Do you want to collect a long-range WiFi antenna, then you should know about some of its features.
The first and simplest: large antennas of 15 or 20 dBi (isotropic decibels) are the maximum power, and there is no need to make them even more powerful.
Here is a clear illustration of how, as the antenna power in dBi increases, its coverage area decreases.
It turns out that as the antenna’s operating distance increases, its coverage area decreases significantly. At home, you will have to constantly catch a narrow band of signal coverage if the WiFi emitter is too powerful. Get up from the couch or lie down on the floor, and the connection will immediately disappear.
That's why home routers have conventional 2 dBi antennas that radiate in all directions - so they are most effective over short distances.
Directed
9 dBi antennas only work in a given direction (directional) - they are useless in a room, they are better used for long-distance communications, in the yard, in the garage next to the house. The directional antenna will need to be adjusted during installation to transmit a clear signal in the desired direction.
Now to the question of carrier frequency. Which antenna will work better at long range, 2.4 or 5 GHz?
Now there are new routers operating at double the frequency of 5 GHz. These routers are still new and are good for high-speed data transfer. But the 5 GHz signal is not very good for long distances, as it fades faster than 2.4 GHz.
Therefore, old 2.4 GHz routers will work better in long-range mode than new high-speed 5 GHz ones.
Drawing of a double homemade biquadrat
The first examples of homemade WiFi signal distributors appeared back in 2005.
The best of them are biquadrate designs, providing amplification up to 11–12 dBi, and double biquadrate, which have several best result at 14 dBi.
According to usage experience, the biquadrate design is more suitable as a multifunctional emitter. Indeed, the advantage of this antenna is that with the inevitable compression of the radiation field, the signal opening angle remains wide enough to cover the entire area of the apartment when installed correctly.
All possible versions of a biquad antenna are easy to implement. 
Required Parts
- Metal reflector-piece of foil-textolite 123x123 mm, foil sheet, CD, DVD compact disc, aluminum lid from a tea can.
- Copper wire with a cross section of 2.5 mm2.
- A piece of coaxial cable, preferably with a characteristic impedance of 50 Ohms.
- Plastic tubes - can be cut from a ballpoint pen, felt-tip pen, marker.
- A little hot glue.
- N-type connector - useful for conveniently connecting an antenna.
For the 2.4 GHz frequency at which the transmitter is planned to be used, the ideal biquadrate size would be 30.5 mm. But still, we are not making a satellite dish, so some deviations in the size of the active element - 30–31 mm - are acceptable.
The issue of wire thickness also needs to be considered carefully. Taking into account the selected frequency of 2.4 GHz, a copper core must be found with a thickness of exactly 1.8 mm (section 2.5 mm2).
From the edge of the wire we measure a distance of 29 mm to the bend.
We make the next bend, checking the outer size of 30–31 mm.
We make the next inward bends at a distance of 29 mm.
We check the most important parameter of the finished biquadrat -31 mm along the center line.
We solder the places for future fastening of the coaxial cable leads.
Reflector
The main task of the iron screen behind the emitter is to reflect electromagnetic waves. Correctly reflected waves will superimpose their amplitudes on the vibrations just released active element. The resulting amplifying interference will make it possible to propagate electromagnetic waves as far as possible from the antenna.
To achieve useful interference, the emitter must be positioned at a distance that is a multiple of a quarter of the wavelength from the reflector.
Distance from emitter to reflector for biquad and double biquad antennas we find lambda / 10 - determined by the features of this design / 4.
Lambda is a wavelength equal to the speed of light in m/s divided by the frequency in Hz.
Wavelength at a frequency of 2.4 GHz is 0.125 m.
Increasing the calculated value five times, we get optimal distance - 15.625 mm.
Reflector size affects the antenna gain in dBi. Optimal sizes biquad screen - 123x123 mm or more, only in this case can a gain of 12 dBi be achieved.
The sizes of CDs and DVDs are clearly not enough for complete reflection, so biquad antennas built on them have a gain of only 8 dBi.
Below is an example of using a tea jar lid as a reflector. The size of such a screen is also not enough, the antenna gain is less than expected.
Reflector shape should only be flat. Also try to find plates that are as smooth as possible. Bends and scratches on the screen lead to the dispersion of high-frequency waves due to disruption of reflection in a given direction.
In the example discussed above, the sides on the lid are clearly unnecessary - they reduce the signal opening angle and create scattered interference.
Once the reflector plate is ready, you have two ways to assemble the emitter on it.
- Install the copper tube using soldering.
To fix the double biquadrat, it was necessary to additionally make two stands from a ballpoint pen.
- Secure everything to the plastic tube using hot glue.
We take a plastic box for discs for 25 pieces.
Cut off the central pin, leaving a height of 18 mm.
Use a file or file to cut four slots in the plastic pin.
We align the slots to the same depth
We install the homemade frame on the spindle, check that its edges are at the same height from the bottom of the box - about 16 mm.
Solder the cable leads to the emitter frame.
Taking a glue gun, we attach the CD to the bottom of the plastic box.
We continue to work with a glue gun and fix the emitter frame on the spindle.
We fix the cable on the back of the box with hot glue.
Connecting to a router
Those who have experience can easily solder to the contact pads on the circuit board inside the router.
Otherwise, be careful, thin tracks may come off printed circuit board during long-term heating with a soldering iron.
You can connect to an already soldered piece of cable from a native antenna via an SMA connector. You shouldn't have any problems purchasing any other N-type RF connector from your local electronics store.
Antenna tests
Tests have shown that an ideal biquad gives a gain of about 11–12 dBi, and this is up to 4 km of directional signal.
The CD antenna gives 8 dBi, since it can pick up a WiFi signal at a distance of 2 km.
Double biquadrate provides 14 dBi - slightly more than 6 km.
The opening angle of antennas with a square emitter is about 60 degrees, which is quite enough for the yard of a private house.
About the range of Wi-Fi antennas
From a native router antenna of 2 dBi, a 2.4 GHz signal of the 802.11n standard can spread over 400 meters within line of sight. Signals of 2.4 GHz, old standards 802.11b, 802.11g, travel worse, having half the range compared to 802.11n.
Considering a WiFi antenna to be an isotropic emitter - an ideal source that distributes electromagnetic energy evenly in all directions, you can be guided by the logarithmic formula for converting dBi to power gain.
Isotropic decibel (dBi) is the antenna gain, determined as the ratio of the amplified electromagnetic signal to its original value multiplied by ten.
AdBi = 10lg(A1/A0)
Conversion of dBi antennas into power gain.
| A,dBi | 30 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| A1/A0 | 1000 | 100 | ≈64 | ≈40 | ≈32 | ≈25 | ≈20 | ≈16 | 10 | ≈8 | ≈4 | ≈3.2 | ≈2 | ≈1.6 | ≈1.26 |
Judging by the table, it is easy to conclude that a directional WiFi transmitter with a maximum permissible power of 20 dBi can distribute a signal over a distance of 25 km in the absence of obstacles.
The modern Internet provides a wealth of advice on how to strengthen the signal of a Wi-Fi network. But the disadvantage of many articles is that helpful information hides behind mountains of recommendations that are not related to the given problem or have a meaning, but completely indirect. As a result, the user tries to increase the scope Wi-Fi signal using settings that cannot be used to solve such problems. They are simply useless for the network, and even more so for the radius of its activity.
Updated and larger instructions: .
The task of strengthening the signal of a Wi-Fi network involves influencing changes in its coverage radius and distance Wi-Fi work. You can often encounter a problem when it is impossible to use Wi-Fi in the back rooms of your home, although the router has been restored and no problems with its operation have been identified. There may also be inconvenience if it is possible wireless transmission data on different floors of the same room.
Factors affecting the distribution area of a Wi-Fi signal
What does the radius depend on? Wi-Fi actions networks? There are many answers to this seemingly simple question. The following factors play an important role in the distribution area of the Wi-Fi network:
- Number and power of router antennas;
- Thickness of the walls in the room;
- Quantity wireless systems transmission of data located nearby;
- Location peripheral device providing access to the Internet;
- Other interference.
Often, when purchasing a router, buyers ask to choose a device that will provide a stable signal for a home with a different number of rooms or a private house. But it is impossible to advise anything specific in such cases, since many conditions need to be studied. The area of the room may be the only factor that you should pay attention to when buying a router. For an apartment with one room, the option of inexpensive equipment with one antenna with a power of 3 dBi would be quite suitable. To provide a Wi-Fi network signal to rooms with a fairly large area, you need to take into account other characteristics of the router. At the same time, the price factor should not be taken as the basis for purchasing the necessary equipment. For comparison, the device has a number of advantages: multiple antennas, a function to increase the radius of Wi-Fi activity from Asus. But if you use it along with another model, less expensive, at the same distance, the result of its work is not much different from a router model with a price several times less. Despite the fact that the latter option is equipped with antennas located inside the device.
Changing hardware settings to improve wireless Wi-Fi signal strength
If you have and install equipment for accessing the Internet in a residential or office space, you can try to independently influence the signal strength of the wireless data network. The following tips will help you do this. First you need to decide on a way to solve the problem:
- Reconfigure the router to strengthen the signal
- Resort to additional devices or devices
Searching and changing the channel on the router
Step #1: search and change channel on the router. Influence at active work your network may be affected by networks that are used by your neighbors. They provide heavy load to the channel on which the operation of your network depends. Is this possible to find out if the device installed in your premises sees the neighbors available networks to connect.
There is no way around this without experimentation. There are several options in this case:
- Set up any statistical channel
- Select channel Auto
- Taking advantage additional program select a free channel
What you choose must be fixed in the settings of the data transfer device (router).
There is no point in focusing on the instructions for replacing and installing the frequency range in this article. The easiest way is to use this useful article. It contains information about the essence of the channel and the method of finding an unloaded one. For routers various models the frequency range is changed according to a certain technique.
Network transition to 802.11N
Step #2: We switch our network to 802.11N operating mode. b/g/n (11bgn mixed) mode is standard setting for wireless network operation. For routers with more than one antenna, you can force it to change. The choice in favor of 802.11N is characterized by new advantages of the router: improved Wi-Fi broadcasting, increased speed and expanded coverage area.
In the tab that opens, find the item Wireless mode and set the command only in N mode ( N only).
Below the described technique is clearly displayed using the example of an Asus router.
The stage ends by saving the settings and completely rebooting the device. If problems are detected while connecting the router, you must return to mixed operating mode.
Transmission Power Test
Step #3: We check the transmission power in the router settings. You can set the power of the Wi-Fi network yourself. Unfortunately, this option is not available for all devices and serves mainly to reduce power, but it is still worth paying attention to this fact.
For equipment from the manufacturer Asus, you need to use the tab with the item Wireless Network - Professional. At the bottom there is the following: “ Tx power transmission power control. The power indicator is adjusted by a scale with a unit of measurement - percentage. Visually it looks like this:
For Tp-Link routers changing parameters occurs using Wireless — Wireless Advanced. To determine the signal strength parameters, there is a point Transmit Power. The maximum power is indicated by the word High. 
Additional devices to increase the active coverage area of the wireless network
- Installation repeater, or setting up a second router in amplifier mode.
This method differs from all others in its particular reliability and efficiency. But, along with this, it requires additional material costs for the purchase of a repeater. This device amplifies the signal and is installed in a place where Wi-Fi can still be detected, but its signal is already quite weak. It works on the principle of a repeater and transmits the network signal further. In the article, you can get acquainted with this small device in detail.
To perform repeater functions, you can use additional routers from manufacturers ZyXEL and Asus. It is possible to set the repeater mode in them, guided by the following methods:
- Changing the router antennas to more powerful ones.
Using this method, the coverage of the Wi-Fi network can be increased, but only slightly. The result of changing antennas is not effective. Moreover, as in the first case, it requires additional investments. Yes, the price of removable antennas for a router is not that high, but is it worth spending money if it won’t do any good?
If you decide to change antennas, then you need to take the most powerful ones.
- Buying a new router, switching to 5 GHz.
Since most routers operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, the device has an operating range of 5 GHz. will be operated much more efficiently. This is explained by the comparative freedom of this range and the absence of numerous interferences. As a result of this, an increase in speed and an expansion of the range of the wireless network.
You resort to switching to another band and purchasing a new router when the signal of your network is influenced by various other networks. Problems with low speed, constant “glitches” and loss of access can be solved by purchasing a new expensive router with a 5 GHz operating range.
Tip 1. Select the correct location for your router. It’s worth taking this advice, because most people have a router installed either in remote rooms or in the hallway. You should not expect efficient wireless network operation as a result.
The best place to place the router would be in the center of your home or office, and you should also be aware that walls interfere with the Wi-Fi network signal.
Tip 2. Homemade amplifiers For Wi-Fi antennas. The device can be made using available materials. Foil and tin are suitable for this. Many articles by folk craftsmen repeat this. In practice, you can place foil or a tin near the router so that the signal seems to bounce back and change direction, but this is not very effective. Moreover, from an aesthetic point of view, such a solution does not look very good.
"We have already created a fast, hacker-proof wireless network. It's time to increase its range.
Wireless networks of IEEE-802.11 standards are becoming increasingly widespread. However, many users and system administrators face problems covering their office or home with reliable communication. The worse the signal reception quality on the client’s computer, the lower the speed the connection will be established. This means that you completely lose speed, which could be higher. Another problem is providing stable communication to users at a great distance from the access point. In both cases, before system administrator or a home user will have a very specific task: they need to make sure that the signal is received more confidently and at the highest possible level. It would seem that for this it is enough just to find network adapter or an access point with increased power - and the problem will be solved. But in the case of wireless networks, we are dealing with radio broadcasts, the use of which is strictly regulated by the laws of the relevant countries. Here in Russia, a frequency range of 2400 - 2483.5 MHz has been defined for wireless networks, in which transmitters with a power of no more than 100 mW can operate. If you exceed the power, you can meet friendly inspectors from Gossvyaznadzor. I suspect that you will not want to get acquainted with them, but will want to increase the range of your wireless network in other ways. There are two such ways. The first is to install repeaters that will repeat your signal over some distance, creating a corridor for your wireless network. An access point in “Repeater” mode can also work as a repeater. This is not always convenient, because... Often it is not possible to supply power to the repeater, and it is quite expensive. Another method is easier to implement - you only need a special Wi-Fi antenna. We will now talk about what types of Wi-Fi antennas there are and which one you need.
How does an antenna amplify?
It is a mistake to assume that a transmitting antenna can amplify the signal. When transmitting a signal, a conventional passive antenna only directs the spectrum in a certain direction and, due to its area, provides more reliable reception. The antenna works like a light reflector in flashlights. It directs the spectrum in a given direction. For example, you need to cover a large room with a confident signal. A simple solution would be to place the access point in the center of the room, but unfortunately this may be due to technical difficulties. It is much easier to install an access point in one of the corners of the room and send the signal to the opposite corner. To do this, you will need a directional antenna that will not send the signal to the wall behind it, where no one will need it, but will distribute the spectrum over the area with greater efficiency.
However, one of the main characteristics of an antenna is its gain, expressed in decibels. The gain of such an antenna is the ratio of the signal power emitted in a certain direction to the signal power emitted by an ideal omnidirectional antenna. It should be noted that the gain characterizes the directionality of the signal, and not the increase in output power relative to the input (as the name might suggest), therefore this parameter often also called the directional coefficient. This parameter is directly related to the antenna radiation pattern.
Any pin omnidirectional antenna can be made into a directional one, for which it is enough to install a reflective screen. For this, either a sheet of foil or a simple tin can will do. But this is unethical, unaesthetic and not ideal. The industry today produces enough antennas for various applications in wireless networks. Let's consider Various types antennas using the example of equipment from the German company Level One.
So, it's time to increase the range of your wireless network. To install wireless networks, we used equipment from a German manufacturer, Level One. This equipment is distinguished by the fact that it comes with convenient utilities that allow the user to easily configure all WLAN parameters. Horses are not changed at the crossing, which means we will choose antennas from the assortment of the Level One company. Well, let's recall our test configuration.
Personal Computer. To avoid possible problems, we used a computer built on the barebone platform Shuttle SB75G2, a stable platform that has proven itself to be the best in terms of absence of interference.
Test computer configuration:
- CPU Intel Pentium 2.8 (800 MHz, Hyper-Threading, 512 Kb L2)
- Hard drive - Maxtor DiamondMax 9, 80 Gb, 7200 rpm
- Video card - Albatron GeForce FX 5700
- Operating system - Windows XP Pro + Service Pack 2
This computer was equipped with 1024 MB of DDR400 memory manufactured by OCZ.
OCZ DDR400 memory PC3200 Titanium series has CL 2-3-2-5 timings and provides us maximum performance ().
Laptop IRu Novia 3331W Combo. You can read the review of this laptop. This mobile computer, built on the Centrino platform, already has a built-in IEEE 802.11g Wi-Fi controller.
Level One WNC-0300 network card
USB controller Level One WNC-0301USB.
Access point WAP-0004
Antennas for indoor and outdoor use
You may need antennas for outdoor or indoor installations. It all depends on your requirements. Of course, if there is a need to cover your yard or the area in front of the office, you will need an antenna to external installation. Such antennas have a strong waterproof housing, protected from bad weather, gusts of wind and temperature changes. Such antennas have powerful brackets for mounting on masts or brackets and strong closed contacts.
Internal antennas are not protected from water, tea and coffee. They are compactly installed next to your monitor, on a bedside table or on the system unit. Such antennas are extremely convenient if your system unit stands under the table, where a significant part of the signal from the antenna of the built-in network controller will be damped. To increase the speed of the wireless network, lost due to poor signal quality, such an antenna must be installed at least on a desktop or mounted on a wall.
Directional antenna
This is perhaps the most common type of Wi-Fi antenna. Such antennas, as we have already said, are excellent for organizing a point-to-point network. If your computer must connect only to an access point or to another computer, use a directional antenna. In an office or at home, you can use this antenna to “break through” impenetrable walls, send a signal from a printer to a computer, or extend Wi-Fi to the garden of your summer cottage.
For outdoor installation, Level One offers the WAN-2118 Yagi antenna. This cylindrical antenna with a diameter of 89 mm and a length of 1000 mm is guided by its longitudinal axis like a pointing finger. The gain of Level One WAN-2118 is 18 dB.
The manufacturer promises reliable reception at a speed of 1 Mbit/s at a distance of up to 5 km, and at a speed of 54 Mbit/s - up to 1.5 km. Of course, such distances are not needed in an office, and tall employees will constantly bang their heads on such a meter-long antenna. Yagi antennas are usually very directional and are only suitable for connecting two stations or increasing the range of two connected stations. And don’t expect that with this antenna you will be able to connect the entire neighboring house.
For indoor use, it is more practical to use a panel-type antenna. Simply put, it is a flat rectangle emitting radio waves in one direction. The Level One WAN-1060 directional antenna has a gain of 6 dB and dimensions of 115x76x76 mm.
This gain will allow you to operate the network at a speed of 1 Mbit/s at a distance of up to 60 meters, and at a maximum speed of 54 Mbit/s at a distance of 25 meters.
If you can’t decide where to install the antenna, outside or inside the building, then feel free to buy the Level One WAN-2085 antenna. This is a universal directional antenna designed for both indoor and outdoor installation. Its dimensions, 120x120x43 mm, allow it to be installed both in a small meeting room and on the balcony of a house. And its gain is quite good - 8.5 dB.
With it, you can count on a confident 1 Mbit/s at a distance of 1200 m, and 54 Mbit/s if you do not move further than 350 meters.
Directional antennas are an ideal option for connecting two points over a wireless Wi-Fi network. For example, you and your friend live in neighboring houses, the windows of which look at each other. To connect via a wireless network, you will need two directional antennas pointing directly at each other.
The distance over which the signal can be transmitted depends only on the gain of your antenna. Some enthusiasts were able to transmit a signal for several tens of kilometers, so it would be much easier for two houses within sight to connect via Wi-Fi.
Omni-directional antennas
Omnidirectional antennas are the main type of antennas used in wireless networking equipment. Omnidirectional antennas evenly cover the territory throughout the entire range. If you have a Wi-Fi printer installed in your office that you are going to give access to to all guests with laptops, who may be in a meeting room, reception area, dining room or anywhere else, the printer should have an omnidirectional antenna installed. At the same time, if you want to install on the roof Wi-Fi at home transmitter, to give access to the network to neighboring houses, garages and summer gazebos, you need just such an antenna.
Typically, omnidirectional antennas are a pole mounted vertically. This pin propagates the signal in a plane perpendicular to its axis. So-called vertical omnidirectional antennas. Compared to directional ones, they have a significantly lower gain. A living example of this is the Level One OAN-2080.
The gain of this antenna is 8 dB, diameter is 19 mm, length is 520 mm. It is convenient to place such an antenna on a mast on the roof of a house or car. With its help, you can work with a wireless network at a speed of 1 Mbit or 54 Mbit at a distance of up to 1800 meters or up to 600 meters, respectively. For indoor use, Level One offers a more compact antenna of the same type.
The OAN-1040 desktop antenna is made in the form of a kind of obelisk with a transparent stand. This antenna has a gain of 4 dB and almost perfect horizontal polarization.
As you can see in the diagram, the signal is evenly distributed around the antenna in the horizontal plane. The relatively large dimensions of the antenna (145x22x12 mm) promise to work with the network at a speed of 1 Mbit/s at a distance of up to 170 meters, and at a speed of 54 Mbit/s - up to 55 meters.
Another type of omnidirectional antennas is ceiling antennas. These are internal antennas suspended from the ceiling for better coverage of the entire room. They are conveniently placed in large halls in the center of the room. Such antennas must propagate the signal in two planes - horizontal and vertical. With the horizontal, everything is clear - the spectrum here is an almost perfect circle. But with the vertical the situation is a little different. The antenna is designed to broadcast from top to bottom, so the most high level the signal will be achieved in the direction of 45 degrees from the horizontal plane of the antenna. Consequently, the gain of such an antenna is indicated not by one number, but by the minimum and maximum values.
The Level One OAN-1030 antenna has a gain of 2.5 to 3.7 dB. Below is a rather boring photo of this lamp-like antenna and an interesting vertical polarization diagram.
As you can see, it is better not to stand vertically, strictly under this antenna; the dead zone directly under it can be large. Well, if you can position yourself at an angle of 45 degrees to this antenna at a distance of 120 meters, you can operate at speeds of up to 1 Mbit/s. And at a distance of 40 meters - up to 54 Mbit/s. Keep in mind that this is the line-of-sight distance, do not forget to calculate the height of the gimbal and the distance you will move away from the antenna on the ground. The diameter of this antenna is 132 mm, height is 42 mm.
Which antenna to choose?
It is quite obvious that you should choose an antenna based on your conditions and the tasks that you assign to the wireless network. In a small office or apartment, a regular built-in antenna will be enough for you wireless adapters and access points. But if you want a larger range and work at high speeds over a long distance, you will have to install an antenna.
In order to provide the showroom with reliable reception right up to the back rows, it would be advisable to install omni-directional antennas, which can be placed under the ceiling or on the podium. An antenna with a gain of even 4 dB is quite enough for an audience of 400-500 people. For a large hangar, it will be convenient to hang a suspended omnidirectional antenna from the ceiling, which will cover a large area even with a gain of 2.5 to 3.7 dB. If you need all your neighbors at your dachas to be able to work with your wireless network, or if you want to move away from your dacha into nature and access the network there using a PDA, you will need an omnidirectional antenna mounted on a mast on the roof of the house.
Well, if you need to “break through” a wall from laser printer to the server, a directional indoor antenna will suit you. It can also connect two servers in different wings of the building. You can also take a directional powerful antenna for indoor use if you are going to connect non-adjacent rooms and need to concentrate the signal in one direction. Or if you want to install a network between two houses whose windows face each other: just put these antennas on the window sills and point them at each other.
An outdoor directional antenna is useful for connecting two houses at different ends of a holiday village with a wireless network. Or in order to extend a wireless network to a remote site.
When choosing an antenna, try to find out its vertical and horizontal polarization diagram. It will show how the antenna propagates the signal in the vertical and horizontal planes and you can calculate dead zones and areas of poor reception based on the position of the antenna in your office or home.
And finally, don’t forget to ground the antennas. To do this, a special connector must be supplied with the antenna, which is connected to the slot between the antenna cable and the network equipment. A lightning discharge in close proximity to an antenna can damage network equipment. This is especially true for external antennas. Connect the supplied connector and ground its special contact - and forget about the problems. Good network coverage to you!
We thank the company "SVEGA Computer", official distributor Level One in Russia for the provided network equipment.
- The laptop "IRu Novia 3331W Combo" was provided by Metak-M.
- Barebone platform "Shuttle SB75G2" provided by "Club Multimedia" company
- Memory "OCZ PC3200 Titanium" provided by SVEGA Computer
Mikhail Degtyarev (aka LIKE OFF)
21/07.2005
A weak signal from a home router in an urban environment is no longer news, but every active network user has faced the question of how to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal of a home router. There are several reasons for such problems with reception, these are: malfunctions of the device itself, interference created by other electrical appliances operating in the house, and other reasons. It should be recalled that there are no less ways to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal on a router; the services of a specialist are not needed.
Often the router's transmitter power is adversely affected electrical devices, located nearby. A noticeable impact is exerted, for example, microwaves, Cell phones with powerful electromagnetic radiation. Boost signal wifi router It’s simple if you place the equipment away from each other.
The router needs an open space that is freely accessible, not behind a closet or sofa. If for some reason the microwave is located close to the router, you need to strengthen the signal using a second router (additional). It's a win-win.
Strengthening the signal in the router settings
In most cases, this, of course, does not solve the problem, and the signal is still rather weak. The ability to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal of your router is in the device and its settings. The signal of insufficient strength is “designed” in the default home router settings; this happens due to the reluctance of users to change them individually for themselves. I often don’t want to tinker with the settings, read anything, or delve into the process. Therein lies the problem. Neighbors living across the wall think the same thing, and their devices located nearby operate at the same frequency, which leads to system slowdown.
Increasing the router's transmission power
You can improve a weak signal by increasing the transmit power of your home router. True, regulators are not installed on all devices and it is recommended to do this only if other methods do not help. Uncontrolled intervention in the system may damage or overheat the device. Therefore, before resorting to this method, you should carefully read the instructions (after all, read them), remember that the power indicator should not exceed 45 mW. And improve the signal strength as follows:
- In the settings, open the “Advanced network settings” section.
- Go to the perimeter Wireless Transmit Power – “Transmission power”.
- Values are expressed either in “%”, or High – high, Medium – average, Low – low.
- In the first case, you need to increase it to the maximum: 100%.
- In the second, select “High” and set the value to “20”.
Changing the channel to free
It is also possible to strengthen a weak Wi-Fi signal by switching to a free transmission channel. If the router is configured by default, there is a high probability that no actions were applied to the neighbors in this direction. This is one of the most common reasons for slow network speed. Being on the same channel with devices located nearby, its radius is significantly reduced. In order to increase communication speed, it is recommended to select several options for changing the channel:
- In the network settings, set the router to “Auto mode”.
- In the same settings, set one of the static channels.
- Use programs like inSSIDer or Acrylic that monitor free channels.
Changing the router broadcast mode
How to strengthen a weak signal from a wi-fi router in the settings is not so difficult to figure out. All that is needed is to change the existing standard of wireless networks, which usually operate in b/g/n mode. The new devices are configured according to the modern standard – 802.11ac, which is considered the most advanced. However, the outdated 802.11n is capable of increasing both the transmission speed and the network coverage range. But this won't work if wireless router only one antenna, or it does not support these standards.
Switching the network to the new-old mode is simple:
- Go to the settings at the router address: 192.168.1.1.
- Open the Wireless section – “Wireless network.
- Go to Mode – “Wireless Network Mode.”
- In it, select the value N only – Save – “Save”.
- All that remains is to reboot.
Strengthening with additional devices
You can strengthen the router's signal by taking advantage of the capabilities of other devices specially created for this purpose. Additional antennas, amplifiers, and adapters will help to significantly increase the range and range if your home router has USB ports. Often these options are more effective than other means, especially in the case of outdated wireless devices.
Replacing the Standard Antenna
If the router has a removable antenna, replace it with a more powerful one. Although slightly, the range of the network increases. This is of course not the best option. The effect of such changes is insignificant, but when other methods do not help, this one becomes an alternative.
One of best antennas for wi-fi routers, TP-Link is considered: high-quality and relatively inexpensive. But not suitable for all devices of this type. For the result to be noticeable, you need to choose an antenna that has a gain of at least 8 dBi.
Installing another antenna or even two will help strengthen the router’s wi-fi signal, but this is only possible if the device itself supports them.
Installing a wi-fi amplifier (booster)
Strengthening the signal of a home router is possible using repeaters such as Range Extender Booster. This good amplifiers“Wi-Fi” signals with superior antenna capabilities, but are cheaper. Other benefits of the booster:
- Suitable for all broadcast mode standards.
- Improves and expands the signal up to the edge of the coverage area.
- Supports the power of wireless devices from 2.4 GHz.
- Boosts transmission speed up to a maximum of 300 Mbps.
- Stable, safe to use.
Repeater installation
Repeater (repeater) is another signal amplifier, similar in principle to a booster, but much inferior to it. The repeater is capable of significantly increasing the signal, but this is where its capabilities end. And the booster, in addition, is able to expand the reception range. By the way, there is no need to buy this device; another router can act as such a repeater.
There are other ways to boost the signal. This may be possible using laptop settings or using improvised means or making an antenna yourself. It is possible to amplify a router without an antenna if you follow simple rules:
- Set it high.
- Do not place near flat metal objects.
- Avoid radio interference.
Setting up the receiver on a laptop or computer
Few people have thought about how to strengthen the signal wi-fi reception on a personal laptop and is this even possible? The solution to a problem, unnoticed by anyone, often lies on the surface. Often, users put their laptop into power saving mode to save battery power. At home, this is of no use, since the beech can be easily connected to the power supply at any time, but wi-fi networks this results in a significant “loss”, hence the weak signal. To strengthen it, just change the power settings: 
- Open "Control Panel".
- Go to the “Electrical control” section.
- Select "High Performance".
Homemade antennas
How to slightly strengthen the signal of a wi-fi router with your own hands, without resorting to standard means, many people know. What is typical is that the methods work. Increasing the range of the device is possible thanks to the manufacture of unique repeaters wifi repeater with your own hands. This does not require anything special: the manufacturing scheme is quite simple. You need to take a piece of foil or cut an empty tin can, give it a curved shape and install it behind the router, preferably near the wall, artificially creating a directed wave. By reducing the angle, the waves are reflected from the surface of the improvised antenna, the signal is slightly amplified.
Replacing the router
If none of the suggestions help, then the problem lies in the device itself. In this case, there is only one thing left: replacing the wireless router.
Actually, after this, problems are eliminated provided that users do not skimp on the purchase, otherwise they will again have to look for the cause from the outside or do “handicrafts.” It is better to purchase a modern Wi-Fi router that supports operation at a frequency of 5 GHz, then you can forget about a weak signal once and for all.
Conclusion
Strengthening the signal of a router in an apartment with your own hands is an activity that does not require any special knowledge. You just need to delve into these recommendations and it will become clear that doing this at home is as easy as shelling pears.
Running around your apartment looking for a Wi-Fi signal is not a pleasant experience. We will tell you in our article what impairs data transmission from a router and how to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal in an apartment using software and technical methods.
What affects the strength of a Wi-Fi signal?
Wireless digital streaming technology, commonly referred to as Wi-Fi, was invented in 1991. Today we give it preference even when the device has a LAN port. But the problem is that the router’s coverage area is often insufficient, and there are places in the house where the signal does not reach.
The term “Wi-Fi” was originally coined as a play on words to attract the consumer’s attention with a “hint” of Hi-Fi (English: “High Fidelity”). Although some WECA press releases initially included the phrase “Wireless Fidelity,” this moment This formulation was abandoned, and the term “Wi-Fi” is not deciphered in any way. Wikipedia
The following can extinguish the Wi-Fi signal in an apartment:
- walls. Plasterboard covering, partitions made of aerated concrete and foam blocks are a significant barrier to the path of radio waves. If the wall is cast from concrete and reinforced with metal reinforcement, the signal is shielded and loses strength. Mirrors, aquariums and stained glass have the same effect;
- Appliances. Devices whose operating principle is based on radio wave radiation (microwave ovens, cordless phones, radios, etc.) can distort the Wi-Fi signal;
- nearby access points. Clogged channels negatively affect data transfer speeds.
Try to minimize the influence of the above factors, this will help to some extent strengthen the Wi-Fi signal in the apartment. The location of the router is also an important point. It should be in the center, then the coverage area will be maximum.
Ways to boost the signal using settings
If you are unhappy with the signal quality, do not rush to purchase additional devices. Your wireless network may not be configured correctly. Therefore, check the options listed below and change the settings if necessary.
Frequency Match
Often there are several wireless networks in a house, the frequency channels of which may coincide. As a result, the quality of data transmission even over short distances deteriorates significantly. Therefore, you should check and reconfigure the channel. Install the inSSIDer program on a computer that has a Wi-Fi adapter, open it and in the table that appears on the screen, look at which frequency channels the nearest wireless network(Column “Chanel”).
Having found out which channels remain free (usually used from 1 to 13), retune yours, following the instructions:
Low router power
A low-power transmitter on a router can also degrade signal quality. In advanced network settings, this setting is called Wireless Transmit Power. Opposite it you need to set the maximum power (in some models it is indicated as a percentage, in some - in words indicating low, medium and high power) and press the save button.
Wireless standard
The 802.11n standard can provide maximum coverage today. To reconfigure the network to it, select Wireless Mode in the web interface settings in the Wireless menu and select 802.11n in the column opposite. Then save, reboot and reconnect the device. Required condition - this standard must be supported by both the router and the computer.
frequency range
Some modern models routers are dual-band, i.e. they can operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Switching to 5 GHz will provide better signal quality because it will not interfere with radio waves emitted by other household appliances (they operate at a lower frequency).
Ways to boost the signal using devices
You can also make a number of technical improvements to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal in your apartment.
Antenna modification
The first way is to strengthen the antenna. Some “kulibins” try to do this using improvised means - foil or tin cans. In the video you can see the principle of manufacturing such “amplifiers”:
However, according to those who have already tried this method, you will not get a noticeable effect. It’s better to replace the antenna with a more powerful one: you’ll have to pay about $8, but the coverage area will increase significantly (provided that an 8dBi device is installed in place of the 2-3dBi antenna).
Repeater installation
The repeater is capable of significantly expanding the signal propagation radius.
GSM repeater is a repeater and amplifier of radio communication signals, designed to locally expand its coverage area. It is a complex active radio-electronic device that operates complete with antennas and radio frequency cables. Wikipedia
Outwardly, it resembles a small power supply that plugs into an outlet. This device costs about $25, but you are guaranteed to be able to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal in your apartment.
Are you going on vacation to Crimea and want to know where the nearest Wi-Fi points are located? Find their list in the material “Wi-Fi points of Crimea”.
Take it for yourself and tell your friends!
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