Can we increase our wireless routers range ?

bloodnok

We have a Belkin N wireless router but the walls of our house are stone and 2 feet thick in most parts and the signal on my daughters laptop is quite weak in her bedroom..............Is there any way the range can be increased by adding a bigger aerial or something. ( Sorry I'm an OAP technophobe ) so that the reception could be made better?
Thanks

posted_2

Move it, or adjust the aerial

bloodnok

Thanks, we've moved the router around to the extent of its cables and pointed the aerials in all different directions and put it on the window cill next to the glass but no difference I'm afraid..............Can't afford a new router as we thought this would do the trick..............Thought we could add something to the antenna perhaps !.........................Can't move main computer or her bedroom unfortunately !!
Thanks

posted_2

If it is on a different floor, have you tried making the aerial(s) horizontal, or angled. The best solution is to somehow move it nearer to the recipient, with longer leads etc. Changing channel can sometimes help

bloodnok

I'll try that in the morning, but I think I've tried the antennas in every conceivable config.........thanks

macman

Try changing to a different channel on the router.
Or with some routers you can fit a higher gain antennae if it is the screw on type-you didn't specify which Belkin you are using.
Or use a longer ethernet cable/phone cable to get the router to a better position (usually higher up and away from other objects is best).
If the laptop is using a wireless USB adaptor rather than built in wi-fi, fit an short USB extender cable to get the adaptor higher up.

uktyler

You could try a bigger aerial on your router, there are plenty on Ebay, or alternatively one of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hawking-Wireless-G-Range-Extender-HWREG1_W0QQitemZ250400651473QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Networking_SM?hash=item250400651473&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1690|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

There are cheaper versions availabe on Ebay as well.

kwikbreaks

This may do the trick and will cost pennies...

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html

Note that this makes the antenna directional and could reduce the signal at other points

Stubert

You can buy these things on amazon, which just plug into a wall socket and somehow they carry the signal around the house through the wiring... No idea how they work or cost now though.

macman

Stubert wrote: »

You can buy these things on amazon, which just plug into a wall socket and somehow they carry the signal around the house through the wiring... No idea how they work or cost now though.

Home Plug system. But worth trying some of the cheaper options suggested first.