Whether in a hotel in the sleepy provincial town or at a major airport, WLAN is off today here to stay. The wireless technology for the Internet enjoys great popularity. It has, however, one crucial drawback: The range is fairly limited. From a certain distance to the access point disconnects are common. Moreover, the router radio in the 2.4 GHz range, which for all free and without registration is available. Microwaves work in the same area and often are wireless networks by closing poorly disrupted or bypassed completely microwaves.
The manufacturer of the wireless router also optimistic thinking, the specified ranges can be achieved only in the open field. But who is on his routers outdoors? This works most, in areas where the weather is always good, water is none of the models on the market. In normal environments can range 20-30 meters will be achieved, provided that do not affect too many walls or other obstacles to the reception.
If the range of a wireless network will be increased, still applies: The antenna is the best high-frequency amplifier and therefore there should be recognized. The better the antenna, the better the transmission power. A good wireless antenna has good efficiency, which means they must convert as much of the energy fed into radiation. The smaller the antenna, the lower the transmission power and the higher the loss. The antenna should be at least as long as half the wavelength of the radiation. A wave is in the 2.4 GHz range, nearly 12cm long and therefore the antenna should be minimal 6cm long. Almost as important is the location would be ideal line of sight to the receiver. Unfortunately, in most home and corporate networks is simply not possible.
The recipient is the second weakness, in many networks spark PCI cards that can only work through the design is not optimal. The antenna is located behind the computer, usually hidden in a desk and radiates the first place on the wall. USB receiver are the first choice, they can with little effort optimally position and cause no cable mess.
Should or can send and receive benefits that are not reinforced, the range can also increase with additional hardware. These devices are called miracles wireless repeater (repeater). They are the actual access point connect and build on a quasi-second radio network, which is only half the data rate can work with, however, because the repeater connected computers and communicates with the Access Point. Most modern routers and access points can also be operated as a repeater. Requirement is to support WDS (Wireless Distribution System), a standard that WLAN protocol is incorporated in the base. The repeater function only in certain environments, and when different manufacturers are used together, problems arise because the devices rarely work really compatible with each other. The best solution is theoretically the use of a router as Access Point and another of the same make as a repeater. Whether it is possible to look into the manual reveals the devices and often offer the manufacturer of the router also extensive instructions for such constructions. Not all repeaters models support one way encryption and close attention should be paid, for nothing is more dangerous than an open, unencrypted Wi-Fi wireless network.