help please, with MIMO infrastructure

[casperton2003]

I need to improve throughput; I tried many things but I am stuck. I cannot change major things due to money limitations ... neighbourhood has become quite wifi-crowded. I have already tried to complement wifi with wiring, Ethernet over power, etc.; only antenna changes remain as a potential possibility ...

My home has small plant and 4 floors. Have fiber connection to internet, then a proxy-server, then 4 desktops for the family members.

Walls are brick/mortar (unfortunately they used sand with high iron content, so quite opaque ...). Stairs are metallic, quite a lot of interferences/obstructions (5G channels will not work either) A challenging environment ...

The proxy-server, in the basement (=floor 0), is dual homed, wired to internet, and wifi using DWA-547 PCI card http://www.dlink.com/uk/en/home-solutions/connect/adapters/dwa-547-wireless-n-pci-adapter for the home lan; it is a PCI card, three antennas detachable, MIMO.

In floor 1, there is the AP (otherwise there is not enough power in floor 3), a DIR-665 http://www.dlink.com/uk/en/home-solutions/connect/routers/dir-655-wireless-n-gigabit-router. It has 3 detachable antennas, MIMO.

Desktops are in floor 2 and floor 3; running XP, and using DWA-547

I use infrastructure mode only. All is 2.4G and very crowded now ...

I have all antennas in an horizontal position, so that the donougt has an horizontal axis, otherwise I do not see the AP on the floor 3 ...

Mi weakest link is between server and AP; server sees AP with around 80 to 70dbms

I tried linking the server and AP with Ethernet over power, but there are circuit breakers that break the connection.

So, I am thinking if it is posible to change the antennas of the DWA-547 of the server. The ideal would be to have directional antenas ...

Questions:

- do make directional antenas any sense in a MIMO scheme?
- if yes, any suggestion? where could I purchase anyone that will match DWA-547 connectors?
- otherwise, any suggestion for a good replacement omni? (not expensive, good gain, ...)

- finally, could I use a high power USB wifi at the server, any that Works under MIMO? Do "normal" (not MIMO) links work with the MIMO AP?

Thanks in advance,

CT

PD connectors can be seen here http://www.dlink.com.sg/Products/?idproduct=339

 

[sinshiva]

hi, my thoughts are that trying to run your home over wireless will be the epitome of beating your head against the walls.

you're going to split FTTH over wifi? :\

 

[stevech]

Not quite sure I understand, but I too think it's a mistake to use WiFi to connect a (file) server to a home network and to the router.

You can put several APs on different floor - no issue. But the connection from the AP to the router has to be cat5 or IP on power line or MoCA. The latter is the best.

WDS repeaters - no good, unreliable.

Large enterprises use dozens of APs for coverage. All connect via wired means to the router.

And don't cascade a router to another. Make sure it configured to be an AP.