With the development of wireless technology, Wi-Fi has come into the life of almost every person, and the presence of a wireless network in almost every apartment is already taken for granted. It is worthwhile in a private house to launch a search for wireless networks on any of the devices, and the list will instantly replenish with at least two found. And in an apartment, the number will exceed far 10. For all that, situations often arise in which the coverage area of a wireless router is insufficient. A great many reasons can lead to this, among which the most common one is quite difficult to single out. Most often, a whole combination of factors affects the signal level:
- removal from the source;
- walls (especially supporting);
- interior and floor ceilings (there are most problems with floors: reinforced concrete serves as an excellent screen for radio waves);
- the presence of external interference (neighboring networks, the proximity of power cables, etc.);
- network congestion at once by several connected devices;
- weak router antennas, as well as other reasons.
That is why, after returning home from the store, unpacking, turning on and setting up the long-awaited purchase, many users find that the device cannot provide the required coverage.
As practice shows, replacing the router with a more expensive modification (for example, with a large number of antennas) does not contribute to the solution of the problem. Therefore, it remains to think about how to increase the WiFi signal so that the network is confidently received even in the farthest rooms.
This can be done both using the interface of the router itself, and using additional devices and accessories.
Router setup
You can try to increase the WiFi signal strength in the router configuration by changing the channel, changing the network mode, as well as setting the broadcast power (not available on all models). Despite the apparent inefficiency of these operations, quite often their implementation, it turns out, is quite enough.
Channel change
To a greater extent, this method is relevant for apartment buildings or very dense private buildings, where several routers can function simultaneously within a small space. Its essence is to change the channel that uses the current wireless network. This is done in order to cut off your own network from other users working on the same frequency. Of course, the developers have provided the ability to automatically select the least loaded channel when you turn on or restart the router, but there is no guarantee that after this procedure it will be completely isolated.
Manual blind assignment may also not give results, so for a start you should scan all the networks in your environment using special utilities designed for both PC and mobile devices (for example, inSSIDer or WiFiInfoView). After the exact definition of the least loaded or even free channel, you can assign it to your network. In routers of different manufacturers, this is done in the wireless settings.
Network mode change
Most modern routers are tri-mode, and they broadcast in the universal bgn mode, thereby allowing to interact with the network not only with modern gadgets, but also with devices with WiFi transmitters of previous standards.
As a rule, in the settings of a smartphone, tablet or laptop, you can easily find information about the installed communication module. And if they support the communication standard N, feel free to switch the router to this mode, which can both increase the signal strength of the WiFi router and significantly add speed.
Broadcast Power Setting
Some models have the ability to adjust the broadcast power. Usually it is set to the maximum level, but before proceeding to more radical measures, it still does not hurt to check.
Use of additional funds
You can increase the strength of the WiFi signal using external accessories. These include more powerful antennas, extension cords, as well as special devices - repeaters. In addition, no one bothers to use a router supporting such a function instead.
WiFi antennas
This is the least effective way, because even with the purchase of the most powerful and expensive external antenna, a significant expansion of the coverage area cannot be achieved. Wired antennas could provide the highest result, but users with their help to increase the WiFi signal, as it turned out, were not particularly keen, and largely because of the considerable price. The use of the so-called signal extender, or repeater, is considered more appropriate.
WiFi Repeaters
The most common device class to date. They allow you to both increase the signal of the WiFi router by simply duplicating the mother network, and create a system based on it with completely different parameters, including the channel number, identifier and password.
Most often, such devices are made in a compact case, combining a board, antenna and power supply. At the same time, the network cable may be completely absent: the device is connected to the socket like a night lamp with the help of a plug integrated into the housing.
There are also desktop and wall-mounted devices that resemble a miniature router or a small digital set-top box.
In order to increase the reception of a WiFi signal with the help of a repeater, as a rule, its initial configuration is first required. It is carried out similarly to the first launch of the router - by connecting the LAN cable to the computer and entering the necessary parameters into the device’s web interface (starting system settings, as well as the parent network identifier, encryption key, network name and, accordingly, entering a new password). After completing the settings, the device restarts, disconnects from the computer, after which it can be used.
The main purpose of this group of devices is to increase the level of the WiFi signal, as the name might suggest. However, a significant part of them using an Ethernet cable can be used to connect various wired equipment - desktop PCs, old home theater models, receivers, game consoles, televisions, etc., which can sometimes be very useful.
USB repeaters, which are miniature devices powered by any USB port or mobile phone charger, can also be included in this group. They are used most often when traveling, but as it turned out, to increase the WiFi signal, with their help, many users prefer at home. All thanks to a very attractive price tag with an even higher level of mobility.
Repeater Router
Some models are able to work in network relay mode. And on sale there are pretty good devices that allow you to increase the signal of a WiFi router. As a study of the proposals shows, some of these routers come out at a price slightly more expensive than repeaters. But a considerable number of users simply do not suspect such a function, and therefore they are acquired much less frequently. In order to use such a device as a repeater, you must go to the web interface, find the settings block that is responsible for the device modes, and then activate the desired one. Usually there is no problem with this, because even if there are no instructions at hand, you can easily find it on the Internet.
If there is an old efficient router with the required functionality, then there is no need to purchase a new one. But how to increase the WiFi signal in those cases when the "extra" router is idle, but deprived of the repeater mode? You can find such a device by using it as a wired active antenna. All you need is an Ethernet cable of a certain length and a free outlet in the right place. It is inexpensive, and they will not ask for a lot of money for crimping, but the only inconvenience is laying it around the house or apartment. But now that you can choose from a huge number of mounting brackets, boxes or even skirting boards for hidden wiring, it’s definitely worth it to spend a little time and effort once, and then comfortably access the Internet anywhere in the house from any device.
Features of the location of the repeaters
To increase the reception of WiFi signal on both a laptop and other portable device, the extender must be positioned correctly. Many mistakenly place a repeater on the broadcast boundary of their existing network, thereby hoping to get more coverage. In such cases, the new network, even with the maximum signal level, becomes ineffective: devices successfully connect to it, but the connection speed leaves much to be desired. In this connection to the Internet is often interrupted or absent altogether. Therefore, the repeater should be placed in the zone of reliable reception of the current network, and it is desirable to place the device as high as possible: the lower corner outlet somewhere behind the chest of drawers or the sofa is not the best option, which also negatively affects the broadcasting efficiency.
If another router is used as a repeater, you need to locate it based on the same recommendations.
Change the range of the router
An option that is suitable for residents of multi-storey buildings. And it is associated with the advent of wireless routers operating at a frequency of 5 GHz. Due to the relative novelty of this technology, as well as the rather high cost of the devices supporting it, the standard 802.11 ac is now practically not widespread, therefore such a router will cope with the function of isolating the home network from interference. But the high price of the router itself is not the only drawback: the AC communication standard must also support a network-connected device. Otherwise, the use of an expensive device will not give any advantages: the network will operate in the old range with all the ensuing consequences.
Using improvised tools
How to increase the WiFi signal on a laptop, tablet or smartphone, if you do not want to spend money, but you have plenty of desires and opportunities to do something with your own hands? Basic physics knowledge, as well as an understanding of how WiFi works, can help.
Reflector Installation
The method consists in installing a foil plate or hemisphere from a can behind the router antenna. In this case, the entire antenna performance will be directed in the direction strictly specified by the user, which will allow, albeit slightly, to improve the signal quality. In combination with fine-tuning the router (changing the channel or network mode), this method can lead to a pretty good result.
Creating an external antenna
A more expensive and complex option, since it requires the purchase of at least copper wire and a cable with a connector. We are talking about Harchenko’s antenna, which is known to almost every radio amateur, which can also be successfully used for 2.4 GHz frequencies. It is easy to make it yourself. It will help to significantly improve the quality of your home WiFi network.