How to improve wi-fi signal in the apartment. How to strengthen the signal of a Wi-Fi router and expand the coverage of a Wi-Fi network

7 easy steps to improve internet at home.

Nothing is more annoying than a slow home Wi-Fi network. You can't download a movie, you can't watch YouTube videos, you can't play online games. But what if we say that there are several ways to improve the signal quality and speed of the Internet connection at once? And it only takes a few minutes to complete them.

1. Choose the right place for your router

Fact from Captain Obvious - if you have a five-room apartment, and the router is at the front door, do not be surprised that the signal to the fifth room will be weak.

Try to place your Wi-Fi router in the center of your living space in an open area. So that to any room there is approximately the same distance. Do not forget that the higher the router is, the better. Radio waves propagate downwards and to the sides better.

2. Do not put the router in the kitchen

Remember, microwave ovens use the same frequency as your Wi-Fi router (2.4 GHz). Also, keep it away from baby monitors, cordless phones, and halogen lamps, which can also interfere with radio reception.

3. Turn the antennas of the router up

Most routers have physical antennas that can be positioned. Many users put the router on cabinets and tilt the antennas horizontally, thereby degrading the signal.

For maximum signal strength, position the antenna vertically, pointing straight up.

If there are two antennas on the router, then they should be directed in the same direction, otherwise you will not get the best performance.

4. Move the router away from metal surfaces

Remember that all metal surfaces reflect the Wi-Fi signal. Therefore, you should not place the router next to large metal objects, such as metal racks or safes.

Choose the most modern equipment:

• Access point Apple AirPort Express- 7 990 rubles.
• Base station Apple AirPort Extreme- 16,990 rubles.
• Base station + external storage Apple AirPort Time Capsule– from 23,990 rubles.

5. Choose the best frequency channel

If you open a list of all Wi-Fi access points in your apartment building, you will be surprised by their number. In fact, now every second apartment has a router, and they all interfere with each other and clog frequency channels. For example, in my house Macbook sees 18(!) different networks at once.

Try to find out exactly where the neighbor has his router, and, if possible, move yours further away.

But the best thing you can do is switch to a different Wi-Fi channel. You can find the desired setting on the router settings page.

In order to select the appropriate channel, download special applications that will show the most “unclogged” Wi-Fi channel. Unfortunately, . But you should not be upset, there are analogues for Mac, for example, Wifiscanner. The program will show the networks in the area and the frequency channels they occupy.

6. Set your router to 5GHz

Expensive models of wireless routers can operate in the 5GHz (802.11a) band. If your router can do this, feel free to transfer it to this range, since it should be almost completely free. No "garbage" of frequency interference from neighbors' access points.

7. Turn off the "leeches"

Also, with the help of special applications (for example, Fing), you can check your Wi-Fi network for "illegal" connected devices. There is always a chance to run into a cunning neighbor who, like a leech, was able to connect to your network and sits downloading everything from a torrent.

You can make a list of allowed MAC addresses of devices in the router settings.

All these simple but effective actions will help improve the speed of your home Internet and save nerve cells. Share in the comments which of the methods helped you personally, and whether you discovered a freebie who joined a neighbor.

P.S.: thanks to re:Store for the helpful tips!

In June 2007, a record was set: the longest wireless connection (382.9 km) was established using a WiFi connection. It would probably be unwise to hope to repeat it within a private WiFi network, although it is a tempting idea. Here are some simple tips to help you maximize signal quality and minimize interference with a little wireless feng shui.

Steps

Improving WiFi reception at home

Arrange bulky furniture along the exterior walls of your home. If signals no longer have to make their way through large, bulky furniture, then the level of communication quality will only increase.

Minimize the number of mirrors. All metal surfaces reflect WiFi signals, including the thin metal coating found on most mirrors.

Place your network router correctly in order to maximize its efficiency. The efficiency of the router mainly depends on its correct location. The best location for the router is:

Improve reception quality with a repeater or wireless bridge. If your main workplace is located far from the wireless access point and you constantly have to move to the edge of the room in order to have better reception, then install a wireless signal repeater. A wireless repeater allows you to increase coverage without the need to add additional wires or other unnecessary hassle. In order to quickly and effectively improve the quality of communication - place the repeater in the middle of the path between the access point and your computer.

• A wireless bridge (also sometimes called an Ethernet converter) is used to improve reception quality for wired devices. If you're having problems with reception quality on your wired devices, use an Ethernet converter to get an extra speed boost.

1. Start using WPA/WPA2 instead of WEP. WEP and WPA/WPA2 are security algorithms that prevent hackers from breaking into a network. The only problem is that WEP ("Wired Equivalent Privacy") is significantly less secure than WPA/WPA2 ("Wireless Protected Access"). . So if you're still using the internet over WEP rather than WPA/WPA2, then consider switching to prevent your network from being potentially hacked.

   Limit the number of devices for which your WiFi will support MAC addressing. The fewer devices your network supports, the higher and more reliable the transmission speed (generally). Limit the number of devices that can access the network by creating an allowed list of MAC addresses. Device MAC addresses are identifiers for "Media Access Control" and are used by all members of your network.

   • Create a list of allowed device MAC addresses. First, determine the MAC addresses of the devices, and then go to the configuration window of your wireless access point and configure the allowed addresses.

2. Don't make your network name public. If you do not want other people to try to enter your network, then in the first place do not leave them any way to know that it exists. (While there is software that can find "hidden" networks, you still shouldn't make your network name public.) Go to your access point's administration page and uncheck "Allow SSID Broadcast". You will still be able to access your network, however it will not appear on your computer in the list of available networks.

   Using kitchen foil

   1. Use aluminum foil to reflect radio signals from the router.

      Before proceeding with this, go to the network connection settings on your computer. Click on the name of your WiFi network. Another window will open. Pay attention to the speeds / Mbps and write down the displayed number (for example, 72.2 Mbps). After you do this, tear off a sheet of foil, the size of a regular A4 format.

      Gently bend the sheet of foil. This is easier and faster to do if you wrap a 2 liter plastic bottle at the place where the label is glued and hold the sheet in this position for about 5 seconds. Expand the sheet; it should retain its curved shape.

      Place the curved piece of foil on its side (so that it stays horizontal) behind the router.

      Go back to network connection settings. Check Mbps / speed. It should increase compared to the speed it was before adding the foil.

   Improve WiFi reception on the go

   • If all else fails, then you can consider buying a WiFi repeater, which is needed to boost the signal between the router and the device.
   • You can also use reflectors. Use the NetStumbler software to place the reflector correctly. A CD can be used as a reflector, as well as anything that looks like a parabolic reflector. The reflector, of course, must be placed behind the receiver or antenna. As a result of its application, a large increase in signal strength can be expected. This trick also works with mobile phones.
   • Depending on the make and model of your wireless router, you may be able to replace the firmware with open source software that will add a lot more customization options and increase the power of your wireless antenna
   • The computer case itself can become a significant obstacle to the Wi-Fi signal - try to place the case so that it does not create a barrier between the network card and the router's antenna.
   • Adding a "high gain" (higher dBi) external antenna often results in improved signal reception and performance. It should be noted that the higher the dBi value, the stronger the signal propagates in the horizontal direction and weaker in the vertical direction. If you need to cover multiple floors, higher dBi probably won't help. In this case, you should consider buying a Wi-Fi booster that will boost your signal.
   • If you still need more coverage, consider upgrading your wireless standard to Wireless N or Wireless G with MIMO. These two technologies greatly increase the range of existing 802.11g or 802.11b networks.

   Warnings

   • Replacing the router firmware may void your warranty. If the replacement is not done properly, it may cause irreparable damage to your router.
   • If you apply too much power to a wireless router modified in this way, it may be permanently damaged.

It is impossible to count the number of devices in which the Wi-Fi module is built-in. Smartphones, laptops and desktop PCs, as well as refrigerators, TVs and other household appliances have this technology. Many users use routers to connect their devices to the Internet, they can have both a LAN port to connect using a cable, and a Wi-Fi adapter to distribute the Internet to other devices that also have Wi-Fi technology. Unfortunately, the wireless signal propagation area is not very large, and if there are obstacles in the way, then it is generally very small. Of course, there are many standards on which the signal strength depends, and another important parameter is the number of antennas.

If you are using Wi-Fi technology but don't know what you can do to boost your adapter's WiFi signal, then this article is for you. Here I will try to explain the hardware and software ways to improve the signal.

But before we start, I want to make one important point.

Pay attention to the location of the router. It would be nice if it was closer to the middle of the room and the whole house, so that the signal spreads evenly and you feel comfortable using the wireless network. Signal degradation can be caused by many factors. At home, these are walls, and if it is also concrete, then it will be much worse to transmit radio waves. Any thing - from a picture, then a drawing or a mirror can degrade signal reception to some extent. Therefore, I want you to try positioning your router in such a way that the signal is available in all areas of the house. If possible, remove things that can interfere.

How to boost WiFi signal reception using programs?

Many users, out of inexperience, leave the default router settings, unless they change the network name and password. This is not entirely correct, and now I will explain why.

Channel frequencies are the same as other Wi-Fi networks

If you live in an apartment building, then there is almost a 100% chance that there is a Wi-Fi network that broadcasts on the same channel as you. This phenomenon often interrupts signal reception. In the router settings, you need to change the channel to a free one or one where there are the least other wireless networks.

You can see who is on which channel with the help of the program inSSIDer. Download it from here and install it on a PC with an outbred adapter.

The found wireless networks will be indicated in the program window, and in the column channel the channels they occupy are exposed. In the Russian Federation, only thirteen channels are usually used, in other countries either more or less.

We figured out the channels, then we will begin to change the settings of our router. Usually, the following addresses are used for this, which must be entered in the address bar of the browser: http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1. Next, you will be asked to enter a username and password, if you have not changed anything, then by default it is admin (and username and password).

You need to look for features related to Wi-Fi, it might be written Wireless. There must be a section Channels(Channel), from which you can select a number from 1 to 13.

Change the channel to free and save. After this action, you will suffer much less interference and the signal will be more stable.

Low router transmitter signal

By default, some routers may have a low transmitter power set. But it can be changed. All in the same router settings, find the parameter Transmission power(Transmit Power), and set the value to 100%. Or choose a value high(High).

Of course, this feature is not available on all models. Sometimes special firmware for such models helps, if any.

802.11n is faster

Wi-Fi has many standards by which a wireless network can operate. Fast is, of course, the 802.11n standard, which still gives a larger coverage radius if multiple antennas are used. You also need to consider the support of this standard by other devices, because if you switch to it, some devices will not detect your network due to the undersupport of the range.

Look in your router settings "Operating mode" or "Wireless Network Mode", or "Wireless Mode" and switch to 802.11n. Reboot your router for the changes to take effect.

Using the 5 GHz band

The use of the 802.11n standard makes it possible in expensive models to use two types of bands - 2.4 GHz (Used by all devices) and 5 GHz(Not used by everyone). The 2.4 GHz band is very busy, it is used by a lot of devices around us, and not only wireless adapters, but even a microwave oven can create problems for us. The 5 GHz frequency range is now practically free, so it is advisable to transfer all devices to it.

Signal improvement in Windows

In this paragraph, more attention is focused on laptops. The fact is that when you set “Energy Saving” in the power consumption settings, this can affect the strength of the Wi-Fi signal. Therefore it is better to put "Balanced" mode, or "High performance". Then you will receive a signal from a greater distance.

Who does not know, the power settings are in the following place: right-click on the battery icon on the taskbar and select "Power Options" and set the desired control scheme.

Signal strength limitation and can it be removed?

I would like to note that all routers have a hard power limit of 100 mW. Of course, in Chinese stores there are adapters that are capable of receiving distances up to several kilometers, but you will not find this in ordinary electronics stores. Is it possible to increase the signal strength programmatically? Answer: partially possible.

Unfortunately, there is some difficulty - you need to use a Linux distribution, for example, Kali Linux, or an analogue - Backtrack 5r3, whose support has ceased.

The fact is that in most countries the power of a wireless transmitter is limited to 100 mW, but for Bolivia and some other countries there is no such restriction, so you need to enter a number of commands in the terminal:

In this example wlan0 is the wireless adapter you are using, and 100 - set power in mW (milliwatt).

How to strengthen the WiFi signal with a hardware method?

All means are good, which means that together with software methods we can achieve a stable and high transmitter signal. Even if the software methods did not work, maybe the following methods will help.

Improving the Signal with Antenna Upgrades

I have come across many ways to boost the Wi-Fi signal on the Internet. For example, people make a directional antenna that works in all directions, and for this they use foil or a Pepsi or beer can. Of course, the use of such methods is doubtful, but for whom?

Greater efficiency is represented by more powerful antennas that can be purchased at the store. You need to make sure your antenna is 2-3 dBi so you can replace them with 8 dBi antennas.

Using a repeater to boost the receive signal

These devices are otherwise called repeaters, and they can greatly increase the coverage area. The repeater connects to your wireless network and increases its range.

Buying a more powerful Wi-Fi adapter

You can do this: if you have a laptop that does not have a strong signal reception on the wireless adapter, replace it with a more powerful one. This also applies to desktop computers. It is best to take an adapter that connects via USB and has an antenna that can possibly be replaced with a more powerful one.

If you have other ways to increase the wi-fi signal of the adapter, write about it in the comments, everyone will be interested.

How to strengthen the signal of a WiFi router with your own hands and simple available means, this is real and we will tell you how to improve Wi-Fi in an apartment!

Weak Wi-Fi signal is the most common problem among users. Today, Wi-Fi is available in almost every home. And in most cases, you can improve the situation (increase connection stability, increase data transfer speed) on your own. Let's look at a few effective ways.

How to improve the signal of a Wi-Fi router with hardware?

You can upgrade your home WiFi system in the following ways:

But what if you don't want to spend a dime on improving Wi-Fi? Consider alternative ways to solve the problem.

How to strengthen the signal of a Wi-Fi router in an apartment?

Let's start with the correct location. If you live in a small apartment, then try to install a distribution point in the very center of the room. Thanks to this, you will have the same range in all directions. This is true for those who use mobile devices. If you have one workplace with a computer or laptop, then try to put an Internet point near it. Also keep in mind that between the point of distribution and reception of the signal there should not be extraneous equipment, from which radiation also comes.

How to strengthen the antenna of a Wi-Fi router?

Here we will not talk about ready-made antennas from stores, but about home-made amplifiers. As a reinforcement, it is best to use the so-called "screens". Their task is to direct the signal in the right direction. Most often, such devices are made from foil, cans, or a small sheet of metal. It is possible to strengthen Wi-Fi reception at the router antenna in this way, but not too noticeably. Especially this method is not suitable for those who need an equally good reception throughout the house.

To boost the signal of a Wi-Fi router without an antenna, you can also get repeaters. This device can be plugged into any outlet in the home. Thanks to such devices, the return will be duplicated. You can find a budget version of the device costing up to 1 thousand rubles.

How to improve the performance of a Wi-Fi router through the settings?

First, turn off encryption in the settings. This will reduce the load on the device, but your network will no longer be password protected.

Secondly, try switching all your home devices from Wi-Fi to 802.11N, which will increase the speed. Do not forget to update the firmware, especially if you just bought a device. In the store, such devices lie for a very long time, so the software is not updated by anyone.

And thirdly, the range of Wi-Fi can only be expanded in a tricky way. Try to put a distribution point in the very center of your apartment or house. In this case, the signal will propagate the same distance in all directions, which will allow you to move freely throughout the room with a smartphone or tablet, doing business on the Internet along the way. As you can see, the stability of a Wi-Fi network depends not only on the characteristics of the device, but also on the environmental conditions.

All tips from our article will also help you to strengthen 3g/4g Wi-Fi routers. If the reception still does not increase, try to find a point in the apartment where. Set up an access point there.

Bought a WiFi router, but the Internet speed leaves much to be desired? This situation is quite prosaic and occurs more often than you think. The question "how to strengthen the signal of a Wi-Fi router?" asked by thousands of users and you are certainly not alone. Why many are faced with such a problem and what are the ways to solve it, we will try to reveal in this article.

Why is my WiFi signal weak?

Oddly enough, but situations when the Internet suddenly breaks off at the most interesting place are familiar even to owners of the equipment of the latest lines. And how the situation develops with devices that have worked out their working life is not worth mentioning at all. The thing is that the problem of signal amplification is solved in a complex way. So, even if you have a router of the latest series, but the house has a lot of partitions and load-bearing walls, in addition to furniture, mirrors and a full arsenal of household appliances, you definitely should not count on powerful WiFi.

There are many ways to strengthen Wi-Fi, but you should know that in order to effectively solve the problem, you need to approach the issue comprehensively and try several options. Only in this case, you can forget about a weak WiFi signal for a long time.

All technologies for improving communication are conditionally combined into two groups: software and hardware. In the first case, changes are made to the applications and settings of the router. This procedure is not limited to setting a password or updating the SSID, but requires more professional intervention. In the second, the transmit-receive power increases with the purchase of a new, more efficient router. But let's talk about each separately.

Method number 1. Change the location of the Wi-Fi router

During the purchase of equipment, the first thing that consultants pay attention to is the features of the layout and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. If the house has plasterboard, reinforced concrete partitions, then the installation site of the router is chosen more carefully. The router is installed in the central part of the house so as to evenly distribute the signal throughout the network. The proximity of DECT phones, microwave ovens, etc. can also be an obstacle to the full operation of the router. If it is not possible to buy a dual-band router, then the best way to amplify the signal is to place these devices as far apart as possible.

Method number 2. Experimenting with the frequency channels of wireless networks

Once you look at the "Remote Access" tab on your computer (bottom right), you will see a list of private networks deployed on the same frequency as your router. “Why should I know about the existence of other networks?” - you ask. The thing is that each of them occupies part of the channel, reducing the range of your router. To avoid such unwanted interference, you need to switch to another channel. This problem is solved with the help of a special program, for example, inSSIDer. It is installed on the PC and launched. The program will provide you with information about the available wireless networks in your area, and what channel each of them occupies. Having chosen a free one, configure the device: go to the "Wireless Network" tab and select the "Channel" line. After selecting a free port, confirm the actions by successively clicking on "Change / Save".

Method number 3. Choosing the 802.11n wireless standard

The latest wireless standards include 802.11ac. Despite this, the 802.11n channel has significant advantages over the latter. This technology provides for the possibility of using several antennas at once, which make it possible to amplify signal reception several times. With the transition to the "n" standard, the router can operate at a less noisy 5 GHz frequency, providing maximum coverage. Only here there is one "but". You can safely switch to the slightly outdated 802.11n standard only if your computer and mobile equipment supports operation at this frequency. In the devices of the latest lines, this possibility is not provided.

Method number 4. We buy a signal amplifier

In the catalog of our online store there is a site that differ in miniature dimensions, low price and simple setup. An example of such a device is Alfa APA05, which allows you to expand the wireless signal zone in any environment.

Method number 5. We use DD-WRT firmware

It has been verified that DD-WRT firmware significantly enhances the signal of the router, improving the stability of its operation. The program also provides access to advanced modes. But try not to overdo it: prolonged operation of the equipment at high power can have a negative effect on the body.

Method number 6. We put restrictions on access to the network

The overall network performance and reception speed is affected by the activity of using the system by the rest of the family. So, if someone in the house constantly downloads movies, plays resource-intensive games, then the rest of the users can only be content with the slowing down Internet. It is for such cases that the QoS (Quality of Service) setting is provided. It will allow you to set priorities for speed directions that are more important for you.

Method number 7. Choose a strong password for your Wi-Fi router

The router ships with a default password. However, if your neighbor is an advanced PC user, then such a password cannot become a serious obstacle to connecting to your Wi-Fi network. You can deprive him of the pleasure of using free Internet by setting a complex code. The latter must be at least eight characters long (combination of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters). For security, filtering by MAC address is set and a WPA password is used. About, .

Method number 8. Installing a more powerful repeater

This method is among the most effective. Special signal amplifiers or Wi-Fi repeaters connect to an already deployed network as a client, expanding the network coverage, that is, you no longer need to replace all antennas with more powerful ones. The repeater becomes a signal distribution point, providing coverage over the entire area.

If you are interested in this method of amplifying the signal, then you should know that there are two types of repeaters on sale: simple devices that perform only the function of a repeater, and improved routers that can expand the coverage area of ​​​​a Wi-Fi network by combining several access points into a single system. Routers of the second type work with the support of WDS technology and are versatile: they are used as a repeater and as a router for connecting to the Internet. .

Method number 9. Choosing a Wi-Fi adapter with a portable antenna

This option is especially relevant for those who are pretty tired of running around the house, looking for corners where signal reception is stronger. The adapter is connected to the computer, and the antenna is installed in a strong reception area. If you decide, contact our consultants.

Method number 10. We replace the antenna with a more productive model

As a rule, the average antenna gain of the router is in the range of 2-3 dBi. To achieve a noticeable improvement in reception, it is enough to upgrade it to a more powerful device - up to 8 dBi.

Method number 11. We buy a new router.

In a home / office where powerful computer equipment is installed, you will have to take care of installing a productive router if a wired connection is in no way acceptable. The catalog of our online store includes - Ubiquiti, Tenda, Asus, MikroTik, HP and others.

The coverage area and power of receiving and transmitting a Wi-Fi signal can be significantly increased only after identifying the cause of poor reception. And only after that you need to use our recommendations, not in a single way, but immediately combining several options for amplifying the signal.

We hope that now you know how to increase the signal of a WiFi router. If you still have questions, please contact our consultants.