Boosting wi-fi signal

[vancouv]

Having moved, my router is now at the other end of the house from the place I normally use my laptop due to the position of the phone socket. Is there something I can get that will boost the signal?

[mixture]

Look into wifi repeaters, or changing the antenna.

[M.Mouse]

ALternatively there are various devices which plug into the mains and utilise the house wiring to carry your network around the house.

Look for Solwise 'Homeplugs' for an example. They are cheap, effective and very simple to use.

[green granite]

Look for Solwise 'Homeplugs' for an example. They are cheap, effective and very simple to use.

And don't conform to the EU EMC laws.

[Mac the Knife]

Easiest is to replace the antenna on your router with a better one.

Something like this - Wireless Router Range Extender (http://www.radiolabs.com/products/antennas/2.4gig/Wibberduck5.php)

Dozens of kinds available.

Mac

[Capetonian]

I solved a similar problem by putting longer ethernet cables and telephone wires from the router to the main PC, allowing me to put the router into the hallway mounted above a door, giving better coverage throughout the rest of the house. From 1/5 strength if I was lucky on the balcony, I now get 3 or 4/5.

[mixture]

I solved a similar problem by putting longer ethernet cables and telephone wires

For your reference, incase you have future projects, all you needed to run was ethernet cables and then all you would need to do is either use appropriate baluns (if you want to keep the structured wiring intact) or hard-wire phone outlets (if you don't care about breaking structured wiring etiquette).

Just don't forget to borrow a proper tester (certifier) if you want to get the most out of your ethernet cabling, although for the average home-user a simple continuity test will probably be sufficient.

[M.Mouse]

And don't conform to the EU EMC laws

In what way is this an issue?

[green granite]

It causes interference across the short wave spectrum making listening to things like the world broadcast stations impossible if there is one near by.

From the Radio Society of Great Britain



The RSGB has fundamental and grave concerns about the decision of Ofcom and the European Union to permit the continued operation of data-over-mains devices (PowerLine Adaptors, or PLA), which provide local Ethernet communication using the house mains wiring. (PLT refers to the more generic description of this technology—PowerLine Telecommunications).

The RSGB is not prepared to allow the HF radio spectrum to be consigned to history, as this spectrum has always provided, and continues to provide, the only means of infrastructure-independent, long-distance point-to-point communications. It is used by broadcasters, who are now rolling out the new DRM digital technology, military, aviation, safety of life, diplomatic/government services, low power devices (including medical) and The Amateur Radio Services. The HF Radio Spectrum is a valuable natural resource, where the proper management of man-made noise through international standards has been achieved over the last half century. The combination of standards requiring low interference from non-radio devices, and disciplined frequency allocation by ITU, has allowed all forms of radio service to co-exist and operate as intended.

This equilibrium is now being severely disturbed by the roll-out of devices which exceed existing standards by a considerable degree over much of the short wave spectrum, and it is this that the RSGB is resolved to reverse.

The EMC Directive of the European Union requires that:

Equipment shall be so designed and manufactured……..to ensure that ……the electromagnetic disturbance generated does not exceed the level above which radio and telecommunications equipment …… cannot be operated as intended (Essential Requirements (1) in Annex 1, relating to Article 5 of the Directive)

Furthermore, although the PLA units, as measured by RSGB and other test houses, are helpfully notched to minimise interference in the amateur frequency bands, they nevertheless produce conducted emissions which will result in interference across much of the rest of the HF Radio Spectrum. The conducted emissions significantly exceed the limits defined in the benchmark relevant international standard CISPR22 (Harmonised EU Standard EN55022).

The RSGB has clear evidence that the use of this equipment is such that it will inevitably cause interference to other radio systems—most notable reception of short-wave broadcasting and DRM. The RSGB contention, therefore, is that not only are the relevant international standards exceeded by up to 1,000 times in terms of the emission of conducted power, but that these emissions inevitably cause radio equipment in the vicinity to fail to ‘function as intended’, contrary to the essential requirement of the EMC Directive.

The RSGB has been in discussion and correspondence with Ofcom, BIS (the Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) and the European Commission over this problem, and these exchanges can be followed in the documents below.

The RSGB position Statement following these meetings and exchanges can be read here.

The Society will continue to seek every avenue to argue the case for restraint and common sense in the deployment of PLA devices until a sensible solution is reached which adequately protects the radio spectrum.



Well you did ask. :p

[dusk2dawn]

On advise from someone here I tested several of the channels in the wi-fi box and found that some channels go further (strange but true).

[Keef]

The range of your WiFi depends in part on who else nearby is on the same or adjacent channels. Use a "sniffer" to find out what else is around, and change your channel to suit. If possible, you want to be at least three channels away from any other WiFi.

I live in a long, thin house with a workshop off one end where I want WiFi. I have two wireless access points, one at each end of the house. The laptop and my iPhone connect to whichever one has the better signal. It works well.

[M.Mouse]

Well you did ask.

I did and thanks for the illumination. On the face of it they appear to be saying the interference caused can disrupt HF radio transmission and reception. I wonder how much of a problem is genuinely created.

They are pretty nifty devices all the same!

[green granite]

I had a neighbour with one 100yds away and it ruined the reception in certain bands, he's moved luckily.

[Mr Optimistic]

just bought a pair of homeplug units, didn't know about the emi issues. Limited to below 7MHz maybe ? The Sony 2010 will be annoyed.

[Booglebox]

Wireless N = more range, also faster for in-the-home stuff (and internet if you are lucky). You can get little USB dongles, expresscard / PCMCIA if your laptop has that, or replace the mini-pci card (you'll only get 150mbps instead of 300 due to lack of second antenna, but this is still an upgrade on wifi-G 54mbps).

Assuming you haven't got it already :}

[Background Noise]

Or run an extension telephone line from the existing socket to somewhere more convenient in the house.

[Mike-Bracknell]

The range of your WiFi depends in part on who else nearby is on the same or adjacent channels. Use a "sniffer" to find out what else is around, and change your channel to suit. If possible, you want to be at least three channels away from any other WiFi.

I live in a long, thin house with a workshop off one end where I want WiFi. I have two wireless access points, one at each end of the house. The laptop and my iPhone connect to whichever one has the better signal. It works well.

Preferably four...

List of WLAN channels - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels)

[42psi]

I use an N1-Mimo modem/router which seems to have good range.

One laptop also uses a N1-Mimo plug in card (running Linux on that one) while the other uses the bog standard built in wi-fi.


Never had a problem yet with range etc.