Improve signal strength?

Van Hellseek · 1 Jul 2008 at 18:59

Just moved into a new house. It's got wireless internet but in my room I only get a signal strength of "very low".

Anything I can do to improve it?

tolien · 1 Jul 2008 at 19:02

Wireless internet from what?

Van Hellseek · 1 Jul 2008 at 19:07

No idea. Router of some kind. Would a pic help?

And I've got a USB thing in my PC to pick it up.

Duke · 1 Jul 2008 at 19:11

If its not your router, there may not be much you can do really. If it was, you can swap the antenna and/or change the wireless channel to improve coverage. Also moving it out of a corner or cupboard and putting it somewhere higher helps.

USB dongle probably isn't the best receiver - go for a PCI Card and get a 5dbi antenna.

tolien · 1 Jul 2008 at 19:16

If you could have changed the router and it was connected to cable (or anything else presented over ethernet), something like a WRT54GL would've been an idea too.

Dougiebabe2003 · 2 Jul 2008 at 01:29

Cantenna

I just shoved my Wireless USB Stick near-ish the bottom and it went from one bar to three

I then added a bit of triangle shaped cardboard wrapped in tin foil to the router's antenna and when positioned right I got full signal

Also have a pic of the cardboard tinfoil thing but pics are bad becasue taken with phone cam ages ago

pingwing · 2 Jul 2008 at 01:36

Now thats awesome!

Same thing works with your mobile phone against anything metal, as the metal causes the wavelength to increase helping to improve the signal

postmanfw · 2 Jul 2008 at 01:53

Cheers for the tip

Just moved to a house with solid brick internal walls instead of "lovely" plasterboard....real signal killer. My kids will find it amusing too methinks!!!