Home Network: How to boost your home wireless network

How to boost your home wireless network

There are a few ways to boost the range and signal of a home wireless network. Perhaps the most important is the positioning of the default wireless access point. It is a good idea to have the router on an edge rather than on the ground. The router must be kept away from other wireless sources such as cordless phones to minimize interference. Large metallic objects can absorb the wireless signal and impair the transmission. The strength of the signal will decrease the further away a user is from the access point. By taking these factors in to account and locating the router in a central position to all users it is possible to boost the strength of the signal.

Another method is to buy an aftermarket antenna and use that instead of the default one. Some of these antennas may boost the signal strength. The default antenna installed on most products is omni-directional, meaning that it transmits signals in all directions. By installing a directional antenna it is possible to focus the signal in one direction and strengthen the signal significantly, though this means that the antenna will have to point to a specific user.

Manufacturers such as Belkin produce what is known as a pre-N router. This type of wireless router combines three omni-directional antennas, which significantly increase range and enhance the signal.