Wifi Antennas

[Contreras]

The antenna might look as if it will make a difference but with the same total power output from the device will it really matter?

While the antenna may in theory have more gain, what this really means is that the signal is focused more in a single plane, which may or may not help depending upon the situation.

I brought one. Arial is about 8" compared to 2-3 on router, made no obvious difference. However, it does have about 8' of lead so if I could get it closer without drilling a hole in the wall that might help.

With 8' of cable the additional cable loss is probably enough to cancel out the increased gain of the antenna element, but at least you get to position it optimally.

Cut up an empty coke can cut the top of from one end then feather it (cut it into strip) at the bottom end make a hole and then pass the router antenna through it and fan out the strips.. and you have a DIY extra antenna which should boost signal strength.

Or one of these... about 15 mins construction time and fun too. Worked for me although only saw an extra +5dB (about half what is claimed) :

Ez-10 Corner Reflector Template
Ez-12

It does however assume that the areas of weak signal are all in one direction, which might not be the case if the router is sited in the centre of the house.

[Optimus]

Do these things actually make a difference?

The modem/router has an internal antenna and I am struggling to get a signal in the furthest corners of the south and west wings so considering getting some kind of extra antenna to screw into the back.

The antenna might look as if it will make a difference but with the same total power output from the device will it really matter?

Cut up an empty coke can cut the top of from one end then feather it (cut it into strip) at the bottom end make a hole and then pass the router antenna through it and fan out the strips.. and you have a DIY extra antenna which should boost signal strength.

[stek]

Extend it with another AP and a pair of homeplugs

[Sysman]

I once setup wireless in a castle and the signal would not go through the wall to the next room however when we put the router as high as possible on top of a wardrobe it worked fine

I had the same problem with a building going back to 1450(ish). I went for a router that had 3 aerials and claimed good coverage and stuck it on its own shelf near the ceiling.

I was still getting patchy coverage so installed DD-WRT on it. That proved more stable than the manufacturer's firmware and I could use it to increase the signal too.

P.S. Various jokers kept on telling me to drill a hole in the wall. They hadn't seen how thick the wall was.

[Support Monkey]

I once setup wireless in a castle and the signal would not go through the wall to the next room however when we put the router as high as possible on top of a wardrobe it worked fine

[Support Monkey]

This is all you need, i have one in my office to extend the wired network but it also gives good coverage around the house

Netgear Universal WiFi Range Extender: Amazon.co.uk: Computers & Accessories

[minestrone]

It's a linksys so it is OK but I am sure the internal anntena is probably crap.

I use a wifi extender in another part of the house which will never get the signal (extension the other side of thick sandstone walls) but this time I might just need a bit of a boost as the signal seems to die once you walk pas tthe middle of a few rooms. I can get wifi on one side of my bed but not the other etc.

[Pondlife]

Hopefully not too far off topic...

If I have two wireless routers in different parts of the house, is it possible to use the same SSID and passcode for both so that a device can move to whichever has the stronger signal? Should they use the same or a different channel? The two are connected by plug socket Ethernet connections.

[doomage]

Is it a decent router to begin with? Or just the free one which your broadband supplier provides?

I went and spent about £100 on one of those asus-rt n56 routers earlier this year, best IT expense this year by far.

[doodab]

The important parameter is the gain. There may also be an element of directivity involved.

[xoggoth]

I brought one. Arial is about 8" compared to 2-3 on router, made no obvious difference. However, it does have about 8' of lead so if I could get it closer without drilling a hole in the wall that might help.

[doodab]

They can help. WiFi performance depends on the AP being able to hear the client as well as pumping out signal and the antenna benefits both of those, although obviously it needs to be better (i.e. higher gain) than the one you are using now.

You might also want to scan with something like inssider to see if changing channel might help.

Personally I would consider the repeater / bridge option.

[minestrone]

Do these things actually make a difference?

The modem/router has an internal antenna and I am struggling to get a signal in the furthest corners of the south and west wings so considering getting some kind of extra antenna to screw into the back.

The antenna might look as if it will make a difference but with the same total power output from the device will it really matter?