Many people find that their wireless network's range does not meet their expectations. Sometimes it's radio interference, other times it's objects blocking the wireless signal. People use a wireless extender, a wireless antenna, or a wireless booster to try to fix this. Some methods are better than others. In any case, I will show you some great methods to boost your wireless router's WIFI signal range. I will also show you how to boost it using WDS. Using these simple methods will help you save money by not having to buy a lot of expensive WIFI gear or hire technicians.
1. Remove the stock wireless antenna off your WIFI router. Attach the pigtail cable (be sure to buy the appropriate one) to the antenna jack on the back of your router.
2. Attach the other end of the pigtail cable to an omnidirectional wireless antenna. I would suggest at least a 15 db gain antenna. Make sure that you mount this wireless antenna so that it is free standing away from obstructions.
3. Flash the router with alternative firmware such as DD-WRT, Tomato, Open-WRT for example. There are many types of firmware for almost all types of routers. Be sure to use Google to find the best type for you router. These firmware types are free and will enhance your router and save you money on the costs of new high powered routers.
Within the firmware, there are usually options to increase the power of your wireless router' s signal. This will be called "transmit power, signal power, or XMIT power". Be sure to increase this to the desired level that you need. This will work as a free wireless booster.
4. Optionally you can add another access point using WDS. To do this, you will need two routers setup in WDS mode. Both wireless routers will need to be setup as an AP or "access point", and they will both need to be on different IP's in the same subnet. For example, Router 1 is 192.168.1.1 router 2 is 192.168.1.2. Each router will need the same WEP or WPA wireless encryption password setup as well. These passwords must be exactly the same. Go into the WDS settings on Router 1, and put the wireless MAC address information of router 2. Go into router 2's WDS settings and put the wireless MAC address information of router 1. (The wireless MAC addresses can be found within both pieces of firmware as well as stickers on the router) This will enable 2 Access Points to work on the same network, thus increasing your wireless range as a wireless repeater. You can also use this in conjunction with the wireless antenna and wireless booster that are in previous steps to increase your wireless router's range.
