Wi-Fi wireless is a truly fantastic bit of technology that we would be very much lost without. Allowing us to surf the internet from pretty much any room in our home we would be somewhat lost without it.
One of the biggest problems with wireless Wi-Fi is the range that it is capable of transmitting and also the fact that if your computer or laptop has a weak or poor system then the rate at which data can be transferred decreases substantially and can often lead to your wireless connection dropping altogether.
If you find that in certain rooms of your home your wireless signal is poor or weak and operates slowly then you may be able to speed up your wireless Wi-Fi by simply boosting your wireless signal.
This may sound like it could be a complicated task that only a computer wizard could perform but there are actually a few simple tricks that you can use which will more often than not improve and boost your wireless Wi-Fi signal.
Centralise Your Wireless Wi-Fi Router.
Your wireless Wi-Fi router and its antenna are designed so that it transmits in every direction imaginable. This means that if you place your wireless router at the edge of your house then you have effectively halved the strength of its signal. Half the signal is coming in to your house while the other half is drifting off to your neighbours or outside.
Where possible try to locate your wireless router so that it is in a centralised location within your home. It is also always best to try and locate your wireless router upstairs rather than downstairs as having it located higher up allows the Wi-Fi signal to spread out easier and further.
Replace the Router Antenna.
If you did not already know this, the antenna on the rear of your wireless Wi-Fi router can easily be replaced simply by screwing off the original and then screwing a new one on in its place. The standard antenna that is supplied with your wireless Wi-Fi router is rather limited in its range and is designed to transmit signal in every direction.
If you replace the antenna on your wireless router try to choose a high gain antenna and one that also allows you to direct which way the signal is transmitted. Amazon has a good selection of replacement high gain antennas
Add A Wireless Repeater.
One of the easiest ways to boost, extend and strengthen your wireless Wi-Fi signal is through the use of a wireless repeater. A Wireless repeater simply picks up your existing Wi-Fi signal from your router then transmits it again so the range is extended and the signal is strengthened. You usually place a wireless repeater half way between your computer and your wireless router.
The best choice and most reliable of wireless repeaters are a Linksys Wireless N Repeater
Change The Wireless Wi-Fi Channel.
Most wireless Wi-Fi routers will have an option where you can change which channel that they transmit on. If you are having problems it may be because the channel that your wireless Wi-Fi router is operating happens to pick up various bits of interference so try it on a different channel. In a lot of cases simply changing the channel of your router can make a huge difference to the strength of your wireless Wi-Fi signal.
You can change the Wi-Fi channel by simply accessing your router’s setting in a web browser. The most common router manufactures can be accessed with the following :-
- 3Com – 192.168.1.1
- D-Link – 192.168.0.1
- Netgear -192.168.0.1
- Linksys – 192.168.1.1
Remove Obstructions.
If you find that your wireless Wi-Fi signal is weak and needs boosting try moving it away from any obstructions. Obstructions are things like metal filing cabinets which can cause problems. It is also a good idea to try where possible to move your wireless Wi-Fi router away from walls, ceilings and off the floor. All of these have been known to obstruct and damping your Wi-Fi signal.
Try to Use One Manufacturer.
It is more than possible to use components from different companies in your wireless Wi-Fi network and in most cases this can be done with little to no problems.
Having said that, it is always going to be more reliable if all of the components in your network are from the same manufacturer. If all of your components are from the same manufacturer and of the same brand then at least you know you are not going to run into any incompatibility problems. In some situations it is just a simple fact that components of the same brand always work better together rather than mixing and matching.
Reduce Wireless Wi-Fi Interference.
The most common of Wi-Fi frequencies is known as 802.11g (wireless G) which operates on 2.4 GHz. The reason why many people have a lot of trouble with wireless Wi-Fi is because household electrical items such as microwaves, baby monitors, hair dryers and the like also operate on and disrupt the 2.4GHz waveband. If you have other electrical items operating in your house then your computer or laptop can find it difficult to hear what is coming from your router.
One solution is to try and buy only electrical appliances that do not use wireless G or the 2.4GHz frequency band. Try to buy electricals which work on either 5.8 GHz or 900MHz where possible.
Obviously this is not always possible so it may be an idea to upgrade your wireless Wi-Fi to what is known as wireless N (802.11n). Wireless N operates on 2.4GHz and 5GHz so you can select whichever gives you the least interference.
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