I'm thinking of getting a homeplug to boost the connectivity between my dad's PC and the router. The connection gets lost every 5 mins or so, making it impossible to play multiplayer games. I suspect the reason is because the router is about 6m away from the PC, and the connection is also obstructed by about 15cm of concrete wall. Does anyone here use homeplugs for this purpose (improving connectivity)? How useful is it?

-edit- Oops after Googling some, it looks like I wasn't thinking of homeplugs, but access points. Sorry I'm no good with networking hardware.

To add on, I'm definitely looking into wireless stuff. The reason is because there's no way I can improve on wired connection without making the place look like a mess. Right now I'm considering this option:

http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/?categoryid=242&model=TL-WA701ND

But since I want something small, this looks good too:
http://www.aztech.com/prod_lan_wl556e.html

I'll upload a blueprint of the house later.

Before buying anything try to do some tweaking on your current setup:

- Change the wifi channel into the router configuration. Would be best to scan the wifi spectrum in the area for other networks and use a free channel.
- Put the router antenna and the NIC antenna parallel in space (for example both to be vertical).
- Update the NIC drivers to the latest version released by the chip manufacturer.

I have no idea how to do all that :(

If it helps, here are the adapters and router I'm using.

ZyXEL G-202 (my PC, works fine)
Linksys N-Adapter (forgot the model number)
Aztech DSL1015EN (not an international brand I think)

Find a way to login into the Aztech router in order to change the wifi channel. There should be instructions in the user manual how to login.

If you have a phone with android use "wifi analyzer" from android market to scan the wifi spectrum. Choose the channel with the least number of other wifi networks operating on it.
If you don't have access to a wifi scanner just change the channel number and test.

The linksys N-Adapter is USB or internal NIC (with antennas)? Find the model and download the latest driver from linksys.

The Linksys adapter is a USB model. Yup I've already updated the drivers for it.

I'll try the other suggestions then report back.

Any particular reason why you don't want to use Homeplugs (or Ethernet-over-Power)?

Due to building work, one end of my house was connected with a cable wrapped around the ceiling lights in the hallway but when I recently moved the router (to better utilise the wireless) to my living room, it wouldn't reach. We got some EoP adapters that we had in the attic and plugged them in.

Despite a fairly significant speed drop (30mb/s -> 10mb/s on speedtest.net), they have worked fine so far. "Plug and play" and tidy. Not a permanent solution in my case but it may be useful to you.

Another suggestion is to do both. Use some EoP plugs to get a wired connection up and running and then look into the wireless side (if it is faster). If you get that working, you can bond them with the wired being an active-backup (so if you lose one connection, it "fails" to the other seamlessly).

I'm looking at the Advanced settings now in my router setup page. It states Channel in there. How do I know which is the optimal one?

I've been using devolo Homeplugs for a couple of years to connect the 'second' PC to the net.

My eldest uses it for her laptop when home from Uni.

They do say that they shouldnt be used in extension sockets as it degrades the signal.....both of mine are in extensions and the setup is working fine.

For PC use Xirrus WiFi Inspector or
for android phone use WiFi Analyzer app
to determine a free chanel to use in your area.
You should change the chanel anyway and see if you still have connectivity issues.

You have alternatives....
You can use a set of routers that supports a function where they both are wireless but only the first is connected to your ISP plug and the second router is connected wirelessly to the first router by a sort of bridgeing function while the second router still simply just repeats/extends the signal from the first router.

Also you can use a pair of connectors where you pull a wired cable from the router to an adaptor that you put into the electricity socket and pull out the (encrypted) signal from the elctricity net by another adaptor in another room (if such adaptors will work depends on the wireing in your home..).
To the adaptor in the other room you can then connect either a PC or if you wish a "switch" or a "router" and then connect your stuff to that.

I have helped create a network that consists both of Wireless + with wire + adaptors over the electricity net with a switch in the second adaptor end....

The optimal channel is usually the one not in use by others close by or the one used by the fewest close by , so that the Wireless interference on the channel is minimized..
(check which channel that other wireless networks around you uses where you live , it is a typical fault that people just uses the default channel , like everyone else and thus creates a problem for themselves,)

I changed the channel from 1 to 7. I still have no idea what a channel is or what this change entails, but the connection seems to be dropping out/spiking a lot less. In fact, I don't think I've dropped out of a server since I made the change. Thanks guys, you just saved me $50!

Looks like my signal is still dropping out. Not sure what's causing it, but it's extremely annoying. I really need to get the signal fixed up. Any recommendations on what to buy?