Boosting wireless signal strength

[dms05]

For 2.4GHz WiFi the Pringles container is theoretically too narrow (and too long). However many people report quite good improvements using them and it just shows that any improvement is better than no improvement!

As 1800MHz mobile phones frequencies aren't too far away from 2400MHz it's also possible to use the same kind of tin can antenna if you have a mobile phone with an external antenna (or connection). A slightly wider tin can (large tomatoes can) is ideal.

When I played around with these antenna I embarrassed my wife by measuring cans in Tesco and buying on the basis of size rather than contents.

I've also seen antenna where a USB WiFi Dongle is placed at the focus point of a half sphere metal wire vegetable drainer. Reported transmission/reception worked over 4Km.

Be inventive!

[dms05]

The suggestion of using HomePlug is also a good one. I now use HomePlug myself (I have one connected to the Sky Router and another connected to a Network switch at the top of the house). The Homeplug replaces a potential 30m LAN cable (and it's routing through 3 floors and many rooms). At either end I have a standard cabled LAN and the HomePlug just replaces the one difficult wire run.

HomePlug is networking over mains cable and is simple plug'n'play. No set up is necessary and the HomePlug has basic encryption as delivered but can be improved if you wish (by the software supplied).

You can buy a pair of HomePlugs for about £50. You can have as many as you want on your household ring mains and they are of course moveable from any socket to any other socket.

[g3az66]

Thanks all for your replies....

The first solution I tried was adding a cone wrapped in foil around my aerial, although it did improve marginally the missus was not too impressed with "Jodrell Bank" on the top of our units....

I then purchased a 9db aerial off ebay, that has had a marked difference and is much much better. However I would still like the signal stronger.

You can buy a pair of HomePlugs for about £50. You can have as many as you want on your household ring mains and they are of course moveable from any socket to any other socket.

Very interested dms05 as to where I can purchase the above from. The cheapest I found were about £150

[g3az66]

Cancel that dms05, just found them on Amazon.......

[g3az66]

Quick update,

Just got 2 Homeplugs and they work a treat. Rock solid Xbox connection. Bargain for £40 off ebay. Cheaper than a wireless dongle even!

[MAQ]

Just found this,

7dB Parabolic reflector for WiFi Systems...

so its worth trying your own

[Isitme]

HERE are some 'funky' ways to 'improve' a USB aerial for those that are interested.

[reaver_87]

thanks for the thread and link, as daft as my wi-fi dongle now looks, it does actually work, i went from 43% signal up to 65%, so thanks

[reaver_87]

p.s didn't have any card so used some glossy photo paper, hoping the shine may bounce the signal better, so far so good