Will a Wireless N adapter give me a stronger signal on my Wireless G router compared to my current G adapter?

Question

I'm looking to boost my signal on one computer that is far away from my router. I don' t want to get a new router unless I have to but was hoping that a Wireless N adapter might pick up the signal better.

I cannot replace the antenna on the router. The antenna cannot be removed on this model. It's an older Microsoft router.

I think I need to clarify a bit more. I know I will only get Wireless G speeds with the N adapter. The speed doesn't matter to me. I just want to know if there is newer technology in the N adapter that will allow me to pick up my existing G signal at a longer range.

Answer 1

Hi,
Don't think a N adapter will work.
You mentioned this is a Microsoft router (MN-700 ?) ( worked for its tech support once upon a time). You cannot remove the antenna on this one. The only other easier option for you would be to reorient the antenna. Where is the computer that is not able to connect properly located? Is it on the same level/floor as the computer or it's a storey above or below. If the computer which is not able to connect a floor above/below, move the antenna in such a manner that it points to the wall and not the roof. Wireless signals travel in the shape of a doughnut. If the computer is at the same floor, try getting it withing a range of 90 meters (thats how far the wl signals can travel ). Change the channels Try 1,6&11. Try getting rid of any other devices that work in the same frequency (2.4 Ghz) like cordless phones, baby monitors etc.
This is a shot in the dark hope it helps..........
Cheers
Never buy/work microsoft

Answer 2

Your new adapter would speak N and G (and I think these are speed, not distance protocols, but I could be wrong), your existing router speaks G. So they would speak G, and N would be useless/unused - and maybe G on the adapter would be "short changed" because the mfgr is interested in pushing N, not G. Look into an antenna for your router. I don't know how well they work, but a google search should get you that information.

Answer 3

The answer is no

Summary
- no an " n c" ard with a g router will not go faster
- placement of router
- channel and ssid should be changed and not defaults
- setting of wireless signal in router
- placement of remote computer
- antennas on either end router or network card
- buy a linksys wrt54glm router and apply 3rd party firmware to boost up signal power big time

Generally you need the matching propietary hardware with any of these setups to get the advantages
In this case an n adapter with a g router might even give you poorer reception
Interesting the question is usually the reverse - in that if i upgrade to a n router from a g will the speed increase on the network

The wi fi distance record from an unamplified router in
contests in the desert at las vegas is 125 miles ( very large antenna)

http://www.engadget.com/2005/07/31/unamplified-wifi-distance-record-set-at-125-miles/


With off the shelf components these antennas generally get 2 - 3 miles across the water between islands in new zealand

http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/
I
Have no fear there are many ways to increase signal strength ( reception strength ) and ultimately more importantly internet
wi fi reception and speeds
First - placement of router
Is the router high and uncluttered ?
It is generally considered line of site.
Metal , metal walls and doors , metal full filing cabinets, aquariums, foil insulation etc etc all decrease range
Sometimes by moving the router even a foot over it can make a huge difference ( it is generally line of sight but a lot of the reception is the bounce around signal)
If the router is in a basement try to move it higher to a first or second floor . DSL modems can generally be plugged into any phone outlet in the house, Cable can be attached to
any of the cable outlets
The most important thing to do is to change the channel from the default channel 6 to any other channel
Channel 1 and 11 are first picks as they are the other 2 distinct channels ( the others overlap each other somewhat)
Your neighbors wi fi signals can waft in large distances , not be noticed in the windows wireless utility. You won't see them and yet your computer networking may have to bounce around to get a fix ( interference and slows down the speeds)
You might catch the interference with netstumbler

http://www.netstumbler.com/downloads/

It is free and much more sensitive than the scaled down windows wireless utility

If not done change the ssid ( network name) from the defaults of Linksys ( linksys) and default ( Dlink and SMC).
Your network card can bounce around between neighbou'rs signals as well. If is especially a problem if yours is locked and theirs are not. Poor little confused network card

What adapter are you using ?
If it is a desktop with a pci card placed inside - these can have poor reception as the antenna is behind a metal case which shields reception. It may be close to the floor and under a metal desk or signal shielded by metal pipes or ducts in the wall.
If you have a usb adapter see if you cannot get a usb extension cable and place the wireless adapter higher and away from the metal around the computer shielding reception.
You can always build the bowl antenna in the new zealand link
generic zyadas chipset based network adapter
12 inch metal bowl
The antenna sits on a plastic rod of some type ( chopstick , pencil , plastic pen shaft etc etc in a cork or pop bottle plastic top). approx 7 inches up. Trial and error. Duct tape can be used to hold it all together . Very high tech but exceptional antenna with the off the shelf ( inexpensive) components
Note: it works best with the software that comes with the device not th windows wireless utility
In addition if you match the router with the same brand ( for example i.linkysys - linksys ) or in the case of speed boost card matching the products can increase speed nicely

Next what are the settings for the wireless in the router ?

Try setting to g only ( not mixed) for the g card
Note - if there are b devices - they cannot work with g setting only.
note: if you have one b device on the network ( and the setting for the wireless is mixed b and g) that b device will bring the whole network down to lower b speeds.
It can be a wireless printer , or even a neighbors signal wafting in if your network is open
As well as that - how far is the remote computer away from the wireless router. With g speeds drop like a rock after 30 feet . ( n is supposed to have better range, but do not know of drop off rates with distance). Perhaps move the router or computer closer

Antennas do not increase signal strength they focus it
Antennas can be used at either end - wireless adapter or router
If you have a linksys g router you can buy 7 db antennas ( stock are 1). However as coming up there are better ways to get more power
The antennas go cheaply on ebay as no one who knows what they are doing will buy them retail
You can make a simple mesh wire or tin foil antenna to sit on a block behind the router to focus its signal in the direction wanted

http://www.cruschgear.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=76

http://del.icio.us/url/802f854ee00cf1748933325471ebf73e

Lastly and most recommended is if you are already considering the cost of a wireless n network adapter
Better to get an older linksys r router ( the model is now sold as the Linksys wrt54GL) and apply a third party firmware upgrade such as sveasoft or ddwrt
You can boost the power output bigitme
Best not to put it at the max of 225
Somewhere in the middle 100 125 or so is fine
Its done all the time as the standard router setup
The Linksys g routers for the last year or so will not work
They are a different cheaper to make router

info at

http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRT54G

http://www.sveasoft.com/

http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/ddwrt.php

The proper router the wrt54GL ( L is for Linux)
is available at amazon and on ebay

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Cisco-WRT54GL-Wireless-G-Broadband-Compatible/dp/B000BTL0OA

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&from=R10&_trksid=m37&satitle=wrt54gl++router&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=R2V+3R6&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search


Finally several sites to increase internet speed

for cable broadband

http://askmarvin.ca/introduction.html

for any internet broadband connection
dsl or cable - open dns

http://www.opendns.com/

Answer 4

truthfully. prompt G and N are international standards. prompt N provides doubtlessly larger speeds yet is thoroughly backwards well suited. Your prompt N adapter won't gain it incredibly is maximum velocity skill because it gets documents from the prompt G router that has a maximum of 54Mbps certainly it incredibly is incomprehensible except you're in many circumstances shifting extensive documents between gadgets on your close by community. Makes no distinction to on line gaming, messaging etc. the place your bottleneck would be your ISP upstream of the 54Mbps in a position router...

Answer 5

N is just a faster protocol, used with any G equipment it will switch to G. However any newer router may have better range than some of the old ones.

Answer 6

N is simply a communication protocol. I would suggest getting a different antenna. Here is a good link on the different types of antennas and how they would best work for you. Hope this helps. TX


http://www.radiolabs.com/Articles/wifi-antenna.html

Answer 7

The short answer is NOPE. If the router is Wireless G, the best you can get on it is Wireless G!
Wireless is pretty simple really.

Answer 8

you don't need a new adapter you need a directional antenna. check out the link below.

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=58

http://www.antonline.com/p_DWL-M60AT-NX_62853.htm