You can extend the wifi range of your wireless network if you experiment with various techniques. Because there are so many variables involved with consumer WiFi, you will need to experiment to determine what works best with your scenario, the structure of your home and the equipment you use. All of those things play a roll in the range of your network as well as its reliability. While we always try to find the cheapest solution, you may find additional equipment is necessary to achieve your wireless goals.
Tips For Increasing The WiFi Distance
Centralize your router. This is one of the easiest things you can do to gain maximum coverage area for your WiFi network. Normal WiFi antennas emit signal outward in all directions. If your router is situated near a wall in the corner of the house, much of the signal is being absorbed by the wall behind it and leaking outside. If you place the router in the center of the living area, you will extend the range to all usable areas of your house.
Purchase a high gain antenna. If your router has a detachable antenna, you should be able to add a high gain antenna. These types of antennas are more directional than your standard antenna and allow you to focus your WiFi signal toward an access point or your computer. You can also make these, which are often referred to as “cantennas,” but you’ll probably have better results if you purchase one. High gain antennas are a great way to shoot the WiFi signal across a house or even a yard. But in order to achieve maximum range, you should have line of site to the target.
Add a WiFi Repeater. You can add a Wireless Access Point (WAP) to considerably extend the range of your wireless network. These are often referred to as “repeaters” or “extenders.” Depending on the size of your home or office, usually one repeater will be enough to cover the entire area. You will want to place the repeated as far as you can away from the router without losing more than twenty percent of the signal. The WAP will then reconstitute the signal pass it along to any devices within its range. Here is an example of a WiFi Extender Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G.
Change the wireless frequency in the router. If you do not get the results you want by moving the router, you can try changing the frequency the router uses to broadcast the signal. You only need to do this in the router itself, as the wireless devices should recognize the new signal automatically. All makes and models of routers have different menus, but all you need to do is login to your router through your web browser and look in the wireless settings. Experiment and see if changing the frequency helps.
Buy a new 802.11n router. The latest wireless standard is 802.11n. It uses Multiple-Input Multiple-Output channels and has nearly double the range of a wireless-g. Here is an example of a Wireless N router: Cisco-Linksys WRT160N Wireless-N Broadband Router
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