What is the best way to increase signal strength from a wireless router to my laptop?

Answer 1

buy an amplifier antenna (inexpensive, can get from walmart or online) for you router, put your router closer to your laptop, make a straight and open path from your router to your laptop, keep router up high and away from walls, make sure you router is 802.11g and not 802.11a or 802.11b.

10 tips to improve your wireless network:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/wirelesstips.mspx

Answer 2

What people forget is that this is a two-way system. Information is not only flowing from your wireless router to your laptop, but also from your laptop to your wireless router. If you amplify just one side, for example your router, then your laptop will be able to receive signals from a greater distance, but will not necessarily be able to send a signal back to the router and vice-versa. If you can, just move the router to a more centrally located spot in your house or building. If this does not work or is not feasable, then you can buy amplifiers for both your router and your laptop, but i should let you know that this will require a new wireless card for your laptop and possibly an antenna that sticks out or dangles somewhere. This is why I don't like this way of solving this.

I like the solution of using multiple access points in an area. You can buy an access point and run a wire from your wireless router to the access point. Then the laptop can be connected to the wireless router or the access point, whichever you are getting a better signal from at that point in time.

Answer 3

One of my friends is attempting to boost his router signal by buying a special amplifier and a larger antenna. I'm pretty sure that you can get both of these at Staples or Radioshack

Answer 4

1 - Move your laptop closer to your router
What make is your router? You can buy range expanders or high-gain antennae to boost your signal. Note I don't recommend mixing WiFi equipment brands, get the same make stuff for all your WiFi system and it will save headaches in the long term

Linksys (Cisco Systems) http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Promotion_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1121121186018&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper

Belkin - http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=255033

Answer 5

best buy sells signal strengheners. They basically act like a wireless repeater. If moving the modem around doesn't help your signal strengh, I would recommend buying one of these devices.