# Another WIFI question. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 17, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735 "2009-08-17T16:11:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/1 "2009-08-17T16:11:36Z")
> [@What ACTUALLY Works?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actually-works/506326/3): > > Just recently, I ordered two of these: [Actiontec MegaPlug 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QGBC8C/ref=ox_ya_oh_product). Basically, they’re ethernet adapters that use your household circuitry instead of wires or a wireless network. > > Within three minutes of opening the box, my computers were transferring files nine times faster than the best rate I could get over my wireless router, without having to run wires between the various rooms in my house. > > I was dubious, but I’m a convert now. > [@What ACTUALLY Works?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-actually-works/506326/44): > > I live in an apartment building and get a low but usable wifi signal from the manager’s office router. Is Actiontec for me? That’s my question. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/2 "2009-08-17T16:14:23Z")
If you are not an authorized user of the apartment manager’s wifi, you could probably get in trouble for using that signal. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/3 "2009-08-17T16:24:00Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > If you are not an authorized user of the apartment manager’s wifi, you could probably get in trouble for using that signal. Invited and authorized ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/4 "2009-08-17T16:41:06Z")
Well that will depend. You are probably not on the same circuit as your apartment manager. And even if you were, how far are you from his office? (and we are talking in terms of how long the most direct run of electrical wiring is–not a direct line) My gut reaction is to say no, it’s not for you. It might be, but the chances are pretty slim. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/5 "2009-08-17T17:01:01Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > Well that will depend. You are probably not on the same circuit as your apartment manager. And even if you were, how far are you from his office? \*\*(and we are talking in terms of how long the most direct run of electrical wiring is–not a direct line) > \*\* > My gut reaction is to say no, it’s not for you. It might be, but the chances are pretty slim. [emphasis mine] I live on the third floor, the office is on the first. I get a nominal 2 bars, my neighbor across the hall is right over the office gets a full 5 bars. Short of looking over the electrical plan of the building (and _that’s_ not going to happen), I guess I’ll pass. Does anyone know of a powered (battery/AC) WIFI signal amp. I’m going to start googling. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/6 "2009-08-17T17:29:10Z")
What are you trying to accomplish? Even the lowest wifi signal has more bandwidth than most internet connections. Powerline networking is nice when you have to move large files between two computers on the LAN, not the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/7 "2009-08-17T18:11:00Z")
> [@IAmNotSpartacus](#): > > Well that will depend. You are probably not on the same circuit as your apartment manager. And even if you were, how far are you from his office? (and we are talking in terms of how long the most direct run of electrical wiring is–not a direct line) > . I wouldn’t be so quick to say no here. You can very well be on the same circuit but not on the same ciruit **breakers**. It depends if you’re feeding off the same 2 lines coming into the building. Certainly it’s coming off the same transformer unless it’s a huge building. Unfortunately, the test for this is the cost of the router adapter. And if I’m thinking this through correctly, it’s the office manager’s computer that has to have this adapter set up installed. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/8 "2009-08-17T18:17:12Z")
> [@HorseloverFat](#): > > What are you trying to accomplish? Even the lowest wifi signal has more bandwidth than most internet connections. Powerline networking is nice when you have to move large files between two computers on the LAN, not the internet. I just want to boost the signal. I’ve ordered [this](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GQLLSW/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=304485901&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000KU7T7W&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1N16ZVA0A1KM7FPZP555). For $10 including shipping, what the heck. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/9 "2009-08-17T21:32:58Z")
The more splices and such that the signal has to pass through, the worse the signal will be. If your signal is passing through a breaker box, it will be degraded, though possibly still usable. The length of wire, as well as the number and type of devices running off the circuits, will also play a role. I have a pair of Linksys adapters that I use to extend my network; the sender is plugged into my bedroom, and gets the signal from my router via cat-5, and the receiver/wireless AP is plugged into my living room. It has its own SSID so that my computers don’t get confused. The signal’s quality seems to vary greatly, even though the strength is always high. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-wifi-question/506735/10 "2009-08-17T22:27:38Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > The more splices and such that the signal has to pass through, the worse the signal will be. If your signal is passing through a breaker box, it will be degraded, though possibly still usable. The length of wire, as well as the number and type of devices running off the circuits, will also play a role. There is no “splicing” involved with a signal passing through a common box of breakers. They are all connected to the same 2 lines. Internet service through AC lines is superior to that of cable so I’m not sure where a transformer fits in with process but certainly a common buss is represents consistent service.