Wireless booster

alimum4 · Wireless booster

I am trying to use a computer away from the modem wirelessly but it says the signal is weak is there anything I can do or buy to increase the signal?

Alison

IainC

You can (depending on your wifi router) get a larger aerial. Mine have small black screw on ones, but I've managed to acquire one that looks more like a cuttlefish bone that you've give a parrot, and it has a 2m lead to then screw onto the router. Increases the signal strength.

Other thing to try is to have the router as high up as possible, and try to keep digital phones away from it as much as possible.

Or you could buy those home plugs things, means you could plug them (via cat 5 cable) into the router and then plug the home plug into a power socket, then in another room (or wherever) plug the second one in, and have a cable from it to your machine. Depending on the type you get, some can be really good. I know people who are using them and stream HD video over them without any issues.

alimum4

Just had a look at my router it does not look like a screw on ariel. The router is a BT home hub.

IainC

Think your only hope is to try and get it up as high as possible then.

How far away from it are you trying to use the PC?

Is the wifi in the machine built in? Have you someone else who can test with theirs to see if their machine gets a stronger signal there. It might be worth getting an external wifi adaptor for the machine that will get a stronger signal. My normal work machine isn't too bad in our house other than if you try and use it in the back room, whereas I took home a newer small machine I was setting up for someone else and IIRC it got a good signal everywhere in the house, so they do differ.

alimum4

It is a mains computer and I have connected a dongle to it. I might have to go to the computer shop tomorrow and spend some more money.

baldowrie

I should ask BT because the home hub (N router) is very good. I have just got one and the signal is twice a strong as my other wireless router.

BikeOnBye

niceguyrichy

you could always revert back to childhood and go all Blue Peter on it..

fashion a satellite type affair out of card and cover in foil, and affix at the base of the aerial that's already there.
I'm reliably informed that they do actually help for some people.
and even if it doesn't, just think of the fun you'll have making it..

oh, and this may sound obvious, but do actually point the aerial at the intended target.
the thing's are always on the back, so you tend not to think about that, but it makes a difference.

Smooth Hound

i remember when i originally had mine, and it said on the set up instructions, that there was a 50 m area covered, but going through thick walls would limit it right down, so a repositioning is possibly all you need.