How to strengthen the signal of a Wi-Fi network? Increase Wi-Fi range. How to strengthen a WiFi antenna. How to boost WiFi antenna signal
Another simple way to amplify the signal of your wifi router a laptop or computer without spending a dime. The story will be about how to make a do-it-yourself attachment to an existing antenna, with which you can significantly increase the signal level, and therefore the range and coverage of the Wi-Fi signal.
What do we need
From the materials for the nozzle:- Foam plastic substrate - food packaging. You can use any other material or a sheet of cardboard.
- thick copper wire. Small cut.
- Scissors.
- Ballpoint pen or pencil.
- Vernier caliper or regular ruler.
- Wire cutters.
All dimensions are in millimeters. The idea is this: a long piece of foam substrate is mounted on the antenna, into which copper pieces are inserted. This creates antenna directivity and signal concentration in one direction.
Above are the distances between the copper segments. And below is the length of each copper piece.
I took this pallet, in which dates or greens are often sold.
A piece of thick copper wire 0.8-0.9 mm in diameter. You can try with a thicker one.
We mark the lining with a caliper and set the points with a pen where the antenna from the router will be inserted.
Draw the cut lines.
Cut out the guide with ordinary scissors.
We look at the drawing and decide where and how long the segment will be inserted.
We cut the wire with wire cutters to the appropriate length.
We insert pieces of wire into the guide. If desired, you can fix them with hot glue so that they do not fly out.
Our nozzle-amplifier is ready for testing.
We turn on the laptop, run the program that scans the level of signal reception. Let's wait a bit to notice the level of initial reception. Then we put the nozzle on the Wi-Fi antenna, direct it to the router and immediately see an increase in power and signal level.
To check, we remove the nozzle from the antenna and immediately see the signal drop to the initial level.
We dress again and again we see an increase. Everything works great.
I put the nozzle on the adapter module WiFi connected to a laptop. If you want to significantly increase the reception distance, then you need to put such a nozzle on the antenna of your distributing router. Two Wi-Fi antennas pointing at each other will work just fine.
This is so simple and effective way make life easier in a few minutes. Now in my gazebo in the garden there are no problems with the Internet, and most importantly, I didn’t have to buy anything. And we all know perfectly well how much expensive antennas or routers for remote points and objects cost now. See you again.
The number of wi-fi access points, as well as users wireless internet is growing and now many of them are increasingly concerned about the quality of communication. One of the most critical issues- what is the coverage area of routers and what affects this indicator.
Content:
To answer the question, you can consider one of the router communication standards - 802.11n. The maximum achievable declared transfer rate of devices of this type is from 150 Mbps to 300 Mbps. Accordingly, the possible coverage area for this speed is about 100 meters. The indicator can reach up to 300 meters if the space is open. For example, the radius wifi actions tp link router in open space with these indicators - 150 meters. If the space is closed, then the range is 50 meters.
Approximately the same range wifi router asus. Such figures are declared by manufacturers and are theoretical. In practice, these figures are slightly less. Effective method determining the real coverage area - walk with the connected device around the room and track the presence of a signal.
The range of a wifi router can be artificially increased or decreased by several factors:
- Location of access point and router. The device emits a signal omnidirectionally, which means that its waves will move in all directions equally. Based on this feature, the best option placement of the router - the center of the room.
- The materials from which the coverings and walls are made. The greatest difficulty for radio waves is the passage through drywall, reinforced concrete structures.
- Finding nearby devices that clog the air. If there is, for example, an overall radio antenna next to the router, even behind a wall, it will certainly provoke interference and poor quality of the router. Televisions, microwave ovens, devices with electric motors have no less detrimental effect on work.
- Lots of wireless channels. If the neighbors on the landing and on the nearest floors have Wifi, the reception speed will be low. You can check for connections in your device settings under Wi-Fi - Connections. If the list consists of more than 13 names, this will negatively affect the quality. The problem can be solved only with the use of equipment operating in the 5GHz band.
- characteristics of the device itself. The range is affected by the type of antennas of the router, the power of the transmitter.
Device for home use with fundamental differences in power from others is quite difficult to find, but the antennas differ from each other in their quality. Routers from the low price category work with antennas with a gain of 2dbi. Such a model is more suitable for a small one-room apartment. More serious areas are served by routers with powerful antennas around 5dbi. Some devices work with only one antenna, which makes coverage even weaker.
Advice: There are a few simple ways increase the coverage area of the router without additional equipment and changing device settings. For this you need:
- install the antennas in a vertical position;
- put the router as close to the center as possible or further from interference;
- replace the antenna with a more powerful one;
- use a device with the new 802.11 AC$ standard;
- use models with support for two bands - 2.4-5 GHz.
3 routers with long Wi-Fi range
- Netgear Wndr4500. The router has a huge speed, reaching 900 Mbps. The device is equipped with six internal antennas, allowing you to easily download megabytes of data. It uses a powerful processor at a frequency of 600 MHz. There are additional transceivers that improve signal reception.
- TP-Link TL-WR2543ND. The device can operate in two frequency bands and is equipped with three antennas that can be rotated 360 degrees. The device works reliably anywhere in the apartment.
- ZyXEL KeeneticGiga2. The antennas of the device receive a signal at a speed of 300 Mbps. Thanks to external buttons, the router can be quickly reprogrammed. The high-frequency processor (700 MHz) provides a stable signal quality from anywhere in the apartment.
How to increase wifi range in router settings
Due to your own router settings, you can figure out how to increase the range of wifi. To do this, you need to choose the optimal radio channel and thereby increase the coverage area. The setup process can be considered on the example of any model of the popular manufacturer D-Link - DIR-300 NRU.
Action algorithm:
- Go to the settings section. To get to this section, you need to enter the IP address of the device in the browser line. After clicking on the address, an electronic form will appear where you need to enter your username and password. Tip: IP-address, login and password for device settings should be viewed on the router case.
- Select the section located on the left side - Wireless Setup.
- Activate Manual Wireless Connection Setup to change the Wi-Fi setup method.
- In Wireless Network Settings, find the line Wireless Channel and select a channel.
- Activate Save Settings to confirm the changes made.
- Reboot your device and reconnect to Wi-Fi.
We increase wi-fi coverage with the help of special devices
You can expand the coverage area using special, third-party devices. The choice of a specific method depends on the situation, sometimes a combination of methods is required.
What methods can be used:
- Change router antennas. The easiest way to improve signal quality. If the device has removable antennas, there is nothing easier than simply replacing them with more powerful analogues. More directional antennas can also be used. If the antenna works in a particular direction, it will be able to transmit over an impressive distance.
- The use of a wireless repeater. Special devices can be connected to the network and expanded with their antennas. The repeater can be used in the room with the worst signal.
Purchasing a Wi-Fi router allows you to create a wireless zone home internet, "untying" laptops, smartphones and tablets from a cable connection. However, the standard value of Wi-Fi signal sources is often not enough to cover large premises or several rooms, which leads to a deterioration in the quality of data transmission. In this case, Wi-Fi amplifiers come to the rescue, through which you can expand the network coverage area.
Causes of poor signal quality
Before proceeding directly to amplifying devices, you should determine the reason for the poor quality of communication in the network, since it is not always directly related to the power of the Wi-Fi signal source. This is especially true if the actual coverage range of the purchased device differs significantly from the nominal value declared by the manufacturer. There are several factors that can negatively affect the quality wireless network:
In the first two cases, the problem of poor signal quality is solved the right choice places for the router. This simple action allows you to improve the situation without additional investment. In two recent cases without the purchase of devices that amplify the Wi-Fi signal, you can not do.
Types of Wi-Fi amplifiers
Wi-Fi amplifiers are devices by which you can significantly increase the network coverage area without the need to replace the signal source with a more powerful analogue. As a rule, they are cheaper than the router itself, which makes their purchase quite profitable in terms of the price-performance ratio. Wi-Fi signal boosters fall into two categories: active and passive.
Active amplifiers
First of all, active Wi-Fi amplifiers include repeaters (repeaters) - repeater devices that expand an existing network by receiving a router signal and broadcasting it further. Like a Wi-Fi router, the repeater is a separate electronic device powered by mains power. Its coverage area is also a circle, in the center of which is a relay device. On average, when using a repeater, the network coverage area increases by 15–20 m, depending on the power of the device.
The active amplifier increases the range of the router by 15-20 meters The router can also be an active Wi-Fi amplifier if it is paired with the main device. An additional router works like the main one, with the difference that both devices broadcast a single network, and not two separate ones. Unlike a repeater, an additional access point is connected to the main router via a cable and can be located at a considerable distance from it. The main disadvantage of active Wi-Fi amplifiers is the relatively high cost.
Passive Amplifiers
Passive Wi-Fi signal amplifiers include amplifying antennas for routers, through which you can increase the initial network coverage range and stabilize the signal. By by and large this is a more perfect analogue of the "native" antennas that come with the router. Amplifying antennas are of two types: omnidirectional and directional. Omnidirectional antennas work on the standard principle, spreading the signal in a circle, while directional antennas broadcast the signal in only one direction.
An omnidirectional antenna has the form of a rod that radiates radio waves in a circle. Depending on the model, passive antennas can be installed directly on the router or placed outside of it. As a rule, remote analogues have a large amplifying potential. The main disadvantage of passive Wi-Fi amplifiers is their relatively low efficiency - the increase in coverage area is 5–10 m.
Setting up the Wi-Fi booster
After you have decided on the choice of amplifier and made a purchase, you need to make the first setup of the device. Only active amplifiers need to be configured, passive antennas can simply be connected to the router. For the initial setup, you will need a laptop or PC with a Wi-Fi adapter. The repeater is configured as follows:
- Plug the device into a power outlet and wait for the Power Indicator to turn on, which notifies the user that the repeater has been turned on successfully. Full activation of the device can take from one to several minutes.
- After the device is fully turned on, the Wireless Indicator is activated, which indicates that the repeater is starting to broadcast a signal. The new network created by the repeater will start showing up in the list of available wireless connections on your PC.
The fact that the Wi-Fi network is active is indicated by the corresponding indicator on the router - Connect to a new device. When you try to connect to a repeater, Windows will display a system notification that a new router is not installed and a suggestion to configure it. Select "Connect to a network without prior installation and configuration."
When trying to connect to a repeater operating system will prompt you to start installing and configuring the device - After the PC connects to the repeater, open any browser and enter the IP address of the repeater in the address bar. By default, this is 192.168.10.1 (repeaters from individual manufacturers can be assigned to a different IP address, which can be found in the instructions that came with the device).
- In the authorization window that opens, enter your username and password. Default data: admin/admin.
In order to enter the repeater settings menu, you need to enter the default login and password - In the system menu of the repeater, select "Wireless repeater mode". In the window that opens, select "Repeater Mode". The device will start searching for available Wi-Fi networks.
Pressing the "Repeater" button will start the search mode for available networks - Find your router and confirm your choice by pressing the Apply button, or refresh the list with the Refresh button if the network you need is not displayed. If your network is secure, you will need to enter a password to sign in.
In the list of available networks, select the router whose coverage area you want to expand - Will begin auto tuning a new network, after which a message will appear in the Wireless Repeater Mode window indicating that the operation was completed successfully.
To set up an additional access point, you will need a network LAN cable, crimped on both sides. The setup process is as follows:
If you prefer to use a secure network with password access, then you also need to set additional security settings on an additional router. To do this, in the "Wireless" tab, select the "Wireless Security" item. In the window that opens, select the WPA/WPA2 standard, and enter a new password in the PSK Password field. To confirm the data, click the "Save" button. Confirm reboot to install new settings.
On an additional router, it is advisable to set up password access so that unauthorized users cannot connect to the network Do-it-yourself Wi-Fi amplifier
If you wish, you can make a Wi-Fi amplifier yourself from improvised means, thereby saving money. However, it is worth noting that the benefits of such “home-made products” are rather doubtful, and the risk of making the router unusable is very high. Below we will consider the designs of directional signal amplifying nozzles that allow you to amplify wifi signal without risking the "health" of your router.
Focus attachment for Wi-Fi router
The Wi-Fi router signal propagates in a circular pattern - as it moves away from the source, it deteriorates, and when it goes beyond the reliable reception zone, it begins to break off. If necessary, the signal can be focused and transmitted in the right direction, where the coverage of the router is not enough. To make a focusing nozzle, you will need copper wire with a diameter of 0.8 to 1 mm and a piece of plastic or thick cardboard.
To assemble the amplifier, you will need a piece of ordinary cardboard and several pieces of wire 48 mm long The assembly of the nozzle is carried out in the following sequence:
Such a nozzle gives up to 10 dB of gain, while the diagram takes on a directional shape, that is, the Wi-Fi signal is stably transmitted for the most part only in one direction.
If the router has two antennas, then you need to make two nozzles Video: 8 dB Wi-Fi booster
Aluminum Can Amplifier
An aluminum can Wi-Fi signal booster is perhaps the easiest way to strengthen and stabilize your Wi-Fi network within a small radius. This type of amplifier also makes the signal directional.
To make such a device, you will need an aluminum can with a capacity of 0.5 liters and an ordinary building or stationery knife.
To make a Wi-Fi amplifier, you will need a router, an aluminum can and a clerical knife
The assembly of the nozzle is carried out according to a simple scheme:
To make the nozzle sit more tightly on the antenna, the hole in the jar can be sealed with foam rubber, paper or any other material.
Video: how to make a Wi-Fi amplifier for free and easy
Wi-Fi amplifiers expand network coverage and stabilize the signal without the need to replace the router. Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages, taking into account which you can choose the most suitable solution for each situation.
Repeatedly I met questions, the essence of which was whether it was possible to somehow increase the signal strength of the wireless network by changing the settings of the router. Usually those who are just installing and configuring the router are interested in this. Especially when they discover that Wi-Fi only catches in certain parts of the apartment / house.
Sometimes it happens. For example, my router (model TP-Link TL-WR841N) holds the network in principle, but it is unstable in one of the three rooms of the apartment. The computer and laptop still somehow find it, but the phone (and I have it in a metal case) does not succeed.
You should think about the coverage area at the stage of buying a router. Take into account the number of rooms in your home and the thickness of the walls.
Increasing Wi-Fi Power
Unfortunately, there are no specific, special settings with which the signal strength would be regulated. At least, I am not aware of such a possibility. Optimal Settings routers are set by default.If it so happens that you have already purchased a router and installed a router, and the signal strength is unsatisfactory or in some areas it is completely absent, you can, of course, experiment with the settings, if nothing works, then you will probably have to buy an additional antenna or repeater.
As for experimenting with the settings, you can change the channel and its width. Sometimes the coverage area from such manipulation increases slightly. Even the speed of the Internet can change from a channel change (we talked about this in one of our previous publications).
Don't forget to save all settings and reboot your router for the changes to take effect.
Antennas and repeaters
If you did not get any result from changing the settings positive result, your router will have to purchase a new, more powerful antenna. In this case, I can advise you TL-ANT2408CL, TL-ANT2405CL. If you have a router Asus, then it is better to take accessories from Asus.
In very advanced situations, another option is to buy a special device called repeater. These are the same amplifiers. wireless signal. For example TL-WA854RE.
You turn on this device in a room where your Wi-Fi signal is still there, but not very strong. And the repeater amplifies the signal, thereby increasing the range of the network. Another router can be configured as a repeater if it supports this function (WDS).
Alternatively, try installing your router as close to the center of your home as possible. If possible. This will allow a more rational division of the coverage radius.
The convenience of using wireless technologies has led to the spread of gadgets that integrate WiFi. Of course, traditional LAN ports do not lose their relevance, but already as a secondary means of accessing the network. Especially since on the street or in public place this port is not required at all. However, the use of wireless Internet access tools has its drawbacks in the form of interference or insufficient coverage. Therefore, the question arises of the means by which it is possible to strengthen the WiFi antenna for its more efficient operation.
First of all, users turn to equipment manufacturers, who note the dependence of reception quality on factors such as the radius of network coverage, the type of access point, and the characteristics of the antennas themselves. Of course, the listed factors directly affect the signal quality, but if they do not allow you to achieve the required communication quality, then do not despair - there are many ways to solve this problem.
Correct device location
Before tampering with the settings and experimenting with device upgrades, it is worth analyzing the location of the device itself in terms of optimal reception. First of all, it must be taken into account that the access point should provide the maximum possible coverage of the potentially used area - for example, in an office or apartment.
Also in response to the question of how to strengthen the antenna, the signal of the WiFi router and the overall reception quality, the importance of free space for the passage of radio waves. That is, interior partitions act as a rather serious barrier and can impede signal transmission. Moreover, this also applies to modern cellular concrete walls with plasterboard finish, and even more so brick reinforced structures. You can solve the problem by choosing a point for the location of the router so that it can be easily accessed.
Coincidence of channel frequencies - what to do?
Software methods of amplifying the signal, unfortunately, are the least popular among users, while a lot depends on the settings. To start improving the operation of wireless devices at the software level, one should analyze the frequencies at which the equipment operates. For example, if there are 10-15 networks in the house, then it is obvious that about good quality you will have to forget, since the signals are more likely to intersect and interfere with each other.
If you choose the right channel for broadcasting radio waves, then all questions regarding how to strengthen the WiFi router antenna will disappear by themselves. But to select a channel, you need special program- for example, you can use the InSSIDer system. This software must be used in parallel with the WiFi adapter. The InSSIDer program installed on the computer will display data on all available channels, identifying busy and free channels. In accordance with the information received, it remains only to reconfigure the adapter's operating mode to a suitable frequency.
Increasing the power of the router
An unsatisfactory reception signal of the device may be due to the fact that the settings themselves impose restrictions on it. Actually, this is an elementary way to improve the quality of the network. To understand how to increase the antenna power of a WiFi router, you need to understand the settings of a specific device model. Usually, power adjustment is present in the "Advanced Settings", on which the network operation parameters depend.
In one of the tabs there should be an inscription mentioning the transmission power. For example, on English language it could be the string Wireless Transmit Power. The adjustment indicator itself can be presented in different ways, in percentages or levels such as “Low”, “High”, etc. Thus, in order to get high router power and strengthen the WiFi antenna, you should set the maximum value of this parameter. True, in modifications of the SOHO level, such settings may be absent, and then only special firmware will help, for the integration of which it is advisable to turn to professionals.
Tuning by standard and range
Again, many users are not familiar with the standard their device is running on. At the same time, two network standards are relevant today: 802.11ac and 802.11n. The first is not yet available to a wide range of consumers, and the second is considered one of the most powerful. If you plan to strengthen the WiFi antenna due to the fact that the device does not perceive the signal at all, then it is possible that the equipment simply works on a different standard.
Transferring a gadget to the 802.11n format is usually done in the main settings - in essence, this is a choice of operating mode parameters. Here it is worth mentioning at 5 GHz, with which devices that support the 802.11n standard work. Unlike the more common 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz channels are still more or less free and not cluttered, so the quality of work in this format is an order of magnitude higher.
Disabling Power Saving Mode
During operation modern computers food savings issues have become especially relevant. This mainly applies to portable devices that need to be long time work without charge. Unfortunately, only under the condition of improving performance can you improve WiFi reception on your tablet.
The antenna will operate at the lowest power settings if the device is switched to power saving mode. This does not mean that it is necessary to set the maximum performance format for the computer, but it is better to avoid the minimum level of power supply. The best option- use a balanced mode that will not interfere with the full operation of WiFi.
Antenna refinement
This is a favorite way to improve the reception quality of different antennas among craftsmen. Its essence lies in the fact that the working element of the reception is additionally equipped with metal fixtures in the form of pieces of foil, tin elements and cans. Since it is possible to amplify according to this scheme without harm to the device itself, it makes sense to experiment with different designs. Although some users point out good effect from such improvements, a serious result should not be expected. At least, this method of solving the problem significantly loses to the elementary replacement of the antenna with a more powerful model. However, the coverage area should be increased when using metal add-ons.
Repeater application
The installation of a WiFi repeater also leads to a direct increase in signal strength. The principle of operation of this device is that it is connected to the network as a regular client, but later plays the role of a distributor of the received signal, expanding coverage in accordance with the capabilities of its own antenna. The repeater is identical in size to a standard power supply, so it won't take up much space. Also, its acquisition is beneficial in terms of simple settings and service in general.
With the help of a repeater, you can not only amplify the signal of the WiFi antenna, but also expand the coverage using WDS technology. That is, the device will allow you to combine different access points without the need to use wired contacts. The cost of budget models of repeaters varies on average from 700 to 1000 rubles. More productive and reliable devices with advanced functionality can cost 2000-3000 rubles.
Adapter extensions
To save yourself from problems with signal reception via WiFi, it is recommended to initially purchase powerful adapters and, most importantly, with an external antenna. In this regard, receiver models integrated into tablets and laptops are less efficient. Nevertheless, for such devices it will not be superfluous to provide an extension cord. With it, you can move the modem in search of the optimal place for reception. If the question is how to strengthen the WiFi antenna on a laptop, then this option will be even more advantageous, since the mobility of the device itself will expand the possibilities for finding the best location. By the way, the length of cables for USB devices can be up to 3 m.
Conclusion
Rarely is it possible to significantly improve the quality of reception wifi signal through the use of one or even two methods. The fact is that the implementation of all recommendations can be nullified if, for example, the minimum power level is indicated in the device settings. And vice versa, if all program parameters are focused on the optimal mode of operation of the equipment, then the interference in the form interior partition also spoil potentially high quality reception. Therefore, it is possible to significantly strengthen the WiFi antenna only when integrated approach to the analysis of its settings and assessment of the location. As practice shows, the most effective solution in terms of strengthening the reception power, it is still the purchase of a more technologically advanced modern equipment. In particular, the latest models open up the possibility of working in new ones providing high and stable data transfer.
