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Extending Range of Wireless Signal - RF Cafe Forums
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| charles_EE
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Post subject: Extending Range of Wireless Signal
Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 2:29 pm
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Joined: Tue May 11, 2010
6:30 pm
Posts: 2 |
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My apologies if this is not the closest subject-matter
forum for the question..
I have a wireless
router & modem at home. The problem is that
the computer I use regularly is located at the opposite
side of the house than the router/modem (The house
is older and only has one cable input location).
Thus, I get very low - no signal at all when I'm
trying to work on the computer. I've noticed I get
a better signal downstairs through the floors, etc.
This makes me feel like the signal is being broadcast
in the least-optimal 'direction'. Is there a way
to re-direct the signal so that it can reach the
back room rather than my downstairs neighbors?
I understand range extenders can be purchased,
and cable adapters/longer cables are available but
I'm trying to start with the cheapest solution first.
Thanks in advance!
-Chuck
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nubbage |
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Post subject: Re: Extending Range of Wireless Signal
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 7:00 am
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| General |
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Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006
12:07 pm
Posts: 236
Location: London UK
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Hi Charles
You do not say which frequency band
for the LAN carrier you have, but assuming it is
the common 2.45GHz, then a classic cheapie solution
is a passive resonant reflector antenna situated
where the signal is strongest (the floor below in
your case).
Arrange 6 cm long rods of thick copper
wire on a styrofoam/polystyrene packing sheet 3cm
thick above a baking foil aluminum sheet on a large
tray. The wire rods should be about 6cm apart with
say 12 parallel to each other and another set of
12 to one side of these so they form a grid.
This arrangement should then re-radiate the signal
back upstairs roughly to where you have the terminal.
Let me know how this goes. For me it succeeded on
a microwave link of several kilometers, and it should
work for you.
_________________
At bottom, life is all
about
Sucking in and blowing out.
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charles_EE |
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Post subject: Re: Extending Range of Wireless Signal
Posted: Thu May 13, 2010 11:53 am
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Joined: Tue May 11, 2010
6:30 pm
Posts: 2 |
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Thank you nubbage!
Sorry for not being more
specific, I'm assuming the frequency band is the
'standard' 2.45 Ghz. I'll gather the materials and
let you know how everything turns out. I appreciate
the suggestion.
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biff44 |
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Post subject: Re: Extending Range of Wireless Signal
Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 10:48 am
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Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009
11:07 am
Posts: 34 |
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I have the same problem at my house, the router
is at the far end from the TV room where my laptop
usually is.
I tried this experiment, and
was surprised that it did little to improve the
WLAN signal strength!
I taped a 2.45 GHz
patch antenna to one of the three router antennas,
ran 75 ohm cable tv type coax the 200' to the TV
room, and had another patch antenna pointed at my
laptop, from 2' away.
It helped a little
bit, but not enough to make the installation permanent.
I was expecting a "excellent" signal, but it was
still "very weak".
Now, maybe if I got some
low loss foam dielectric 3 GHz cable, and if I actually
spliced into one of the router cables leading up
to the antenna, things would have been better. But
my conclusion, there is little I could do PASSIVELY
to make the signal much stronger.
There are
WLAN repeaters you can buy that actively intercept
the signals, boost them, and retransmit. Not all
routers will work well with such repeaters, so you
have to investigate. Also, if you have an external
antenna jack on your laptop, it would be an easy
thing to aim a high gain antenna in the "right"
direction to improve your signal.
It really
helps to move your wireless router around a little.
Perhaps moving it a couple feet from its current
position will have a big improvement.
Other
than that, good luck!!!
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Posted 11/12/2012
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