The convenience of using wireless technology has led to the proliferation of gadgets that integrate WiFi. Of course, traditional LAN ports do not lose their relevance, but already as a secondary means of accessing the network. Moreover, on the street or in a public place, this port is not needed at all. However, the use of wireless Internet access tools has its drawbacks in the form of interference or insufficient coverage. Therefore, the question arises of the means by which it is possible to strengthen the WiFi antenna for its more efficient operation.
First of all, users turn to equipment manufacturers who note the dependence of reception quality on factors such as the radius of the network, the type of access point, and also the characteristics of the antennas themselves. Of course, these factors directly affect the signal quality, but if they do not allow you to achieve the required quality of communication, then do not despair - there are many ways to solve this problem.
The correct device location
Before you intervene in the settings and experiment with the modernization of devices, it is worth analyzing the very location of the device in terms of optimal reception. First of all, it must be taken into account that the access point should provide the maximum possible coverage of the potentially used area - for example, in an office or apartment.
Also, in answer to the question of how to amplify the antenna, the signal of the WiFi router and the overall reception quality, the importance of free space for the passage of radio waves should be noted. That is, the interior partitions act as a rather serious barrier and can complicate the broadcast signal. And this also applies to modern cellular-concrete walls with plasterboard decoration, and even more so of brick reinforced structures. You can solve the problem by choosing a point for the location of the router so that it can be easily accessed.
Matching channel frequencies - what to do?
Unfortunately, software methods of signal amplification are the least popular among users, while a lot depends on the settings. To begin to improve the performance of wireless devices at the software level, it is necessary to analyze the frequencies at which the equipment operates. For example, if there are 10-15 networks in the house, then it is obvious that you will have to forget about good quality, since with a higher probability the signals intersect and interfere with each other.
If you choose the right channel for broadcasting radio waves, then all questions regarding how to strengthen the antenna of the WiFi router will disappear by themselves. But to select a channel, you need a special program - for example, you can use the InSSIDer system. It is necessary to use this software in parallel with the WiFi adapter. Installed on the computer, InSSIDer will display data on all available channels, identifying busy and free channels. In accordance with the information received, it remains only to reconfigure the adapter's operating mode to a suitable frequency.
Increase router power
An unsatisfactory device reception signal may be due to the fact that the settings themselves impose restrictions on it. Actually, this is an elementary way to improve the quality of work on the network. To understand how to increase the antenna power of a WiFi router, you need to understand the settings of a specific device model. Usually, power adjustment is present in the "Advanced Settings", on which the network operation parameters depend.
In one of the tabs there should be an inscription mentioning the transmit power. For example, in English it can be a Wireless Transmit Power line. The adjustment indicator itself can be presented in different ways, in percentages or levels like “Low”, “High”, etc. Thus, in order to get a high power router and strengthen the WiFi antenna, you should set the maximum value for this parameter. True, in the modifications of the SOHO-level such settings may be absent, and then only special firmware will help, for the integration of which it is advisable to turn to professionals.
Standard and Range Setting
Again, many users are not familiar with the standard on which their device operates. At the same time, two network standards are relevant today: 802.11ac and 802.11n. The first is not yet available to a wide range of consumers, and the second is considered one of the most powerful. If you plan to strengthen the WiFi antenna due to the fact that the device does not perceive the signal at all, then perhaps the equipment is elementary working on a different standard.
The translation of the gadget to the 802.11n format is usually performed in the main settings - in essence, this is the choice of the operating mode parameters. Here it is worth mentioning the frequency range at 5 GHz, with which devices that support the 802.11n standard work. In contrast to the more common 2.4 GHz band, 5 GHz channels are still more or less free and not littered, therefore the quality of work in this format is much higher.
Disabling Power Saving Mode
In the operation of modern computers, issues of power savings have become especially relevant. This mainly applies to portable devices that have to work for a long time without charge. Unfortunately, only with increased performance can you enhance WiFi reception on your tablet.
The antenna will work with minimum power settings if the device is switched to the power saving mode. This does not mean that it is necessary to establish the most productive format of the computer, but it is better to avoid a minimum level of power supply. The best option is to use a balanced mode, which will not impede the full operation of WiFi.
Antenna revision
This is a favorite way of improving the quality of reception of various antennas among craftsmen. Its essence lies in the fact that the working element of the reception is additionally equipped with metal devices in the form of pieces of foil, tin elements and cans. Since it is possible to strengthen the WiFi antenna with your own hands in this way without harm to the device itself, it makes sense to experiment with different designs. Although some users note a good effect from such improvements, a serious result is not worth the wait. At the very least, this way of solving the problem loses significantly to the simple replacement of the antenna with a more powerful model. Nevertheless, the coverage area when using metal supplements should increase.
Repeater application
The installation of a WiFi repeater also leads to a direct increase in signal power. The principle of operation of this device is that it is included in the network as a regular client, but in the future it plays the role of a distributor of the received signal, expanding the coverage in accordance with the capabilities of its own antenna. The repeater is identical in size to a standard power supply, so it won’t take up much space. Also, its acquisition is beneficial in terms of simple settings and maintenance in general.
Using a repeater, you can not only amplify the signal of the WiFi antenna, but also expand the coverage using WDS technology. That is, the device will allow you to combine different access points without the need for wired contacts. The cost of budget models of repeaters varies on average from 700 to 1000 rubles. More productive and reliable devices with advanced functionality can cost 2000–3000 rubles each.
Extension cords for adapters
To save yourself from problems with receiving a signal via WiFi, it is recommended that you initially purchase powerful adapters and, most importantly, with an external antenna. In this regard, receiver models integrated in tablets and laptops are less efficient. Nevertheless, for such devices it will not be out of place to provide an extension cord. With it, you can move the modem in search of the best place to receive. If the question is how to strengthen the WiFi antenna on a laptop, then this option will be even more advantageous, since the mobility of the device itself will expand the possibilities for finding the best location. By the way, the length of cables for USB devices can be up to 3 m.
Conclusion
It is rarely possible to significantly improve the quality of reception of a WiFi signal through the use of one or even two methods. The fact is that the implementation of all recommendations can be nullified if, for example, the minimum power level is indicated in the device settings. And vice versa, if all program parameters are focused on the optimal operating mode of the equipment, then interference in the form of an interior partition will also spoil the potentially high quality of reception. Therefore, a WiFi antenna can be significantly strengthened only with an integrated approach to analyzing its settings and assessing its location. As practice shows, the most effective solution in terms of enhancing the reception power is still to purchase more technologically advanced modern equipment. In particular, the latest models open up possibilities for working in new frequency ranges, providing high and stable data transmission.