Fashion of using Wireless router is increasing day by day. Whether you take example of colleges or home, airport or company houses; everywhere people prefer that there should be no wires tangling around their system. But often a problem of weak signal has encountered by people while using a Wi-Fi router. Today we would try to give you a brief detail that how to boost a router signal easily. It’s easy, fast to learn and there is no rocket science involved in increasing wireless router signal strength. So gear up and follow the tips.
Steps To Boost Wireless Router Signal Strength
Well those who don’t know, a typical wireless router have 100 feet or more as its range but this range is affected by many factors due to the signal strength. The signal strength is affected due to interference caused by metal, other signals and devices which use wireless frequencies like cellphones, microwave ovens and wireless peripheral units. There are certain methods by which you can boost the router signal strength. Let’s a take a look on these steps.
STEP 1: Check for Interference
- To check interference sources you have to replace the devices in your home that can possibly interfere with the signal traffic or network traffic i.e. on 2.4 GHz frequency range. These devices could be cordless phones, microwave ovens, wireless keyboard and mouse, etc.
- You can also buy a wireless network analyzer to check the source of interference in your home.
STEP 2: Change the Signal Channel
- Now this could be a real deal for those who hardly know about their routers. Routers have the facility to broadcast a series of channels which ranges from one to eleven. You can change the channel to such one which will allow your router signal clearly with other wireless networks.
- You can use a software utility to check which networks are using which specific channel. Once you are done with checking, you can configure your system upon an unused channel.
STEP 3: Router Repositioning
- Signal strength is much more effective if the router is raised as far as possible. This increases an effective broadcast range.
- Try to place your router near the center of your house so as to get the wider coverage.
- If possible then move closer to the receivers and try to move away from any kind of metal shelving, file cabinets or any other such objects.
- You have to make sure that your router or your system is far from cordless phone and microwaves as they operate on the same frequency. Also neighbor’s Wi-Fi could weaken your signal strength, so try to use a different channel as mentioned above.
STEP 4: Raise Transmit Power
- Raising transmit power is a good option but this also increases the risk of damaging or overheating the router. To raise the transmit power check the documents and configuration utility provided with your router. You can change the Xmit power of the router; it is the power router uses to transmit the signals. You can boost the power up to 50mW.
STEP 5: Antenna Replacement
- If possible then unscrew and replace the antenna on your router with such a model that is able to deliver more power. Replacing old omnidirectional antennas will gain high access to the network.
STEP 6: Install and Use a Repeater
- Repeater is nothing but a piece of hardware which behaves like a wireless network expander. It takes the signal from the router and then boosts it further to increase the signal range. Wireless repeaters are affordable and easily available in the market.
STEP 7: Use Wireless Amplifier
- This is an old but very reliable method. Get a wireless amplifier and attach it directly to your router. Wireless amplifier is also known as booster and it is much affordable than a repeater. Amplifier just increases the signal strength not the range like repeater does.
STEP 8: Use a Reflector with Tinfoil or Aluminum Foil
- A tinfoil reflector is a good option but the problem with this method is that it makes the signals more directional. Undoubtedly it is increases or boosts the signal but direction signals are a real matter to think about before going for this.
- To make a reflector you have to cut a tinfoil or aluminum foil in the shape of a rectangle. Give it a curve like shape and then place it behind the antenna of your router.
STEP 9: Switch to Higher Band
- This could be done easily by using a Dual band router. While watching HD movies or other heavy media on internet you can switch to a 5 GHz band. As mentioned earlier, other devices use 2.4 GHz band, so if you switch to a higher band then you will get less interference.
So this how you can increase wireless router signal strength. If you know more methods then do share with us.
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