How to strengthen a Wi-Fi router signal and expand Wi-Fi network coverage

Almost every user thinks about how to strengthen the signal of a wifi router at one time or another. As a rule, such a brilliant thought occurs to a “user” when, at the most inopportune moment, the WiFi signal disappears in an unknown direction: for example, there is an urgent need to send a message on a social network, or the climax has arrived in a favorite movie.

However, it is quite possible to strengthen the signal of a wifi router in an apartment with your own hands, and you don’t need to be a “hacker in a Guy Fawkes mask” to do this.

How to strengthen the signal of a wifi router with your own hands?

1. One of the effective ways to improve the WiFi signal is. Let's say you have a 4-room apartment, and in each room there is a device that requires a wifi connection (for example, a laptop, smartphone, telephone and tablet): in this case, the optimal solution would be to install a router in the center of the apartment, so that between the wifi transmitter and devices turned out to be the same distance.

Yes, modern router models “cannot be frightened” by small obstacles in the apartment (such as tables, headsets, refrigerators or thick walls), however, such “obstacles” have a significant impact on the propagation of the wifi signal from “early” router models.

2. A special device - a repeater - will help to strengthen the signal of the wifi router in the apartment.

This inexpensive device will cost several times less than buying a new, more powerful router, and by “cloning” the router signals, the repeater can improve the wifi signal several times.

To configure the repeater correctly you need:

• - turn on the repeater and connect to it via cable or wifi connection;
• - go to the repeater interface from your computer: to do this, enter and specify your login and password in the browser;
• - on the main page, go to the “Repeater” section: after activation, the device will find all available wifi access points;

To strengthen the wifi signal in the apartment, select your access point and click “Apply”.

3. The network standard set in the router settings has a special impact on the wifi speed.

Today, the most common is 802.11n, which replaced 802.11g (we will not take the absolute leader 802.11ac as an example, since it has not yet entered mass production).

Setting the required standard is not difficult: the main thing is that your router fully “supports” it.

How to strengthen the wifi signal on a router?

4. On some models of D-link and Zuxel routers, it is possible to manually adjust the signal strength. To strengthen the wifi signal yourself, you need to find the “Transmit Power” (or “Wireless Transmit Power”) item in the router interface in the “Advanced settings” section and set it to 100%.

For this:

Let’s take as a basis that , and the main router (let it be “1”) successfully distributes wifi;
- go to router settings “2”;

Select “Wireless mode” and fill in the fields in the same way as on router “1”;

Go to the “Enable WDS” section: a window with available WiFi networks will appear here;

Here you will see the SSID (network name of router “1”) and BSSID (router “2”): click “Search” and in the “List of Access Points” window that appears, select the network distributed by router “1”.

This option for strengthening the wifi signal is suitable for routers equipped with WDS standard technology. If your router does not support it, then simply connect the routers with a cable and set up a “bridge” between them:

Connect the cable on router “1” to the LAN input and on router “2” to the WAN;

In router settings “1”, enable DHCP;

On router “2” go to “WAN” - “Connection type” - “Dynamic IP address”;

The parameters “Ip address”, “ ”, “ ” must already be specified: this means that router “2” acts as a “client” of router “1”, and the bridge is configured.

All these methods can be used individually or in combination. Particular attention should be paid to the “repeater” - the device famously burst onto the market and quite quickly “picked up” it for itself. And this is deserved: for its low price (for example, a decent option from TP-LINK TL-WA850RE can be purchased for no more than 1,500 rubles), the device will fully work out the money spent.

And, of course, you can increase the distribution of the wifi signal by purchasing a more powerful router: for example, the Tp-Link Archer C60 router, the price for this “miracle” varies around $100.

We've all encountered the problem of a weak signal from a router. Some people immediately think of changing the router, because it seems that the problem lies there. However, this is not quite true. If configured correctly, you can ensure good connection quality and Wi-Fi signal coverage. But if you still decide to buy a repeater to strengthen the signal, we will help you make the right choice.

What is a Wi-Fi repeater and how does it work?

In this section we will talk about what is called Wi-Fi signal amplifiers (they are also called repeaters, repeaters, repeaters) and what they are needed for.

It often happens that after purchasing and installing a router at home (in the office), you discover that the signal does not reach the desired location. Of course, you can install the router closer, then the signal will reach the computer, but if this is not possible, you have to buy this device.

The principle of operation of this device is clearly shown in the picture below. It extends the received signal from Wi-Fi and directs it to the location you need. The Internet speed remains the same.

As a rule, this device is quite compact and operates from an ordinary outlet. You can buy it from any online store and install it in your apartment the same day.

Some features of using the amplifier:

• The repeater creates a network similar to the existing one. All your devices (computer, phone, tablet) will automatically connect to the network with the best signal. For example: The router is in the kitchen, and the repeater is in the living room. If you go into the kitchen with your phone, the signal will be received from the router, in the living room - from the amplifier.
• You can easily set up a local network. All devices will be connected to the same network, regardless of the signal source.

How to strengthen the Wi-fi signal with your own hands?

Overall, this device is very useful for the home, however, depending on the model, you will have to pay a pretty penny for the amplifier. Don't want to spend money? Then use our tips to strengthen the Wi-Fi signal in your home or office:

1. Place the router in the center of the apartment/office.

Many people install a router in the hallway, or in the farthest room. This is certainly a convenient location, and there is no need to run the cable throughout the apartment, but the Internet will suffer greatly because of this. Therefore, we recommend installing the router initially in a room that is equally distant from all others (as shown in the picture below). If you only need the Internet in one room, then install the router in it. In this case, you do not need to buy a repeater.

The picture shows an example of good and bad placement of a router in an apartment. If you do not want to provide your neighbors with your Internet, then it is better to place the Internet source in the middle of the apartment.

Special analysis programs will also help you place the router correctly. With the WiFi Analyzer program you can measure the points where the Internet reception is worst and best. Based on the data obtained, it is easier to choose the right place.

2. Change the channel your router is running on.

Unless you are the proud owner of a modern dual-band router, then your router operates at 2.4 GHz. The trouble is that there are only 13 channels in this frequency. Among them, you need to select the least loaded one and connect to it. A simple program called inSSIDer will help with this.

You can download this program completely free of charge. With its help you will see a minimally loaded network. We do not recommend choosing the outermost channels (1st, 2nd, 12th and 13th). As a rule, they are the weakest, so no one wants to connect to them.

Nowadays, every apartment is equipped with high-speed Internet. Therefore, there may simply not be any free channels. If you are unlucky, then move on to the next point.

3. Set the maximum signal power.

On some models you can set the strength of the transmitted Wi-Fi signal. You can view this setting in “Advanced settings”. As a rule, this parameter is set to 100% by default. But the settings might have gone wrong, so it wouldn’t hurt to check them.

4. Update your router's firmware.

Go to the manufacturer's website and look for the latest firmware for your device. If you have a problem from the very beginning, then most likely this is the reason. Manufacturers never fix problems during the development/testing of new devices, so they update them with new firmware.

5. If all else fails.

TOP 7 best amplifiers for home and office

Here we come smoothly to the most important part of our article. Below we will review the best repeaters of 2017 according to users. To do this, we have selected the TOP 5 best devices from different manufacturers.

Asus RP-N12

A very good signal booster for home and office. Its functionality includes the functions of a repeater, access point and network bridge. You can connect it to any outlet in your home, and it can be configured with one click on the WPS button. Two powerful antennas will provide an uninterrupted Wi-Fi signal to any point in the house.

The indicator on the front panel will help you determine the most optimal point for placing this device. If the signal from the router is good, the green indicator will light up; if it is bad, the red indicator will light up.

Advantages of the amplifier according to user reviews :

• Very easy to connect and establish a connection.
• Two powerful antennas that provide a good range.
• Maximum connection speed: 300 Mbit/s.

Flaws :

• Sometimes it loses connection with the router, so you have to reboot.

Xiaomi Mi WiFi Amplifier

The most compact repeater that you can easily take with you on trips/travels. You can install and configure it in a few minutes. Just connect it via USB and the device will sync itself within minutes.

This device is capable of doubling the router’s coverage area. The connection speed for such dimensions is 150 Mbit/s, which will be sufficient for most routers.

Pros of the repeater according to user reviews :

• A compact device that can be carried in your pocket.
• Almost doubles the router's coverage area.
• Automatic synchronization.

Minuses :

• Automatic synchronization occurs only with Xiaomi routers. For everyone else, you need to use the special Xiaomi Smart Home application.

TP-Link TL-WA850RE

A convenient repeater for your router that will quickly and easily increase your Wi-Fi signal coverage area. Connecting and setting up the device is very simple. Plug in and press the Range Extender button on the amplifier, and the WPS button on the router.

TP-Link TL-WA850RE will provide the most complete coverage in your apartment and eliminate “dead zones”. The signal transmission speed can reach 300 Mbps, which will be enough for games, videos and movies.

pros :

• Easy to set up, can be connected anywhere.
• Good signal; removes “dead zones” where there was no Internet.
• Saves the profile so there is no need to reconfigure when reconnecting.

Minuses :

• Not detected.

TP-Link AC750

This repeater will be an excellent option for those who need to increase the signal coverage radius in two bands. TP-Link AC750 operates in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands, thereby providing data transfer rates of up to 750 Mbps.

Connecting the amplifier is not difficult. Plug it in, press the Range Extender button and the WPS button on the router. In a couple of minutes the connection will become active. When connected, it completely copies the router address.

Advantages :

• Provides complete signal coverage over long distances.
• Quick setup and connection.
• Beautiful design.
• Operates stably on two frequency ranges: 2.4 and 5 GHz.

Flaws :

• High price.

TP-Link Re350

This amplifier is one of the leaders in our rating. It can operate on two frequency bands: 2.4 GHz (speed up to 300 Mbit/s) and 5 GHz (speed up to 867 Mbit/s). Installing the amplifier takes a few minutes. Plug it into a power outlet, sync it with your router and select the appropriate frequency.

The indicator on the front panel shows the signal strength from the router. If the blue light is on, then the signal level is good enough and there is no need to reinstall the repeater. If the light is red, then connect the amplifier closer to the router. Two antennas provide good Wi-Fi coverage. You can configure the TP-Link Re350 to work with almost any router.

Benefits according to user reviews :

• Operates on frequency ranges: 2.4 and 5 GHz.
• Thanks to two powerful antennas, it transmits the signal far.
• It's easy to find the optimal repeater location thanks to the LED indicator.
• Beautiful design.

Flaws :

• High price.

Netgear Orbi AC3000

If you lack the power and coverage of previous models, then you should take a closer look at this model. When you buy the Netgear Orbi AC3000, you get two portable devices (a router and an amplifier) ​​that connect together and provide speeds of up to 1500 Mbps. The coverage area of ​​this amplifier is much larger than in standard models. It is ideal for use in country houses or large offices.

Externally, the Netgear Orbi AC3000 looks quite attractive, so it can be connected in a visible place. If the amplifier does not reach the place you need, you can buy another device that will connect to the router.

pros :

• By purchasing the kit, you receive a router and an amplifier.
• Very large range.
• High data transfer speed.
• Beautiful design.

Minuses :

• High price.
• You cannot create a chain of repeaters.

Asus RP-AC68U

Let's analyze the question, how to do it yourself boost router signal, and thereby increase radius of action networks and wifi range. Sooner or later, it begins to bother everyone who is faced with organizing a wireless connection in an apartment. The problem of expanding the Wi-Fi reception distance arises especially acutely when, even at the stage of planning to create a local network at home, you spared money on a high-quality router with a large Wi-Fi range, with a powerful transmitter and antennas. Or you haven’t thought through where to install it in your house or apartment.

Affordable ways to strengthen the signal of a wi-fi router at home

In fact, boosting the wifi signal from a router is very simple and easy. And it doesn’t matter at all which manufacturer - Zyxel Keenetic, TP-Link, Asus, D-Link and so on.

There are several most popular methods:

• Buy a router with a more powerful built-in antenna,
• Place it somewhere in the corridor in the center of the apartment,
• Use one of the means of strengthening the wifi signal - a second router, an external antenna, a repeater.

Many people, when renovating an apartment, determine where to install the router somewhere in a special server room, or in a dressing room, or in an electrical panel. In a word, out of sight. But the configuration of the apartment layout is often such that the wireless signal from the router does not reach rooms remote from the installation site. Or the wifi range is not sufficient to get any acceptable speed on it.

Today we’ll talk about ways to strengthen the signal and increase the range of a wifi router at home. And also about the required technical characteristics of the main devices for organizing a wireless network - the router and the receiver - which you should pay attention to first of all when purchasing them.

Increasing the range of the wifi router and adapter signal

For stable network operation in a standard city apartment, the simplest router and the adapter built into the laptop are sufficient. However, there are many side factors due to which it is necessary to amplify the signal to increase the signal radius. I talked about the main reasons that can affect speed. Let’s not repeat ourselves, but let’s imagine that we have ideal conditions in our house for the propagation of a wireless radio signal. That is, there is no interference from neighboring routers and other active frequency emitters, such as a microwave oven. Under these conditions, the main function of signal absorption is performed by distance and obstacles on the path from the source to the receiver.

This table clearly demonstrates how much signal quality will be lost depending on the types of obstacles in its path. For example, let’s take an abstract router, which, under the best conditions and without interference or obstacles, will actually distribute a signal over 100 meters. It is under such conditions that manufacturers indicate the “firing” range of their devices on beautiful boxes and in advertising brochures.

And let’s take a typical three-room apartment, where the router is installed in one room. At the same time, to the one farthest from it there is one load-bearing concrete wall and one interior wall. Accordingly, we take 10% of our 100 meters - we get 10 meters. That is, through the main wall the signal is enough for 10 meters from the router. But we also have an interior wall - so we take our 10 meters and calculate 15% of them - we get 1.5 meters. This means that even under ideal conditions, the signal from such a router is clearly not enough to cover the entire apartment. Add to this the interference from devices and other wireless networks at the same frequency, and we get a completely sad picture.

We also keep in mind that the antennas on the router are omnidirectional, that is, the signal from them goes in a circle to an equal distance.

Strengthening the wifi signal from the router using an antenna

So, we found out that for good reception, the router should be located in the center of the apartment, next to the receiving device and, if possible, away from devices that create interference. But like any electronic device, each model has its own characteristics that can affect the operation, in our case, the “firing range”. Generally, the specifications for each product will indicate what range it is designed to operate in open space under ideal conditions. But these data are just theory, but in reality they are simply unattainable.

The easiest way to determine signal quality is by the characteristics of the antenna that the devices are equipped with. One for transmitting, the other for receiving. Antennas can be either hidden, built-in, or external, screwed onto the device itself. Antenna power is measured in DBI. The higher its value, the more powerful the antenna.

Below is a sample USB adapter-receiver with an included external antenna.

If you have noticed, there are models of routers and adapters that have several antennas - two or even three. Using several pieces, you can significantly improve the quality of wifi reception with the adapter and increase the distance from the router. That is, a router equipped with one 8 dbi antenna will relay weaker than a model of a higher level and cost, equipped with 2 or 3 8 dbi antennas.

When choosing a receiver, also look at the values ​​of the “Receiving mode” parameter - the higher it is, the better the reception.

However, this will not be enough if we are talking about a decent distance of up to 100-150, or even 500 meters. In this case, we will be helped to ensure the desired radius of the wifi signal, which works directed towards a specific sector.

Increasing the radius of a wi-fi signal with a second router, repeater or access point without an antenna

• Another proven method for improving reception quality is to use a separate special device called a repeater. This is a signal amplifier that works on the principle of a repeater, allowing you to expand your existing network. It receives the signal and transmits it further, expanding the coverage area by 15-20 meters.
• Another option is to install a more expensive one. It can be installed outdoors or indoors and provides a wifi coverage radius of up to 100 meters. Capable of providing coverage both inside the building and a small area nearby. There are also models that work narrowly to expand the zone not inside an apartment or house, but to create a fairly large wireless bridge between different buildings.
• As an alternative, you can use . For example, if you have an additional device lying idle, then it is advisable to use it as a repeater so as not to buy new equipment. In this case, the other router must have this repeater mode in its firmware.

Adjusting the range radius of the wifi signal in the router settings

And one more little secret. The control panel of some modifications of routers has a separate adjustment for the power of wifi signal relay. By setting it to the highest, you will get the most out of your router. The minimum value will ensure high-quality reception no further than inside one room. Read about this in detail. Now I’ll quickly show you with a few examples what it looks like for different brands.

Strengthening wifi signal on a TP-Link router

To set the signal strength on your TP-Link router, you need to go to “Advanced settings” in the section dedicated to wireless mode. There are three gradations here - low, medium and high.

Asus

On Asus routers, you can adjust the power very carefully - it is called “TX Power Control” and is set manually to a numerical value not exceeding 200.

Zyxel Keenetic

For Zyxel Keenetic routers, the transmitter power settings are divided into fixed positions, but there are more of them than for TP-Link. Indicated as a percentage of the total strength of the wifi repeater. In the old version of the admin panel it is located in the wifi network configurations.

And this is how everything looks in the new Keenetic panel - you need to go to “Home Network”

Tenda

These are the main effective ways to improve the WiFi signal and, as a result, expand the wireless network reception area. Many craftsmen manage to amplify a router using an ordinary foil can that is placed on the antenna. However, I am still a supporter of more traditional methods. As practice has shown, the best results are achieved when a combination of several techniques is used. That is, the choice of devices with the best antenna characteristics plus their successful location, planned at the stage of renovation of the premises. Try, experiment, and you will succeed!

Hi all! In this article I will tell you how to strengthen the signal of a wifi router in your home or office.

WI-FI is very popular today in terms of demand in the field of computer technology. There are a lot of problems around WI-FI. If the speed of the Internet connected via a wireless connection is very low, then in my article you will find 10 tips that will help you strengthen the router signal, and thereby increase the Internet speed.

Why is the wifi signal very weak?

If your internet speed improves when you reboot your router, then you can use this tip. When conducting an in-depth study, you can find out what the problem is; most often it is due to overheating of the hardware or old firmware. But you shouldn’t get hung up on this, you can just do it about once a day (or more often).

You can reboot using DD-WRT firmware or a timer. If you configure the router to automatically reboot, you won’t have to do it manually every time.

We increase the wifi signal using DD-WRT firmware

The DD-WRT firmware significantly improves the router's Wi-Fi signal. With this firmware, you will not only get additional functions, but also improve the stability of the router.

Of course, this can damage the equipment, but more routers can easily handle a power increase of up to 70 mW. Do not forget that radio radiation is dangerous for the body, and therefore you should not leave the router running at high power too often.

Restrict Internet connection to others

If someone on your home network often video chats, downloads movies and music, or plays online games, then this, of course, significantly affects the Internet speed of other users on the home network.

If this is your case, then increasing the signal strength will be useless; in your case, you should configure the “Quality of Service or QoS. With its help, priorities will be set to direct speed to more important programs that you need to work.

Setting a good wifi password from neighbors

If a password is set on your router, this does not mean that it is. It's not that difficult to do this. There are methods that will help you detect all users who are connected to your Wi-Fi. But this won’t do much, it’s better to completely deprive your freebie-loving neighbors from using your Wi-Fi.

How to strengthen a wifi router signal by extending the antenna

Install the router in the center of the room!

It often happens that the router does not fit into the design of the apartment, but you should not hide it too far, for example, in a closet. To strengthen the signal of the router, you should place it in an open and free place.

It is better to install the antenna in a vertical position. The higher the router is installed, the better it will be. In order for the signal to cover the entire apartment, it is advisable to install the router in its center.

Buying a modern router (expensive)

This method is not only the simplest, but also the most reliable. The point of this method is to use the most modern equipment.

That is, buy a router with the longest signal transmission range. It will be expensive, but you will forget about how to strengthen the router’s wifi signal.

Installing a wifi repeater (repeater)

If all the tips I listed below did not help you, then you need to install a WiFi signal repeater in your house. It won't cost you a lot of money, and if you still have an old router at home, you can use it, which will allow you to increase your wireless coverage area.

It is necessary to flash the old router using the DD-WRT firmware mentioned above. There is a possibility that the speed will not be as high as the speed of the main router, but this is much better than not having it and it is completely possible to connect to wireless Internet in the far corners of the apartment.

Having done everything that I advised you in this article, you will learn how to strengthen the wifi router signal and the speed, reliability and security of your wireless Internet. Recently I told a very interesting point, you can read it very interesting, and you can also read about it. That's all for me, I wish everyone great health!

With UV. Evgeny Kryzhanovsky