Increasing Wireless Range - By CharlesH
There is a lot you can do to increase the range of your wireless router. Please note, not everything is going to work. If you have brick walls, a couple of frigerators and a big screen TV near the router, this will kill the potential range of your router. Lastly, keep in mind of other devices that could interfere with your router. Wireless A/B/G routers operate at 2.4 Gigahertz, and so do a lot of cordless phones! It is suggested to change the wireless channel on the router first just to make sure you're avoiding any possible interference on the first few channels.
Location, location, location. It is known that the best location of the router is in the middle and highest part of your house. Typically, the wi-fi signal travels like the shape of an umbrella. Depending on how you were installed, it may be hard to change the location of your router. If you are using a coax or MOCA connection, you can connect your wireless router to any existing (and working) coax outlets or use a splitter in conjunction with an existing coax run. So simply changing the location of the router may increase range in your home or business.
Antennas? You can increase the range cheaply by simply purchasing a new antenna. There is a good review of the different types of antennas here: http://www.radiolabs.com/Articles/wifi-antenna.html
For the most part you will see omni-directional & directional antennas in the store. In normal circumstances, you can usually gain 25 feet ~ 75 feet, or even more depending on the antenna.
If antennas still are not working for you, the next device to try is a "wireless repeater". You will see these labeled as range extenders or range expanders. They can help extend the range of any wireless device in the house and are very easy to configure.
Lastly, the last way to get a signal to the other side of the house is using a wall plugged extender kit. They will take the Ethernet signal and send it through your powerline to another outlet. Then from there you could hook up an access point, a router, a computer, you name it. This is the best solution when you have brick walls and a lot of wireless interference.
Radio Shack sells a Wireless Extender that is a 2 piece device. the first half plugs into the router and into and electrical outlet, the 2nd half plugs into any electrical outlet anywhere else in the house and becomes another antenna
