How to improve wireless signal

chrissss

chrissss

chrissss

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Joined
31 Oct 2007
Posts
514
Location
Luxembourg
I got an external USB Wifi connector today, but the signal is bad. my laptop gets a way better signal from the same distance. I only get about 25% signal it says, and the distance to the router is 10 meters ( and 2 thick walls)

What can I do?

Its a D-link USB wifi
 
There are a few things you can try:
- Get a USB extension cable so that you can point that wifi connector towards the router (some antennas are directional)
- Upgrade firmware on router with custom firmware allowing you to boost the signal
- Remove 3rd party wireless management software from your PC and let Windows handle it.
 
Get a couple of homeplugs and use those, if you really want wireless, get two homeplugs and a wireless access point/router and put that in the room you typically use. Alternatively use the homeplugs to move the existing wireless router closer to where you want wireless or more central in the house.

It's unlikely you'll get any improved signal strength by mucking about with firmware and software, if you can't plug an external aerial of some kind in it's probably giving you as good a signal as you'll ever get.

Lastly, move the wireless router you have away from any power cables (other than it's own) and don't hide it in a cupboard etc.
 
To echo what has been said above,

Try moving the USB adapter further away or around by using an extension cable. Slight movement can actually make all the difference with those things.
 
I didnt know Homeplugs existed :O

I would not have bothered if I knew that worked.

so you plug it in both places, connect with a calbe, and amazing stable internet? :O
sounds like the best invention ever
 
chrissss said:
I didnt know Homeplugs existed :O

I would not have bothered if I knew that worked.

so you plug it in both places, connect with a calbe, and amazing stable internet? :O
sounds like the best invention ever
Click to expand...

Pretty much, plug in and turn on, pair them up (takes all of pressing a button on each one usually) and that's you, instant network.

I use them in my 3 story ex-council house, we had dodgy wiring due to the loft conversion etc and I still get 140mb up on the top floor from the ground on 200mb homeplugs. It'll vary but I doubt there's many houses with cabling as bad as ours :D
 
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