If Microsoft Windows XP ever notifies you about a weak
signal, it probably means your connection isn't as fast
or as reliable as it could be. Worse, you might lose
your connection entirely in some parts of your home. If
you're looking to improve the signal for your wireless
network, try some of these tips for extending your
wireless range and improving your wireless network
performance.
1. Position your wireless router (or
wireless access point) in a central location.
When possible, place your wireless router in a
central location in your home. If your wireless
router is against an outside wall of your home,
the signal will be weak on the other side of
your home. Don't worry if you can't move your
wireless router, because there are many other
ways to improve your connection.
2.
Move the router off the floor and away
from walls and metal objects (such as metal file
cabinets).
Metal, walls, and floors will
interfere with your router's wireless signals.
The closer your router is to these obstructions,
the more severe the interference, and the weaker
your connection will be.
3.
Replace your router's antenna.
The
antennas supplied with your router are designed
to be omni-directional, meaning they broadcast
in all directions around the router. If your
router is near an outside wall, half of the
wireless signals will be sent outside your home,
and much of your router's power will be wasted.
Most routers don't allow you to increase the
power output, but you can make better use of the
power. Upgrade to a hi-gain antenna that focuses
the wireless signals only one direction. You can
aim the signal in the direction you need it
most.
4.
Replace your computer's wireless network
adapter.
Wireless network signals must be
sent both to and from your computer. Sometimes,
your router can broadcast strongly enough to
reach your computer, but your computer can't
send signals back to your router. To improve
this, replace your laptop's PC card-based
wireless network adapter with a
USB network adapter that uses an external
antenna. In particular, consider the
Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless USB network adapter,
which adds an external, hi-gain antenna to your
computer and can significantly improve your
range.
Laptops with built-in wireless typically
have excellent antennas and don't need to have
their network adapters upgraded.
5.
Add a wireless repeater.
Wireless repeaters extend your wireless
network range without requiring you to add any
wiring. Just place the wireless repeater halfway
between your wireless access point and your
computer, and you'll get an instant boost to
your wireless signal strength. Check out the
wireless repeaters from
ViewSonic,
D-Link,
Linksys, and
Buffalo Technology.
6.
Change your wireless channel.
Wireless routers can broadcast on several
different channels, similar to the way radio
stations use different channels. In the United
States and Canada, these channels are 1, 6, and
11. Just like you'll sometimes hear interference
on one radio station while another is perfectly
clear, sometimes one wireless channel is clearer
than others. Try changing your wireless router's
channel through your router's configuration page
to see if your signal strength improves. You
don't need to change your computer's
configuration, because it'll automatically
detect the new channel.
7.
Reduce wireless interference.
If
you have cordless phones or other wireless
electronics in your home, your computer might
not be able to "hear" your router over the noise
from the other wireless devices. To quiet the
noise, avoid wireless electronics that use the
2.4GHz frequency. Instead, look for cordless
phones that use the 5.8GHz or 900MHz
frequencies.
8.
Update your firmware or your network
adapter driver.
Router manufacturers
regularly make free improvements to their
routers. Sometimes, these improvements increase
performance. To get the latest firmware updates
for your router, visit your router
manufacturer's Web site.
Similarly, network adapter vendors
occasionally update the software that Windows XP
uses to communicate with your network adapter,
known as the driver. These updates typically
improve performance and reliability. To get the
updates, visit
Microsoft Update, and then under
Select
by Type click Hardware, Optional.
Install any updates relating to your wireless
network adapter. It wouldn't hurt to install any
other updates while you're visiting Microsoft
Update, too.
Note When you go to Microsoft Update,
you have two options: the Express Install for
critical and security updates and Custom Install
for high priority and optional updates. You may
find more driver updates when you use Custom
Install.
9.
Pick equipment from a single vendor.
While a Linksys router will work with a D-Link
network adapter, you often get better
performance if you pick a router and network
adapter from the same vendor. Some vendors offer
a performance boost of up to twice the
performance when you choose their hardware:
Linksys has the
SpeedBooster technology, and D-Link has the
108G enhancement.
10.
Upgrade 802.11b devices to 802.11g.
802.11b is the most common type of wireless
network, but
802.11g is about five times faster. 802.11g
is backward-compatible with 802.11b, so you can
still use any 802.11b equipment that you have.
If you're using 802.11b and you're unhappy with
the performance, consider replacing your router
and network adapters with 802.11g-compatible
equipment. If you're buying new equipment,
definitely choose 802.11g.
Wireless networks never reach the
theoretical bandwidth limits. 802.11b networks
typically get 2-5Mbps. 802.11g is usually in the
13-23Mbps range.
Belkin's Pre-N equipment has been
measured at 37-42Mbps.
