Wireless Router Range Problems

A router is a device that transfers data between computers in a network. It also facilitates the exchange of data between different computer networks. A wireless router performs the same functions as a normal router, but without any wires. So it can be used for devices like gaming consoles, laptop computers etc. Along with providing the utility of a router, a wireless router also acts as the wireless access point or WAP. Thus it allows wired devices to exchange data with the wireless devices. The process is called wireless networking. Sometimes you may face problems in the range of your wireless router due to various reasons. These problems will reduce the speed of your Internet connection below its actual capacity. You may also face problems in connectivity at different distances from the router. Go through the following tips to get rid of the problems and improve your wireless router range.

Wireless Router Range Issues:

• The easiest way to improve your router range is to place it at the center of your house. This way the range will be well distributed throughout the house. Keeping it anywhere else will result in a weaker signal as you move away from it.
• Position your router away from the walls, floor, metal cabinets, safes, racks, shelves etc. These can meddle with your signal. Especially metal or magnetic objects can reduce the strength of your signal by about 30%.
• If it is just impossible for you to place your router at the center of your house try changing your Wi-Fi antenna. The antenna that comes with the router is designed to equally distribute the signal in all directions, so the strength of the signal is also scattered. But if you use a special type of antenna called the hi-gain antenna you can easily place your router in your room against a wall, because this antenna can direct all the signal strength in one direction thus boosting the signal strength of your wireless router.
• Sometimes the problem is that you receive a strong signal but your laptop's response is slower. For this try using a USB network adapter instead of PC card based network adapter.
• Use a wireless router range extender antenna or a wireless repeater. They provide instant expansion of signal range without having to add any wiring or circuitry. All you have to do is position the extender between your laptop and the wireless access point and your operating area will expand instantly. A wireless signal booster for laptops will give you similar results.
• Go for a different wireless channel to improve your range. Sometimes the channel that you have set or the channel that was your default channel, may be experiencing interference. So go to the configuration page of your router and select a different channel.
• See if you have kept any other wireless devices too close to your router. Cordless phones, radios or even cordless headphones can meddle with the signal and weaken it. This happens because almost all the wireless devices work with radio waves.
• Get all your router and related equipment from a reputed brand as a substandard router may have technical flaws. The quoted capacity of the equipment may also be more than what it can actually handle. Also, even the best wireless router will not guarantee you the best performance if the related equipment is substandard.
• Install the proper drivers for using the router and update your software regularly. Besides, the problem may also be with your laptop or your Internet service provider check for that too.

I hope all your questions regarding wireless router range problems like, how to improve the range for a wireless router or how to increase your router operating area, have been answered satisfactorily. It may not always be a wireless router problem as the signal strength may vary at different times of the day or from provider to provider. So even the fastest wireless router will not give you good signal if the problem is at the provider's end.