How to Extend Wireless Range

Wireless technology has acquired a new meaning in today's world, given the connectivity it provides anywhere and everywhere. You can do all the online work from the cozy confines of your bedroom or attend to important business meetings sitting on the dining table through video conferencing. But doesn't it get irritating if your operating system gives you the message of low signal providing a constant interruption while you are doing some important work? Any new technological advancement comes with its share of pros and cons. We can certainly get the drawback percentage down with small tricks and innovative ideas. So, if you have that nagging network problem, here, I will provide some tips on extending a wireless network range.

How to Extend Wireless Range in the House

Similar to the radio frequency waves, as you go away from the wireless access point (a device that links wired and wireless networks), the signal strength keeps getting weaker, and then there may not be any signal in some parts of the house. If you observe that your internet connection keeps dropping frequently or you cannot access the net from certain parts of your house, you should take the following steps to extend wireless range.

• Make sure the router is placed somewhere near the center of your house, and away from obstructions like thick metal, books or concrete. If it is placed on a table or mounted on the wall, it will help in extending the signal to all parts of the house.
• Confirm that there is not more than one wireless router in the same room as an extra router can interfere with the signal intensity.
• Adjust the orientation of the router's antenna vertically or horizontally to see if the signal is intensified in the angle and direction you want. See to it that the router is in the line of sight of the antenna of your service provider.
• Try changing the antenna and get a stronger one if possible. But since many wireless manufacturers design irreplaceable antenna for routers, it may be difficult to search for an option.
• Choose a channel with minimum interference by switching over and checking the various channels available. If two devices use the same channel, then there's a greater chance of signal distortion. Channel number 1, 6 and 11 are the non-overlapping channels. First use one of these channels for minimal distortion, and if the problem still persists, switch over to another one.
• Buy a wireless signal booster which doesn't just increase wireless signal strength but also filters the unwanted signals, if any. Some of the good ones available are Hawking HiGain Signal Booster version 2 (HSB2) and Argtek Indoor 1W Wireless 802.11b/g Signal Booster.
• For laptops which do not have a built-in wireless networking, replace your adapter with USB wireless network adapter that uses an external antenna. Also, regularly update the laptop drivers to improve the performance and reliability.
• If your network is not secured with a password, there's a huge possibility that your neighbors may be using your network, in turn slowing down your surfing speed. Therefore, properly secure your network from outside usage.
• The best way to extend wireless range is with the help of wireless repeater. It repeats the wireless signal generated by the access point. You can place this device between the router and the laptop so as to boost the signal. Some good repeaters available are Belkin F5D7132 wireless-G universal range extender and Dlink DWL-G710. Nowadays, many manufacturers produce such repeaters, which can act both as an access point and repeater, thus increasing the flexibility. Make sure your router and repeater are from the same vendor for perfect compatibility.
• For better and faster coverage, switch over to the 802.11n wireless equipment from 802.11a or 802.11g, since the raw data rate has been significantly increased from 54 Mb/s-600 Mb/s, and channel width is doubled over the previous versions.

Apart from these given ways, make sure you are not inadvertently using some other wireless network. Also, use a genuine broadband connection from an internet service provider so that the signal will be strong and you can approach their professionals for any kind of difficulty. These simple tips on how to extend wireless range can be used even by people, who do not have the requisite technical background.