Boosting Wireless Internet

[motoxer4533]

Hello,

I have a Netgear Wireless Router (108 Mbps) and a Netgear Wireless NIC (also 108 Mbps). However, i have to broadcast from my router to my NIC, which is almost my entire house, and my pc that is wireless has a really bad connection (my online gaming suffers too).

Any ideas on how i can boost the signal?

 

[peterhuang913]

tin foil?

 

[Trotter]

You can get boosting antennae, but they ain't cheap.

You could also get a range extender/bridge, but they ain't cheap, either.

 

[Alvin.C]

Hello,

Try moving your router to a more central location.

And yes, tin foil. It may look tacky but it's cheap and should be effective. Try shaping a piece of tin foil into a parabola, and place it behind the antenna so that the parabolic surface is facing in the direction of your desktop PC.

Of course, this will restrict the wireless range to under 180°, and will only be effective if all the wireless devices that you want to connect to the router are within that range. Still, it should boost signal strength.

 

[ben_ben]

make a pringles can antennae they cost a few dollars and boost signal by about 50% look it up on google you will find many results.
Modified Pringles Can Antenna

 

[motoxer4533]

You can get boosting antennae, but they ain't cheap.

You could also get a range extender/bridge, but they ain't cheap, either.

Trotter, you sound like the only person with a good answer. Do you have any examples of a range extender?

 

[ben_ben]

mine is a range extender by 50%+ lol and its cost about 3 dollars to make instead of 50-250$ to buy

 

[motoxer4533]

so ben_ben... how did you make it?

 

[ZenOswyn]

It's not an easy process, but it's pretty fun.

I recommend checking out this oreilly article on how to do it.

 

[Trotter]

Newegg.com - SMC SMC2870W 54Mbps Wireless Ethernet Bridge - Retail

Newegg.com - EDIMAX EW-7206APG Wireless LAN Access Point - Retail

Newegg.com - ENCORE ENRXWI-G 54Mbps Wireless Access Point - Retail