Strengthen wi fi in the apartment. Simple methods to amplify the wifi signal. Strengthening the signal reception by setting the software on the device

It is often necessary to increase or decrease the power of the wifi router, or rather the transmitter signal (TX Power), when setting up a wireless network. For example, so that the signal does not catch in the corridor or in the neighboring apartment. In order not to provoke potential intruders into trying to hack into your Wi-Fi. But usually users ask how to make the wireless signal stronger and thereby.

What is TX Power?

TX Power is the signal strength of the router, or rather its wifi transmitter.

Although this term may not be found in the interface of the administrator part. But it is always measured in units like “dBm”. That is "decibel per meter". For example, in technical specifications transmitter write - 20 dBm, 30 dBm and so on. Different countries even have laws that limit this maximum value.

Also, sometimes in the interface of the router you can find such a thing as “TX Burst”, that is, an increase in the power of the wifi transmitter.

What is wifi signal strength in reality?

But this is all just a theory. And for us, practitioners, a reasonable question arises - 20 dbm, how many meters is this? It is definitely impossible to answer it. After all, the reception area very much depends not only on the signal transmitter itself, but also on many other factors. For example, obstacles or partitions that are on the way from the source to the receiver. Or from surrounding electromagnetic waves that can interfere.

In the settings of the router, we can forcibly reduce or increase TX Power. The ability to reduce signal strength is very useful for those who believe that it is for health. And although there is a possibility on many routers, the ability to make the wireless signal one or two divisions smaller also does not hurt, especially if your apartment is small.

How to use TX Power on a TP-Link router - wifi signal strength adjustment

On a TP-Link router, wifi signal power adjustment is limited to three preset TX Power settings:

• Low
• Medium
• and High

They are located in the “Advanced settings - Wireless mode” section.

TX Power signal strength control on an Asus router

On the Asus router, the output power settings are located in the “Wireless Network” section, in the “Professional” tab, but not in all models. Here, if you scroll to the very bottom of the page, you will see the last item “TX Power Signal Power Control”. In some Asus routers, the wifi power must be entered independently in numbers in the mW video units - a maximum of 200mW.

In others, this is done more clearly in the form of a slider as a percentage of the maximum signal strength.

Setting the wifi signal strength on the Zyxel Keenetic router

In order to increase or decrease the wifi power on the Zyxel Keenetic router, you need to go to the “Wi-Fi Network” menu and find the “Signal Strength” line among all other settings. Here, from the drop-down list, select the required value in%.

If you own a more modern Keenetic router, then to adjust TX Power, open the “Home Network” menu and then click on the “Advanced Settings” link.

There are two possibilities to attenuate or amplify the signal. First, select its power level in percent. Second, check the box “TX Burst” to increase the peak data rate

TX wifi signal strength on D-Link router

For D-Link, everything looks the same - in the “WiFi - Advanced Settings” section, we also select “TX power” as a percentage

Wi-Fi is the most popular way to connect to the internet today. This was made possible due to the good characteristics of this protocol, the ease of connection and the availability of a wide range of low-cost equipment.

However, this interface also has disadvantages. Many users experience incomprehensible disconnections, errors, or slow data transfer rates. In this case, do not rush to immediately call the support service or call a repair team. You can deal with many troubles in the operation of your home Wi-Fi network on your own.

1. Restart your router

Yes, yes, this is what is first of all advised to do when contacting the support service. And absolutely right.

A modern router is a complex device, in the operation of which software errors may appear over time. The simplest and fast way get rid of them - reboot the equipment. Some routers allow you to do this automatically on a schedule, you just need to look for the appropriate option in the settings.

2. Install alternative firmware

Alternative firmware is written by enthusiasts to eliminate the shortcomings of proprietary software. The most famous project of this kind is DD-WRT. This firmware supports a wide range of hardware and is distributed free of charge.

Installing third-party firmware allows not only improving network performance, but in some cases activating previously inaccessible device functions. It is worth considering, however, that the process of flashing and subsequent configuration of the equipment will require time and special knowledge from you.

3. Use a Wi-Fi repeater

If devices in any part of the house constantly lose their connection to the Internet, then the signal of the router is too weak there. You can solve the problem with the help of a special repeater, which is also called repeaters, or repeaters.

The main task of the repeater is to amplify the signal of an existing Wi-Fi network. These compact and inexpensive devices are produced by almost all popular manufacturers of network equipment, as well as dozens of obscure Chinese companies.

4. Build a Signal Amplifier

Using a Wi-Fi repeater may not help out in all cases. Sometimes, to amplify the signal of the router, you have to resort to other, more artisanal methods. For example, you can design a special reflector from or for CDs.

But if you need something really powerful, then try to assemble an antenna from improvised materials to expand your “home zone” of wireless Internet, which we wrote about in this one.

5. Control App Access to the Internet

If someone in your home is constantly watching streaming video, playing online games, downloading large files, then this can significantly slow down the network. Particular attention should be paid to torrent clients. Some of them are configured in such a way that they automatically start at system startup and continue downloading and distributing data in the background. A separate pain is computer games that quietly download multi-gigabyte updates and add-ons.

6. Block access to strangers

By default, the manufacturer sets the same well-known logins and passwords on all of its routers. Each user must independently change them in order to protect their network from unauthorized access. However, unfortunately, not everyone does it.

If you do not want your neighbors to use your wireless network, thereby interfering with you, then you need to perform detailed configuration of the router. How to do this, you can read in our guide "".

7. Get rid of interference

The quality of the signal transmitted over a Wi-Fi network can be affected by many different factors, including interference from phones, microwave ovens, and so on. You can get rid of them only by placing the router and the source of interference at the maximum distance. A special WiFi Analyzer application will help to cope with this task, which can display signal strength in real time.

8. Tune in to a free channel

In modern apartment buildings, many wireless access points operate simultaneously, occupying all available channels. As a result, some of them have to share the same channel, which leads to a mutual decrease in the speed and stability of the connection.

9. Find a New Location for Your Router

The unsuccessful location of the router in the apartment can also affect the quality of the connection. If your workplace separates several concrete walls from the connection point, then you should not be surprised that the Internet constantly slows down.

You can choose the optimal place for the router only empirically, moving it around the apartment and measuring the signal quality. The NetSpot diagnostic utility and our instruction, which is called "", will help to do this.

10. Use modern technology

One of better ways to make your wireless network as fast, stable and secure as possible is to use modern equipment.

Communication standards are constantly evolving and improving. Newer implementations of this protocol provide faster connection speeds and reduce errors and susceptibility to interference.

However, they require the right equipment to use them. Therefore, the most radical and expensive method to improve the quality of your home network is to buy a modern dual-band router from a well-known manufacturer.

But I think it is necessary to expand this topic. Often, we buy expensive wi-fi routers, hoping for decent performance, but the quality of the wireless home network still leaves much to be desired. We need to make some transformations that will help increase the range of the wi-fi network and signal strength.
The problems of optimizing a wireless network are especially relevant now, when most modern devices offer wireless support: smartphones, tablets, TVs and laptops. After all, all of them can simultaneously connect to a home wi-fi network, so it should work stably and quickly. Many older wireless routers are unable to provide an acceptable connection quality, as their capabilities are limited. This article will talk about methods and special equipment to ensure reliable reception of a wi-fi router at a distance of up to 100 m and more.

The first thing to take care of choosing the right place for the location of the wi-fi router and other devices on the network. This is an important measure when setting up a wireless network at home. To get started, find the optimal placement point for your wireless router in an apartment or house and check that all network clients can confidently receive a signal, since the effectiveness of any wireless connection will always match the level of the weakest link in the chain. Do not ignore the possibility of using additional devices, as they are able to expand the boundaries of the network in a wireless or wired way. This is especially true if your apartment (house) has thick walls or you need distribute wireless internet over several floors.

There is also a pretty simple way assemble a do-it-yourself directional antenna for a wi-fi router. This antenna is capable increase the range of a wi-fi network. If none of the proposed options is suitable or did not help, for example, you want to use the Internet in the courtyard of a country house, then we will consider the option with microwave antennas. Their application makes it possible to solve many wi-fi range issues, because the wireless network signal propagates evenly in all directions and weakens in proportion to the square of the distance.

Briefly about the principle of operation of such antennas

Radio relay antennas collect the signal into a beam and radiate it in one direction, so the wireless network works stably even at a decent distance.

1. Finding the best place to install a wi-fi router

To achieve reliable wireless network performance, you need to find the correct installation locations for all components, as well as select a channel that is not subject to interference.

Selecting a free channel for a wi-fi network. Wireless interference

Extraneous radio signals, the source of which may be a neighbor's router or a baby monitor, is background noise for our wireless network, with which it constantly struggles. Especially often problems with a wireless network are caused by wi-fi routers of neighbors.

The solution to the problem with the neighbor's router is simple:

• Select the channel (frequency range) with the least amount of interference using the inSSIDer program.
• Click the "2.4 GHz Channels" tab to see which channels are occupied by devices.
• Select the channel on your wireless router that has the least interference.

Attention! If your router and all receiving devices support the 5 GHz frequency band, switch to it and check the quality of your wireless connection.

Note that there is less interference at this frequency, but sometimes you have to put up with a slightly shorter signal range and worse ability to pass through walls. I note right away that this feature is not true for all routers that support the 5GHz frequency.

Placement of the router: put in the center

The best option for creating a reliable wireless network is to connect all devices to the router directly, without intermediaries. To achieve this, put the router in the center (if possible, with some errors relative to the geometric center). Thus, it will be surrounded by all clients that will be connected to the router.

Be sure to consider walls, furniture, and other obstacles. In open space, the signal is practically not exposed negative impact, but strongly weakens, passing through them. Therefore, you need to install the router closer to those devices that are placed behind the wall. To get the greatest radius of the wi-fi signal of the router, it must stand on an elevated place. Choosing too low a position, you will jam the signal with various kinds of obstacles.

Testing the network with a weak link to verify

After you have taken the above optimization steps, I recommend checking the operation with a device that is located farthest in the house or behind several walls, and also has a small antenna. In this case, the rule applies: the higher the receiving antenna is located, the more effective the connection with the router .

Antenna Direction of Wireless Devices

Antennas emit a signal in circles that are oriented in space perpendicular to the axis of the antennas. The optimal location to achieve good coverage would be multi-directional - for devices with 2 or more antennas. In general, try to rotate the antenna so that its axis is perpendicular to the direction of the client device with the worst reception quality. If the antennas are built into the router, try to rotate or move the device a few centimeters to the side, while monitoring the result.

WiFi connection optimization

As I said above, the reception quality can change dramatically if you move or expand the router or wi-fi adapter (card) that is responsible for reception. Even a slight twist or shift of the router, laptop, or other receiving device can significantly increase or decrease the signal quality. You can measure the speed of a wireless network with the JPerl program. You need to run it on a computer connected via a LAN cable, and on a wireless device (for example, a laptop) acting as a client, measure the connection speed after each change.

Replacing an old router with a new one

Upgrading your wi-fi router will not be superfluous if your wireless router only supports the 802.11g standard, as it makes sense to purchase a more powerful router that is compatible with 802.11n.
If you use a DSL Internet connection, then you should purchase a model with a built-in DSL modem. In this case, you only need to enter your Internet access data issued by your provider, as a result, the device will automatically connect to the Internet. An old 802.11g router will also come in handy, it can be used as a repeater.
Let's say you bought a new wi-fi router. Now you need to set it up, the 2 articles that I indicated at the very beginning of this material will help you with this. If you saved money and bought a router without a DSL modem, then the role of the modem can be transferred to the old device. To do this, configure it to work as a modem, according to the user manual. After that, connect the WAN connector (connector for connecting to the Internet access channel) of the new router with the LAN port of the old one.

Using an old router as a repeater

If your new 802.11n router has a built-in modem, then I recommend using the DD-WRT firmware developed by the Open Source community, you can tuneold router as a repeater (repeater). Check this page to see if support for your model is available. There you will find the appropriate firmware for your device, as well as installation instructions. In most cases, to install DD-WRT firmware on the router, use the update point provided by the original firmware.

After installing the firmware and rebooting the router, log into its web interface.

• In the login field enter: root
• In the password field, enter: admin.

Configuring Repeater Bridge Mode on the Router

Connect an old wi-fi router with DD-WRT firmware installed with a LAN cable to the computer. In the future, the repeater will connect to the wireless network of the main router as a client and redirect the signal via wired or wireless communication to other client devices. To implement this, in the Wireless / Basic Settings section, you need 0 set the Repeater Bridge mode. All network settings such as network mode, network name and wireless channel must match those in the main router. In the "Virtual Interfaces" section, add another wireless network under a different name (for example, by inserting .Repeater at the end of the name) and then configure it.

How to increase the range of a wi-fi router

Selecting the installation location of the repeater (repeater)

The easiest way increase the coverage area of ​​the wireless network- use of a wireless repeater or repeater, especially if it is offered by the same manufacturer as the router. Place it in such a way that it is located in the zone of reliable signal reception of the router. Setup includes only a few simple operations. The disadvantage is that the maximum bandwidth of a router operating in repeater mode is halved.

powerline adapters

In order for the router to cover other floors in your house, I recommend using a network expander based on Powerline adapters that transmit a network signal through electrical wiring. You can use the dLAN 200 AV Wireless Nvon devolo model. Connection: Connect one adapter to the LAN port of the router, and the other with the function of a wireless access point connects to any outlet in the house. You can read more about Powerline adapters for a wired network (without an access point function).

Network Extender Setup: To configure the basic parameters of the Powerline adapter set, you can use the included software. If you need to change the wireless connection settings, use the program to open the adapter's web interface.

Attention! When increasing the transmission power through the router's web interface, do it in stages, as this may affect the signal quality.

Selecting the correct position for receiving devices

Apart from choosing the optimal position of the router, do not forget about the device that receives the signal. After all, even small changes in position can significantly affect the result. Let's take a laptop for example. Place the laptop so that the display lid, which houses the antenna, is facing the wireless signal source. Then move or turn the device slowly, you will know how to find the zone of optimal signal reception. You can also check the result with the inSSIDer program (link above).

Using a USB extension cable

A long antenna cable can negatively affect the quality of reception, while a USB cable up to 5 m long will not cause such problems. Therefore, it makes sense to place the wireless USB adapter within the coverage area of ​​the wireless network using a long USB cable. Using the holder included with many USB adapters, the device can be mounted at a certain height to achieve more confident reception from the router. Using a USB extension cable will good option for a room remote from the router. For example, I used it in the bedroom for a mini-ITX computer.

Internal boards for connecting a PC to a wireless network

It's no secret that expansion cards with a Wi-Fi module are available for desktop computers, however, due to their internal location, the antennas, as a rule, are hidden under the table or behind the wall of the cabinet. In my HTPC, I used this option, since there was no back wall in the shelf under the equipment. If the antennas cannot be brought out, a USB-connected wireless adapter is a more efficient and affordable solution. A good model is the TP-Link TL-WN822N, since its antennas can be turned in the right direction, and not only placed behind your system unit.

In this section, we will talk about small do-it-yourself devices and not only, with which you can significantly increase the range of your wireless network.

DIY parabolic mirror. As you already know, router antennas emit a signal in uniform circles, and a parabolic mirror will collect this signal into a beam and transmit it in a certain direction. All you need is scissors, foil, paper and glue. The mirror must be put on one of the antennas of your router and turned towards the receiving device.

Using an optional antenna

Now it is easy to find special antennas in computer stores, which, due to their size and shape, are capable of providing a higher signal transmission quality than antennas built into a wi-fi router.
Their main advantage is that the cable allows you to place one or more antennas on an elevated point.

Installing an external wireless antenna

Owners of country houses who spend a lot of time in the yard and want to use wireless Internet will come to the aid of an external antenna. A good option would be TP-Link-TL-ANT2409B, which can improve signal reception. You will need to fix the antenna on an external wall, connect it to your wi-fi router. Remember that the antenna must be pointed in the direction where you want to provide good reception, so mount it on an elevated point whenever possible.

When buying an antenna, pay attention to the shielding of the cable, as the signals that are transmitted over the antenna cable are subject to interference. The quality of the cable can be determined by the attenuation coefficient, measured in dB. A good 5m cable should not have an attenuation factor of more than 3dB.

Using a wi-fi parabolic antenna

Parabolic antennas are designed to transmit a wireless network signal between two similar antennas over a distance of several kilometers. If you need to transmit a signal over a distance of more than 100 m, then this is the solution to your problem.

Directional parabolic antennas It is used to connect client Wi-Fi devices located at an average and far distance from the central access point, or to build Wi-Fi connections of the point-to-point type. As a rule, such an antenna has a gain of 24 dB in the frequency range of 2.4 - 2.5 GHz and is used to receive and transmit electromagnetic waves with vertical or horizontal polarization. The design of a parabolic wi-fi antenna consists of a log-periodic feed in a robust housing, which is attached to a reflector with a mesh structure (to reduce windage and the total weight of the antenna). As standard, the antenna has a microwave cable 1 meter long with a connector N-type (N type female).

The simplest solution to the problem of a weak signal is to change the settings of the router. To do this, log in to the web interface using the data that is indicated on the bottom of the router. Next, in the wireless settings, find the item "Transmitter power" or "TX Power" and set the maximum value.

Also pay attention to the parameters of the channel on which the router operates. The entire range of WiFi radio frequencies is divided into a certain number of segments (there are 13 of them in Russia). The device can work on each of them, but if there are already other wireless networks in the coverage area on the current channel, the devices may interfere with each other. To amplify the signal, it is necessary to use the minimum loaded channel.

Selecting the location of the router

It is recommended to move the router to maximize the wireless coverage area. To do this, place the device in the central room of the room where signal amplification is required. When it comes to vertical placement, router manufacturers recommend mounting them as high as possible. For example, for an apartment, the ideal solution for amplifying the WiFi signal would be to place the router on a closet or high cabinet.

Also keep in mind that the main obstacle to radio waves is the walls. This is especially true for thick load-bearing walls with reinforcement. Depending on the materials and thickness of the walls, they can absorb from 70% (wooden) to 90% of the signal (solid reinforced concrete floors). But radio waves are also subject to diffraction, which means that they can be repeatedly reflected from surfaces and penetrate into the required premises through doors, windows, and thin partitions. Electrical devices also affect the signal. They can interfere with the wireless network, so it is recommended to install the router away from working household appliances.

When choosing a router location that will maximize signal strength, use a real-time wireless network scanning program such as "inSSIDer". The program window displays the current signal strength of all wireless networks. Find your network and monitor the change in reception when you move your router.

Important! When choosing a place to install a router, keep in mind that the signal does not only propagate directly. Some of the radio waves are reflected from obstacles.

Strengthening the WiFi Signal with Antennas

The simplest antenna for a WiFi router can be made at home, but it will only serve to redirect radio waves. It is possible to amplify the signal in this way only in a certain part of the room. Such antennas are easy to implement, and drawings for their creation can be found on the websites of radio amateurs.

An even simpler option is a screen that can be cut out of an aluminum can in a few minutes. The principle of its operation is based on the reflection of radio waves generated by the antenna of the router. At the same time, some of the waves are absorbed by the material, so the WiFi signal on the back of the screen will be worse. The efficiency of such a screen is quite low - no more than 20% gain.

by the most effective method signal amplification is a professional antenna. Unlike homemade options, most of these devices are omnidirectional. This helps to amplify the signal level anywhere in the room, not just in the direction of the antenna. As in the case of the built-in antenna, such an antenna propagates radio waves perpendicular to its axis, so the best way to direct it is vertical. The budget version of such models can be chosen on AliExpress.

If your router does not support connecting such devices, you can use an external WiFi adapter with an antenna. It connects to a laptop or computer and provides just as much amplification. You can also use both devices for maximum effect.

Using additional devices

In addition to antennas, there is a separate device to amplify the WiFi signal - a repeater (also called a repeater or repeater). It works on a different principle, expanding the network coverage area. A repeater is a miniature device with a built-in power supply that plugs into an outlet on the edge of the WiFi coverage area. After a quick setup, the extender connects to the wireless network and relays it within its range.

The number of repeaters that can be used to amplify the signal within the same network is not limited. That is, in a large room, you can get by with one router and several repeaters. Most repeaters have not only a WiFi module, but also a standard network input. This means that you can connect the repeater to the router with a cable if you need to install it at a great distance from the router.

Despite the convenience of using repeaters to amplify the WiFi signal, they can affect the speed of the Internet. This is especially noticeable when organizing large home networks or networks in small offices. Therefore, it is recommended to use a repeater complete with a powerful antenna at the main device that distributes WiFi.

A weak WiFi signal is an actual problem for residents of apartments, country houses and office workers. Dead zones in the WiFi network are inherent in both large rooms and small apartments, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich is theoretically capable of covering even a budget access point.

The range of a WiFi router is a characteristic that manufacturers cannot unequivocally indicate on the box: many factors affect the WiFi range, which depend not only on the technical specifications of the device.

This article provides 10 practical tips to help eliminate the physical causes of poor coverage and optimize the range of a WiFi router, it's easy to do it yourself.

The radiation of an access point in space is not a sphere, but a toroidal field resembling a donut in shape. In order for WiFi coverage within one floor to be optimal, radio waves must propagate in a horizontal plane - parallel to the floor. For this, the possibility of tilting the antennas is provided.

Antenna - the axis of the "donut". The angle of signal propagation depends on its slope.

When the antenna is tilted relative to the horizon, part of the radiation is directed outdoors: dead zones form under the “donut” plane.

A vertically mounted antenna radiates in a horizontal plane: indoors, maximum coverage is achieved.

On practice: Install the antenna vertically — simplest way optimize indoor WiFi coverage.

Place the router closer to the center of the room

Another reason for the appearance of dead zones is the poor location of the access point. An antenna radiates radio waves in all directions. In this case, the radiation intensity is maximum near the router and decreases as you approach the edge of the coverage area. If you install an access point in the center of the house, then the signal will be distributed across the rooms more efficiently.

The router, installed in the corner, gives some of the power outside the house, and the far rooms are on the edge of the coverage area.

Installation in the center of the house allows you to achieve a uniform distribution of the signal in all rooms and minimize dead zones.

In practice: Installing an access point in the “center” of the house is far from always feasible due to the complex layout, the lack of outlets in the right place, or the need to lay a cable.

Provide line of sight between router and clients

WiFi signal frequency - 2.4 GHz. These are decimeter radio waves that do not go around obstacles well and have low penetrating power. Therefore, the range and stability of the signal directly depend on the number and structure of obstacles between the access point and clients.

Passing through a wall or ceiling, an electromagnetic wave loses some of its energy.

The amount of signal attenuation depends on the material that the radio waves pass through.

* Effective distance is a value that determines how the radius of a wireless network changes in comparison with open space when a wave passes through an obstacle.

Calculation example : WiFi 802.11n signal extends in line of sight to 400 meters. After overcoming a non-permanent wall between rooms, the signal strength drops to 400 m * 15% = 60 m. The second wall will make the signal even weaker: 60 m * 15% = 9 m. The third wall makes signal reception almost impossible: 9 m * 15 % = 1.35 m.

Such calculations will help to calculate the dead zones that occur due to the absorption of radio waves by walls.

The next problem in the path of radio waves: mirrors and metal structures. Unlike walls, they do not weaken, but reflect the signal, scattering it in arbitrary directions.

Mirrors and metal structures reflect and scatter the signal, forming dead zones behind them.

If you move interior elements that reflect the signal, you can eliminate dead zones.

In practice: It is extremely rare to achieve ideal conditions when all gadgets are in direct line of sight with the router. Therefore, in a real home, each dead zone will have to be eliminated separately:

• find out what interferes with the signal (absorption or reflection);
• think about where to move the router (or piece of furniture).

Place the router away from sources of interference

The 2.4 GHz band does not require a license and is therefore used for the operation of household radio standards: WiFi and Bluetooth. Despite the low bandwidth, Bluetooth is still able to interfere with the router.

Green areas - stream from WiFi router. Red dots are Bluetooth data. The proximity of two radio standards in the same range causes interference that reduces the range of the wireless network.

The microwave oven magnetron emits in the same frequency range. The intensity of the radiation of this device is so high that even through the protective screen of the furnace, the radiation of the magnetron is able to “illuminate” the radio beam of the WiFi router.

The radiation of the magnetron of the microwave oven causes interference interference on almost all WiFi channels.

On practice :

• When using Bluetooth accessories near the router, enable the AFH parameter in the latest settings.
• The microwave is a powerful source of interference, but it is not used as often. Therefore, if it is not possible to move the router, then just while preparing breakfast, you will not be able to make a Skype call.

Disable support for 802.11 b/g modes

In the 2.4 GHz band, WiFi devices of three specifications work: 802.11 b / g / n. N is the newest standard and provides more speed and range than B and G.

The 802.11n (2.4 GHz) specification provides longer range than the legacy B and G standards.

802.11n routers support previous WiFi standards, but the mechanics of backwards compatibility is such that when a B/G device, such as an old phone or a neighbor's router, appears in the coverage area of ​​an N-router, the entire network is switched to B/G mode. Physically, there is a change in the modulation algorithm, which leads to a drop in the speed and range of the router.

In practice: Switching the router to “pure 802.11n” mode will definitely have a positive effect on the quality of coverage and bandwidth of the wireless network.

However, B/G devices will not be able to connect via WiFi. If it is a laptop or TV, they can be easily connected to a router via Ethernet.

Choose the optimal WiFi channel in the settings

Almost every apartment today has a WiFi router, so the density of networks in the city is very high. The signals of neighboring access points overlap each other, taking energy from the radio path and greatly reducing its efficiency.

Neighboring networks operating on the same frequency create mutual interference interference, like circles on the water.

Wireless networks operate within range on different channels. There are 13 such channels (in Russia) and the router switches between them automatically.

To minimize interference, you need to understand which channels neighboring networks operate on and switch to a less loaded one.
detailed instructions channel setting is presented.

In practice: Selecting the least loaded channel - effective method expand the coverage area that is relevant for residents of an apartment building.

But in some cases, there are so many networks on the air that not a single channel gives a tangible increase in WiFi speed and range. Then it makes sense to turn to method number 2 and place the router away from the walls bordering neighboring apartments. If this does not bring results, then you should think about switching to the 5 GHz band (method No. 10).

Adjust the transmitter power of the router

The transmitter power determines the energy of the radio path and directly affects the range of the access point: the more powerful the beam, the farther it hits. But this principle is useless in the case of omnidirectional antennas of household routers: in wireless transmission, data is exchanged two-way and not only clients must “hear” the router, but vice versa.

Asymmetry: the router “reaches out” to the mobile device in the back room, but does not receive a response from it due to the low power of the smartphone’s WiFi module. The connection is not established.

In practice: The recommended transmitter power is 75%. It should be increased only in extreme cases: the power turned out by 100% not only does not improve the signal quality in distant rooms, but even worsens the reception stability near the router, because its powerful radio stream "clogs" the weak response signal from the smartphone.

Replace the standard antenna with a more powerful one

Most routers are equipped with standard antennas with a gain of 2 - 3 dBi. The antenna is a passive element of the radio system and is not capable of increasing the power of the stream. However, increasing the gain allows you to refocus the radio signal by changing the radiation pattern.

The higher the antenna gain, the farther the radio signal travels. At the same time, a narrower flow becomes not like a “donut”, but like a flat disk.

There is a large selection of antennas for routers with a universal SMA connector on the market.

In practice: Using a high-gain antenna is an effective way to expand the coverage area, because along with signal amplification, the antenna sensitivity increases, which means that the router begins to “hear” remote devices. But due to the narrowing of the radio beam from the antenna, dead zones appear near the floor and ceiling.

Use signal repeaters

In rooms with a complex layout and multi-storey buildings, it is effective to use repeaters - devices that repeat the signal of the main router.

The simplest solution is to use an old router as a repeater. The downside of this scheme is that the throughput of the child network is halved, since, along with client data, the WDS access point aggregates the upstream from the upstream router.

Detailed instructions for setting up a WDS bridge are presented.

Dedicated repeaters are free from the problem of bandwidth cuts and are equipped with additional functionality. For example, some Asus repeater models support roaming.

In practice: No matter how complex the layout is, repeaters will help deploy a WiFi network. But any repeater is a source of interference interference. With free air, repeaters do their job well, but with a high density of neighboring networks, the use of relay equipment in the 2.4 GHz band is impractical.

Use the 5 GHz band

Budget WiFi devices operate at 2.4 GHz, so the 5 GHz band is relatively free and has little interference.

5 GHz is a promising range. Works with gigabit streams and has an increased capacity compared to 2.4 GHz.

In practice: “Moving” to a new frequency is a radical option that requires the purchase of an expensive dual-band router and imposes restrictions on client devices: only the latest gadget models work in the 5 GHz band.

The problem with the quality of the WiFi signal is not always related to the actual range of the access point, and its solution in in general terms boils down to two scenarios:

• In a country house, it is most often required in free air conditions to cover an area that exceeds the effective range of the router.
• For a city apartment, the range of a router is usually sufficient, and the main difficulty is to eliminate dead zones and interference.

The methods presented in this material will help to identify the causes of poor reception and optimize the wireless network without resorting to replacing the router or the services of paid specialists.

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