4 effective ways to enhance the signal of a Wi-Fi router

Causes of Bad Signal

Before considering ways to amplify the signal, we will talk about the reasons for its fading. The main ones include:

1. The material of the walls. The most common problem is the significant difference in signal levels in different rooms of the apartment with concrete walls.
2. The location of the router. In order for the Wi-Fi signal to be uniform over the entire expected coverage area, you need to place it in a place equidistant from all the far corners of the coverage area. Otherwise, every wall, cabinet, shelf or other piece of furniture will degrade the Wi-Fi signal.
3. Antenna gain In cheap wifi routers, a single antenna with 3 dbi is usually installed - this is a rather weak option.
4. Incorrect router settings.
5. Bad wifi receivers.
6. A lot of networks working in parallel.

How to strengthen Wi-Fi

Now that we already know what leads to a deterioration in the distribution and reception of a wifi signal, let's look at each problem and its solution separately. To strengthen Wi-Fi you need:

1. Find the perfect place to install the router.
2. Set the mode of its operation.
3. Replace antennas with more powerful ones.
4. Install reflectors.
5. Install repeaters or strengthen the network with another router.

The correct location of the router

If you want to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal, before you do something, make sure that you have a correctly located router and minimize sources of interference and reflections. The router should be located so that in each of the rooms a normal signal level is provided.

If you have chosen the best place, but did not get the desired results, pay attention to the recommendations:

1. Microwave ovens, remote controls and other equipment operating at high frequencies, in particular 2.4 GHz. If such equipment is located nearby, transfer either it or the router.
2. Neighboring Wi-Fi. You can slightly improve the situation if you install the router in a place where the signal level is the lowest. You can determine this if you walk around the apartment with a smartphone and pay attention to the signal reception level from neighbors. You need to install the router where all the signals will have the lowest level. The Wifi Analyzer program for Android will help you with this.

We configure the router correctly

Before running to the store for a new antenna, Wi-Fi receiver or router, let's go to the settings and check what parameters are set there.To do this, enter the address of the router in the address bar of the browser, usually it is indicated on the sheet pasted on its bottom. Most often it is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1

First of all, you need to look at the standard in which it works. In different models of Wi-Fi equipment, the settings and web interfaces differ significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Therefore, we will try to give general recommendations.

You need to connect to the router via the web interface and find the list of modes. Their names begin with the numbers 802.11, then the letters go, for example, 802.11b / g / n. To amplify the signal of a Wi-Fi router, you need to select an item with a type name:

802.11n only

There should already be an increase in the Wi-Fi signal.

After that, you can try to increase the transmitter power, for this we are looking in the settings for an item with the name of the type transmit power. It can be indicated either as a percentage, or as:

• High
• Medium
• Low

In any case, you need to set the maximum possible value as a percentage closer to 100% or to High.

We made the basic settings for amplifying the signal. Now check the computer. If you have a laptop, check the power settings. In the power saving mode, the signal amplification from the built-in receiver is reduced, hence there are problems of unstable connection and speed reduction. Set the mode to “normal” or “enhanced performance”.

Duplicate the network

If you need Wi-fi reception for 100 meters or more, then with an ordinary router you will not achieve this. Their coverage range also depends on the number of obstructions, transmitter power and antenna gain. On average, you can count on 30-50 meters. The easiest way to amplify the signal is to install a Wi-Fi repeater. This is a signal repeater that just plugs into a power outlet.

The outlet should be in the area where the signal is not too bad, but not near the router. You can amplify the signal with one or two repeaters, to obtain a larger coverage area. But you need to configure it - select a network and enter a password for it. Such a reception distance is often required in a private house so that there is a signal in the yard.

The second way is to increase coverage with another router. Some models support repeater mode. You can also do this by connecting the first and second routers with a simple network cable with plugs of the rj-45 type, since you would do this when connecting the cable to the network card of the computer.

We upgrade or change the antenna

If the router does not have an antenna, then the only way to amplify it is software, we have already considered the optimal settings. The next option to amplify the Wi-Fi signal is to experiment with antennas.

The experiments may be as follows:

1. Reflect the signal in the desired direction. To do this, you need to make a reflector of a semicircular shape (like a hyperbola). It can be made from aluminum cans or by gluing cardboard over foil. Then you can minimize the problem when part of the signal goes in a useless direction, for example, through a wall to the neighbors.
2. Replace the antenna. Ideally, if the router has two or even three antennas, or at least have a connector for an additional external antenna. Then you just need to buy an antenna with a gain of 5 decibels or more. Some antennas are connected not directly to the router, but through a wire. Then you can install it, for example, on a shelf or in another place higher.
3. If you use the Internet on a laptop, keep in mind that it has a receiver with no external, but with a built-in antenna inside. Then it will help you to strengthen the reception of the USB Wi-Fi adapter. It will be even better if it is with an external removable antenna. Then you can replace it as well as on the router.

If you are a fan of constructing something, then a biquadrat antenna can help to amplify the signal for receiving Wi-Fi at 200 meters, its drawing is shown in the figure below:

And this antenna - a wi-fi gun, will help transmit the Internet for 1 km or more (depends on the installation height and the accuracy of the signal direction). Her developer claims that he was able to achieve acceptance at a distance of 10 km.

Thus, it is possible to organize a connection between houses that are remote from each other, or an apartment and a summer house, for example.

Important! Talking about the range of the antenna is not correct. This figure depends not only on its design, but also on the installation location, the number of obstacles, and, importantly, the antenna of the device that will receive the signal. If in the field an ordinary router with a standard antenna can transmit a signal of 50-100 meters, then in concrete buildings there are communication problems when moving to the next room.

We also recommend watching a useful video on the topic of the article:

We examined the main available methods to organize the amplification of the signal of a Wi-Fi router, as well as increasing the coverage area. If you follow all the recommendations, you will achieve an improvement in the signal, but you need to consider the quality and serviceability of all equipment. For example, if, after all the manipulations done, the signal reception quality on the phone leaves much to be desired, it may be a weak Wi-Fi module and an integrated antenna.

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