How to Boost Wireless LAN Signals
Wireless local area networks or WLANs are quickly becoming a popular way to connect multiple computers in the same vicinity to the Internet with wireless or wifi signals. Using wireless Internet requires that a computer have a wireless adapter card that can interpret wireless signals. Just like radio waves and over-the-air TV waves, wireless Internet signal strength can vary. If signal strengths are weak, your connection speed might be slow or your connectivity may become intermittent.
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Instructions
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Reposition the wireless router to a central location that is approximately equidistant from all computers that are connecting to it. The further your router is from the computers, the weaker the signal will be.
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Sit near the router when using laptop computers on your WLAN to connect to the Internet wirelessly. This will ensure that the signal doesn't receive much outside interference.
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Try a different wireless channel. Routers can run on several different wireless channels similar to the signal frequencies of radio stations. If your router is near another wireless device running on the same channel, they may interfere with one another. To change this setting, log into your router by opening a browser and typing your router's IP address into the address bar. Look for a drop-down menu for wireless channels under your basic wireless options. (Consult your router's user manual to find the IP address and for exact instructions for changing your wireless channel. Every router is a little bit different.)
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Upgrade the firmware for the router and your wireless adapter card's drivers. New firmware for routers can usually be downloaded from the website of the router's manufacturer. Wireless adapter card drivers can be found at the website of the manufacturer of the card. For wireless cards, simply run the driver install file to upgrade. For router firmware, log into your router by opening a browser and typing in your router's IP address, and then use your router's administrative console to instruct it to upgrade firmware. (Again check your user manual for exact instructions for upgrading firmware.)
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Use hardware from the same manufacturer. Networking hardware tends to work best if you use routers and wireless adapters that are produced by the same company.
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Put a wireless repeater between your computer and your router. A wireless repeater is a device that takes in wireless signals and sends them back out, extending the effective range of a network. Placing a wireless repeater at a point about halfway between your router and computer can significantly boost signal strength.
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Tips & Warnings
Replacing an old wireless router or an old wireless network card in your computer can help boost the strength of wireless signals.
Using a superior wireless technology can increase signal speed. Wireless N is faster than G, while N and G are faster than wireless B.
