Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Boosting signal range wireless AP

Jul 5, 2004 2:16PM PDT

I am trying to get coverage for our building. A single access point only gives me 1/2 coverage. I found two products at http://www.ourspots.com/ospprograms/catalog.htm

one seems to be a repeater and claims to give 75K sq ft of coverage. The other a directional antenna. Anyone have any suggestions. Will anyone of these work?

One building is "stick" (wood) construction and the other is slab. Any suggestions to get total coverage would be highly greatful.

~B

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: Boosting signal range wireless AP
Jul 6, 2004 12:53AM PDT

Many try antennas with varied results. For now, I just install WiFi repeaters.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: Boosting signal range wireless AP
Jul 8, 2004 6:16PM PDT

Security, security, security. That should be your main concern. First of all, you are talking wireless. That's one bad choice. A wireless connection is ALWAYS less secured than wired. Secondly, you now are wanting to increase the range of your wireless connection. Not a smart idea, either. Think about it, the more you increase the range of your WiFi, the larger the number of people who will be able to access your connection from the OUTSIDE. We're talking your neighbors or anyone driving by with a laptop. You'd be better off setting up a VPN, anything except what you are talking about doing.

- Collapse -
facts on Increasing or Boosting 802.11B/g wireless range
Aug 24, 2004 4:14AM PDT

Everyone wants to boost or increase their wireless range on there wireless 802.11 B or 802.11G equipment. Well here is the real deal ! Yes you can. The common mistake everyone makes is that they fix the wrong thing. Right out of the box the access point/wireless router has an advantage over your laptop card or your desktop card. That is the power level of the access point/wireless router is greater. The common mistake is that everyone adds a higher gain antenna to the access point/wireless router and they do nothing to fix the real problem and that is the range of the laptop card or desktop card. Search for linksys antennas and you will find a few companies like hdwifi.com that offer antennas for the desktop as well as antennas for some laptop cards (Only some cards have a antenna connector ) or purchase a better laptop card such as the Zyxel B-101 or the extended range laptop card from parkervision. Range extenders are reapters and reapters will slow down the network.