How Can I Boost the Range of Reception for Wireless Internet?

You'll need to take several smaller steps to boost your wireless range.

Setting up a wireless network at home can be a tricky proposition. Although wireless networking hardware has come a long way in streamlining the initial setup process for the end-user, dealing with all of the little quirks that come along with wireless networking following the initial setup can be frustrating. There is no "catch all" fix for boosting reception on a wifi network but you can try several things to help your wifi network run more smoothly.

Things You'll Need

• Wireless router hardware
• Additional Ethernet cabling (optional)
• Extra mounting hardware (optional)
• High gain antenna (optional)
• Updated router firmware (optional)

Instructions

1. Move your wireless router to a central location in your home. Determine which room is the most evenly spaced between all of your wifi enabled computers and move your router to the center, or near the center of that room. You may need to run extra Ethernet cabling to move your router. Be sure to mount the router as high up off of the ground as possible and away from any large, metal objects like filing cabinets or refrigerators.

2. Replace your router's default antenna with a high-gain antenna. Each router manufacturer makes their own additional antennas, so consult their website for details on where to buy a high gain antenna and how much it will cost. Be sure to follow the installation instructions that come with the antenna. You can also purchase high-gain antennas for the wireless adapter inside of your desktop computer. Consult your adapter manufacturer's website for details.

3. Add a wireless repeater to your network. A repeater wireless amplifies or "repeats" the wifi signal being broadcast from your original router. Repeaters come in all shapes and sizes as well as network protocols. As a rule of thumb, buy a repeater that's compatible with your type of network (802.11a/b/g/n). Place the repeater at the halfway point between the original wireless router and the computer(s) having signal strength issues.

4. Remove any wireless interference. "Noise" from other wireless devices (most notably cordless landline phones that run on the 2.4ghz spectrum) can wreak havoc on a wireless network. Move the cordless phones or other devices as far away from your router and wifi enabled computers as possible.

5. Update your router's firmware. Update methods vary from router to router but in general, you'll need to point your web browser at the router manufacturer's website. Locate the "Support" section and choose your router's model. Locate the "Firmware Downloads" page and download the latest firmware to your desktop. Look for a "Readme or Instructions" file within the download package for specific instructions as to how to flash your router's firmware.

Tips & Warnings

• Wireless interference can really hinder a wireless network. Make sure you don't keep any other wireless devices near your networking hardware if you're having issues.

References

• Microsoft: 10 Tips For Improving Your Wireless Network
• Voip-Sol: 10 Ways To Boost Your Wifi Signal