpatel
Advisor

Re: extending WL range for a 420

cheers mate,

I've never used any of these, can you tell how much approx it will extend the range.

Thanks
Mohieddin Kharnoub
Honored Contributor

Re: extending WL range for a 420

Wireless is unpredictable

But anyway, it may extend between 20-30 meters indoor, if it placed in the center of the area that it should cover.

In worst cases where you have Concrete and Dry walls in between rooms, it may help you up to 10-15 meters.

Good Luck !!!
Science for Everyone
rogerpatel
Advisor

Re: extending WL range for a 420

Thanks for that info, this should do the job, i get a signal in the bedroom but only 1 bar and it disappears every now and then.

Thank you very much for your quick response.



Roger
rogerpatel
Advisor

Re: extending WL range for a 420

one more question with regards to installing it, is it a matter of simply connecting it like plug and play or does anything have to be configured on the unit.

Thanks
Mohieddin Kharnoub
Honored Contributor

Re: extending WL range for a 420

Hi

If yo uare asking about connecting the external antenna, you just remove the 420 antennas and connect the external one, no furthure configuration required.

Good Luck !!!
Science for Everyone
rogerpatel
Advisor

Re: extending WL range for a 420

Thanks mate.
Mohieddin Kharnoub
Honored Contributor

Re: extending WL range for a 420

Use the NetStumbler for proper tsting of the signal and don;t depend on the Windows bars :)

http://www.netstumbler.com/

After installing this software watch the Signal to Noise Ratio SNR and keep in mind, 3 windowes bars means SNR value > 30

Don't forget to rate posts that hepled you by assigning points.

Good Luck !!!
Science for Everyone
Matt Hobbs
Honored Contributor

Re: extending WL range for a 420

Depending on the type of antenna you install, you may need to configure the AP. From the 420 installation and config guide:

"The access point must be set for the type of external antenna that is attached,
either a diversity antenna that connects to both access point antenna connectors,
or non-diversity antenna that has a single pigtail connection."

If you go for the 2dbi diversity then no config changes should be needed.