View Full Version : How to get a good Wifi signal?
Hi was wondering if someone can help me.
My Router is plugged in direct to my main PC and then i have a wireless card for my laptop. Now i tried using my laptop in my garden about 50 feet or so from where i use my laptop mainly (living room) and it would not pick up a signal. Now what are my choices here to get wireless internet in my garden?
The my pc is in my Study and is next door to my living room so about 10 feet away from the router so it's a total of 60 feet or so away from the router.
JonNuttNTL
20-04-2006, 20:44
How many walls between the router and the garden as too many will kill the signal.....
One option is to setup a repeater or access point to extend the signal.
Alternatively try a mains network to extend range even further although not sure if it would work in your case.....
Novatech (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://computerequipment.at/thedvdforums?DURL=http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?ngr-xe102&P36=3M43QX)
Jon.
Hi was wondering if someone can help me.
My Router is plugged in direct to my main PC and then i have a wireless card for my laptop. Now i tried using my laptop in my garden about 50 feet or so from where i use my laptop mainly (living room) and it would not pick up a signal. Now what are my choices here to get wireless internet in my garden?
The my pc is in my Study and is next door to my living room so about 10 feet away from the router so it's a total of 60 feet or so away from the router.
What's the type of wireless standard?
You might need to consider something newer. Wireless doesn't like walls (which is why your neighbour over the fence might pick it up but you can't 2 rooms away) so the closer you can get your router (I assume that's what you have) to the most used wireless area the better. The router can be anywhere as long as it's close to a decent phone point. No need to have it next to your PC.
ArthurDent
20-04-2006, 21:45
Which router have you got?
Can you add an antenna? http://www.solwise.co.uk/wireless-indoorantenna-24.htm
Got the linksys that was on offer in pcworld a few months back, will get model number shortly. So how will my main pc pick up a signal if it's not plugged into the back of it.
Walls about 5 in total. There is 1 wall between the LR and DR.
So how will my main pc pick up a signal if it's not plugged into the back of it.
I meant the PC doesn't have to be anywhere near the router ie you can use an extended CAT5 cable (same as you presently have but longer) which allows you to position the router in the best place in your house.
talksalot81
21-04-2006, 10:19
I have terrible trouble with wireless routers. First machine was a good netgear.... it barely extended 20 feet which I had assumed to be the walls. Got a d-link just for a change and the same problem yet at the same time my neighbours get a machine which I can access just as easily as my own (yet theirs is 3 times as far away). I think wireless signal falls under the regime of black magic.
Where can one find a 'repeater' as this might help solve my issues?
JonNuttNTL
21-04-2006, 11:55
MS have a page up where there are some links....
MS (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesstips.mspx)
Jon.
I have terrible trouble with wireless routers. First machine was a good netgear.... it barely extended 20 feet which I had assumed to be the walls. Got a d-link just for a change and the same problem yet at the same time my neighbours get a machine which I can access just as easily as my own (yet theirs is 3 times as far away). I think wireless signal falls under the regime of black magic.
Where can one find a 'repeater' as this might help solve my issues?
Herbal, also meant to say if you don't want to run a long cable just add a wireless dongle to your PC (£13-£15) or a PCI WLAN. You'll still have your PC next to the router on setting it up (you've already done that of course) but then you'll move the PC to where you want in the house (basically treating it like a wireless laptop).
I thought your post said "How to get a good Wife, I'm single" at first glance.
Turns out to be something completely different.
simonbenn
21-04-2006, 15:08
I have terrible trouble with wireless routers. First machine was a good netgear.... it barely extended 20 feet which I had assumed to be the walls. Got a d-link just for a change and the same problem yet at the same time my neighbours get a machine which I can access just as easily as my own (yet theirs is 3 times as far away). I think wireless signal falls under the regime of black magic.
Where can one find a 'repeater' as this might help solve my issues?
You're right in that it is black magic..... Tips for you: put the router on a windowsill if possible, or high up above head high. Make sure the antenna is vertical. Try not to put the router near any thick walls, microwave ovens or DECT phones, or switched high power sources like a boiler. You can get great results by making a ghetto parabolic antenna out of foil backed cardboard (sort of thing they use for takeaway curry lids)
Loads of this stuff about: http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/
Simon
if the router uses detachable antennas, a couple of new ones will do wonders - i recently swapped out a standard antenna on a pci card for a 5db gain item and signal strength improved massively. i was going to do the same for my 3com router, but alas the antennas are hard-wired. a new antenna shouldn't be more than about £7
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