Is there a way to increase the signal strength from my wireless router?

Question

I have a linksys wireless router in my apartment. It seems the signal has been decreasing. The computer in the living room about 10 feet from the router has great strength, but the computer in my room about 50 feet away is getting about 70% strength. Any ideas? Or is it maybe my wireless card.

Answer 1

Any walls or metal objects between the two devices?

Answer 2

It's probably just the distance and the walls in between. Not likely the wireless card since it seems to work. Before putting any money in a new router, I'd suggest you try the Linksys High Gain antenna. Here's a link...

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1115416829416&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper

Just unplug the old antenna on the router and plug in the new one. No changes on the comuter end.

This doesn't actually increase the power the router puts out, but it does change the shape of the antenna pattern, putting more of the power out in a horizontal direction. As long as you're on the same floor as the router, this ought to improve things. But if you're a floor above or below the router, it will probably make things worse. Go to Linksys's page; they have other solutions.

Answer 3

They sell lots of cures, from SRX routers, antennas, etc. But for 50 feet, there's a simple fix (assuming no lead walls between you).
Ever been standing by a running faucet while someone's trying to talk to you? You can't understand them, even if they can hear and understand you. Move 5 feet from the faucet, no problem. The sound of running water interferes with the sound of their voice.
Same thing with wireless. Move both the router and the computer (especially the router) as far away as you can from any other electrical equipment. This reduces (sometimes dramatically) the interference and greatly boosts signal.

Answer 4

well if ur wireless card is shitty yeh but most of the time no your stuck. If its going through a wall of course the strength is gonna decrease, also there may be interference from someone else in the apartment complex's router(s). But if you really wanna go silly u can buy the *new* increased strength routers but they usually require another wireless card. go to comp usa or best buy and ask a dude.

Answer 5

they actually sell antennaes at best buy and circuit city that boost the signal. but, i think they are fairly expensive. might want to just get a better router with better signal strength.