Propagating a Signal Through Old Walls?

avjewe asks: "I have a wireless (802.11) network in my 100 year old house. The walls are thick plaster, with enough metal in them to block the signal quite effectively. The floors, however, pass the signal just fine. Does anyone have any experience or suggestions as to how one can propagate a signal through a maze of faraday cages? I recently added an omni-directional antenna which, as one would expect, boosted the signal where I already had one, but didn't help the dead spots."

Comments

Sledgehammer?

[swillden]

I realize it has some downsides from the aesthetic point of view, but, really, what's more important?

Re:Sledgehammer?

[HRbnjR]

As a corollary to this, I would suggest the following:

a) a large drill
b) a large spool of cat 5 cable
c) a crimping tool
d) electrical tape*

* One might incorrectly assume the electrical tape is just for use with the cat 5 cable, when in fact it's primary use is for tying up your wife to keep her from hurting you while you drill cable holes through the living room wall :)

Re:Sledgehammer?

[foidulus]

One might incorrectly assume the electrical tape is just for use with the cat 5 cable, when in fact it's primary use is for tying up your wife to keep her from hurting you while you drill cable holes through the living room wall :)
Make sure to save a little bit for some "fun" with the wife afterwards :P

Try this

[aminorex]

solder one pole of your antenna cable to one end of
the wire mesh behind the plaster, and solder the
other pole to the other end of the mesh. Voila,
what was previously shielding has become your
antenna.