How to Improve the Range of a Wireless Keyboard

You bought and installed your wireless keyboard to make computing more comfortable, efficient and convenient for you. Unfortunately, you may not have the range you were expecting. Well, there is a way to improve the range of your wireless keyboard, and it doesn't take a frustrating call to a virtual help desk to get it done.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• WiFi USB dongle
• Soldering iron and wire
• External antenna
• Screwdriver
• Craft saw

1. Check to see whether your wireless keyboard uses radio signals or infrared signals. Increasing the range is much easier if it uses radio signals, since this allows for the use of an antenna. If your keyboard does not operate by radio signals, you can always try to improve its range by making adjustments to where you place the keyboard and the receiver. For example, try placing the receiving unit on a high shelf.
2. Test the batteries in your keyboard to be sure they're fully charged. Low power can sometimes reduce the range.
3. Remove the cover of the WiFi USB dongle, which can be done by prying it off carefully with a screwdriver. You will see a simple circuit board.
4. Find an external 2.4 GHz antenna, the kind used on many wireless routers. If you're tech savvy, you can remove the antenna from an old router and reuse it. Otherwise, you'll want to order a new one from a site like HyperlinkTech.com, BusinessAssistance.com or WiFi-Link.com (see Resources below).
5. Solder the external antenna to the WiFi USB dongle. The antennae should be attached to the circuit board at the core.
6. Use a craft saw to cut a small hole in the dongle cover to accommodate the antenna.
7. Replace the cover of the USB dongle. It should snap back together.
8. Check out the Volunteer Lab Rat website for photos of the equipment used to increase the range of your wireless keyboard (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• The type of keyboard can make all the difference in the amount of range you have. For instance, keyboards that use radio signals have about 10 times the range of keyboards that use infrared signals.
• You can salvage an external antenna from an Internet access point, such as one manufactured by Linksys.
• Infrared keyboards require line of sight with the receiver, but keyboards with radio signals do not. This is an important consideration when trying to improve the range.
• Do not always expect your wireless keyboard to have the maximum range as indicated by the manufacturer. Range can vary according to equipment and potential for interference of the signal.

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