Wi fi router with a large coverage area. Choosing a router with a long range

The number of wi-fi access points, as well as wireless Internet users, is growing, and now many of them are increasingly concerned about the quality of communication. One of the most important questions is what coverage area the routers have and what affects this indicator.

Content:

To answer the question, you can consider one of the router communication standards - 802.11n. The maximum achieved declared transmission speed of devices of this type is from 150 Mbit to 300 Mbit per second. Accordingly, the possible coverage area for this speed is about 100 meters. The indicator can reach up to 300 meters if the space is open. For example, the range of a tp link wifi router in an open space with these indicators is 150 meters. If the space is closed, then the range is 50 meters.

Approximately the same range of the Asus wifi router. Such figures are stated by manufacturers and are theoretical. In practice, these figures are slightly less. An effective way to determine the true coverage area is to walk around the room with the connected device and monitor the presence of a signal.

The range of a wifi router can be artificially increased or decreased by several factors:

1. Location of the access point and router. The device emits a signal omnidirectionally, which means its waves will move in all directions equally. Based on this feature, the best option for placing the router is in the center of the room.
2. Materials from which coverings and walls are made. The greatest difficulty for radio waves is passing through drywall and reinforced concrete structures.
3. Finding nearby devices that clog the airwaves. If, for example, there is a large radio antenna next to the router, even behind a wall, it will certainly cause interference and poor quality of the router’s operation. Televisions, microwave ovens, and devices with electric motors have an equally detrimental effect on work.
4. A large number of wireless communication channels. If your neighbors have Wi-Fi on the landing and on the nearest floors, the reception speed will be low. You can check the availability of connections in the settings of your device in the Wi-Fi - Connections section. If the list consists of more than 13 names, this will negatively affect the quality. The problem can only be solved with the use of equipment operating in the 5 GHz range.
5. Characteristics of the device itself. The range is affected by the type of antennas of the router and the power of the transmitter.

It is quite difficult to find a device for home use with fundamental differences in power from others, but antennas differ from each other in their quality. Low-price routers work with antennas with a gain of 2dbi. This model is more suitable for a small one-room apartment. Larger areas are served by routers with powerful antennas of about 5dbi. Some devices work with only one antenna, which makes the coverage even weaker.

Advice: There are several simple ways to increase the coverage area of ​​your router without additional equipment or changing device settings. To do this you need:

• install the antennas in a vertical position;
• place the router as close to the center as possible or away from interference;
• replace the antenna with a more powerful one;
• use a device with the new 802.11 AC$ standard;
• use models that support two bands - 2.4-5 GHz.

3 routers with long Wi-Fi range

1. Netgear Wndr4500. The router has enormous speed, reaching 900 Mbit per second. The device is equipped with six internal antennas, allowing you to easily download megabytes of data. It uses a powerful processor with a frequency of 600 MHz. There are additional transceivers that improve signal reception.
2. TP-Link TL-WR2543ND. The device can operate in two frequency bands and is equipped with three antennas that can be rotated 360 degrees. The device works reliably anywhere in the apartment.
3. ZyXEL KeeneticGiga2. The antennas of the device receive a signal at a speed of 300 Mbit per second. Thanks to external buttons, the router can be quickly reprogrammed. The high-frequency processor (700 MHz) ensures stable signal quality from anywhere in the apartment.

How to increase wifi range in router settings

Using your own router settings, you can figure out how to increase the wifi range. To do this, you need to select the optimal radio channel and thereby increase the coverage area. The setup process can be considered using the example of any model from the popular manufacturer D-Link - DIR-300 NRU.
Algorithm of actions:

1. Go to the settings section. To get to this section, you need to enter the device’s IP address in the browser line. After clicking on the address, an electronic form will appear where you need to enter your login and password. Tip: The IP address, login and password for device settings should be found on the router case.
2. Select the section located on the left side - Wireless Setup.
3. Activate Manual Wireless Connection Setup to change the Wi-Fi setup method.
4. In Wireless Network Settings, find the Wireless Channel line and select the channel.
5. Activate Save Settings to confirm the changes made.
6. Restart your device and reconnect to Wi-Fi.

We increase Wi-Fi coverage using special devices

You can expand your coverage area using special, third-party devices. The choice of a specific method depends on the situation; sometimes a combination of methods is required.
What methods can be used:

• Change the router antennas. The easiest way to improve signal quality. If the device has removable antennas, there is nothing simpler than simply replacing them with more powerful analogues. More directional antennas can also be used. If the antenna works in a specific direction, it will be able to transmit over an impressive distance.
• Using a wireless repeater. Special devices can be connected to the network and expanded by their antennas. The repeater can be used in the room with the poorest signal.

WiFi(read “wifi” with emphasis on the second syllable) is the industrial name for wireless data exchange technology, belonging to the IEEE 802.11 group of wireless networking standards. To some extent, the term Wi-Fi is synonymous with 802.11b, since 802.11b was the first standard in the IEEE 802.11 group of standards to become widespread. However, today the term Wi-Fi equally refers to any of the 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g and 802.11n, 802.11ac standards.

The Wi-Fi Alliance certifies Wi-Fi products to ensure that all 802.11 products placed on the market meet the standard's specifications. Unfortunately, 802.11a, which uses the 5GHz frequency, is not compatible with 802.11b/g, which uses the 2.4GHz frequency, so the market for Wi-Fi products remains fragmented. For our country, this is not relevant, since the use of equipment of the 802.11a standard requires special permission and it is not widely used here; moreover, the vast majority of devices that support the 802.11a standard also support the 802.11b or 802.11g standard, which allows us to consider All WiFi devices currently sold are relatively compatible. The new 802.11n standard supports both of these frequencies.

What equipment is needed to create a wireless network?

Each device that participates in a wireless network requires a wireless network adapter, also called a wireless network card. All modern laptops, some desktop computers, smartphones and tablets already have built-in wireless network adapters. However, in many cases, to create a wireless network of desktop computers, network adapters must be purchased separately. Popular network adapters for laptops are made in the Mini PCI-E or M.2 device format; respectively, for desktop computers there are models with the PCI, PCI-E interface; wireless USB adapters can be connected to both portable and desktop systems.

To create a small wireless local network of two (in some cases, more) devices, it is enough to have the required number of network adapters. (They are required to support AdHoc mode). However, if you want to increase the performance of your network, connect more computers to the network, and extend the range of your network, you will need wireless access points and/or wireless routers. The functions of wireless routers are similar to those of traditional wired routers. They are usually used in cases where a wireless network is created from scratch. An alternative to routers are access points, which allow you to connect a wireless network to an existing wired network. Access points are used, as a rule, to expand a network that already has a wired switch or router. To build a home local network, one access point is enough, which is quite capable of providing the required range. Office networks typically require multiple access points and/or routers.

Access points and routers, PCI/PCI-E network cards and some USB adapters can be used with more powerful antennas instead of standard ones, which significantly increases the communication range or coverage range.

	Adapters	Access points	Other
Network of two wireless devices without connection to a local wired network	2	-	Network adapters must support Ad-Hoc mode; in some cases, more than two devices can be networked this way.
Small home or office network of	By number of devices	1	If you plan to connect wired devices to the local network, then you need an access point with the functionality of a router (Wireless Router).
Bridge between wired LANs	-	By the number of networks, if there are more than two, you need to make sure that the selected access points support Point-To-MultiPoint Bridge mode	-
Organization of a large wireless office or corporate network	By number of devices	The quantity is selected based on the optimal coverage area and operating speed.	Some access points can operate in repeater or WDS mode.

What is the standard range of a Wi-Fi network?

The range of your home Wi-Fi network depends on the type of wireless access point or wireless router you use. Factors that determine the range of wireless access points or wireless routers include:

The type of protocol used is 802.11;
. Total transmitter power;
. Gain of the antennas used;
. Length and attenuation in the cables that connect the antennas;
. The nature of obstacles and interference in the signal path in a given area.

The range with standard antennas (usually 2dBi gain) of popular 802.11g access points and routers, provided they are connected to a device that has an antenna with the same gain, can be approximately estimated at 150m in open areas and 50m indoors, more accurate The figures for the different standards are shown in the table below for baud rates.

Obstacles in the form of brick walls and metal structures can reduce the range of a Wi-Fi network by 25% or more. Because 802.11a/ac standards use higher frequencies than 802.11b/g standards, it is the most sensitive to various types of obstacles. The range of Wi-Fi networks that support 802.11b or 802.11g is also affected by interference from microwave ovens. Below is a table showing the approximate loss of efficiency of a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal when passing through various obstacles.

Another significant obstacle can be the foliage of trees, since it contains water that absorbs microwave radiation in this range. Heavy rain attenuates signals in the 2.4 GHz range with an intensity of up to 0.05 dB/km, dense fog introduces an attenuation of 0.02 dB/km, and in a forest (thick leaves, branches) the signal can attenuate with an intensity of up to 0.5 dB/meter.

You can increase the range of a Wi-Fi network by combining several wireless access points or routers into a chain, as well as by replacing the standard antennas installed on network cards and access points with more powerful ones.

Approximately possible options for the range and speed of the network, ideally, can be calculated using a special calculator aimed at D-Link equipment, but the formulas and methods used there are suitable for any other.

When creating a radio bridge between two networks, you need to be aware of the fact that the space around the straight line drawn between the receiver and transmitter must be free of reflecting and absorbing obstacles within a radius comparable to 0.6 of the radius of the first Fresnel zone. Its size can be calculated based on the following formula:

In a real situation, the signal level at different distances from the transmitting device can be measured using a special device.

What is networking in Infrastructure mode?

This mode allows you to connect a wireless network to a wired Ethernet network via a wireless access point. For connection to be possible, the wireless local area network (WLAN), wireless access point, and all wireless clients must use the same SSID (Service Set ID). Then you can connect the access point to a wired network using a cable and thus provide wireless clients with access to wired network data. In order to expand the infrastructure and provide simultaneous access to the wired network to any number of wireless clients, you can connect additional access points to the wireless LAN.

The main advantages of networks organized in Infrastructure mode compared to networks organized in Ad-Hoc mode are their scalability, centralized protection and extended range. The downside, of course, is the cost of purchasing additional equipment, such as an additional access point.

Wireless routers designed for home use are always equipped with a built-in access point to support Infrastructure mode.

How fast can a wireless network be?

The speed of your wireless network depends on several factors. The performance of wireless LANs is determined by which Wi-Fi standard they support. Networks that support the 802.11ac standard can offer maximum throughput - up to 2167 Mbit/s (using MU-MIMO). The throughput of networks supporting the 802.11a or 802.11g standard can be up to 54 Mbps. (Compare with standard wired Ethernet networks, which have 100 or 1000 Mbps bandwidth.)

In practice, even with the highest possible signal level, the performance of Wi-Fi networks never reaches the above theoretical maximum. For example, the speed of networks supporting the 802.11b standard is usually no more than 50% of their theoretical maximum, i.e. approximately 5.5 Mbps. Accordingly, the speed of networks that support the 802.11a or 802.11g standard is usually no more than 20 Mbit/s. The reasons for the discrepancy between theory and practice are protocol coding redundancy, signal interference, and changes in the Hamming distance with changes in the distance between the receiver and transmitter. In addition, the more devices on the network simultaneously involved in data exchange, the proportionally lower the network bandwidth per device, which naturally limits the number of devices that make sense to connect to one access point or router (another limitation may be caused by the characteristics of operation of the built-in DHCP server, for devices from our range the final figure was in the range from 26 to 255 devices).

Protocol	Frequency used	Maximum theoretical speed	Typical speed in practice	Indoor communication range	Communication range in open areas
802.11b	2.4GHz	11Mbit/sec	0.4MB/sec	38	140
802.11a	5GHz	54Mbps	2.3MB/sec	35	120
802.11g	2.4GHz	54Mbps	1.9MB/sec	38	140
802.11n	2.4GHz, 5GHz	600Mbit/sec	7.4MB/sec	70	250

In addition, the speed of any pair of devices drops significantly as the signal level decreases, so often the most effective way to increase the speed for remote devices is to use antennas with high gain.

Is wireless communication safe for health?

Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the media that prolonged use of wireless network devices can cause serious illnesses. However, to date, there is no scientific data that would confirm the assumption that microwave signals have a negative impact on human health.

Despite the lack of scientific data, we dare to suggest that wireless networks are safer for human health than mobile phones. The frequency range of a typical home wireless network is the same as that of microwave ovens, but microwave ovens and even cell phones are 100 to 1000 times more powerful than wireless network adapters and access points.

In general, one thing can be stated with confidence in this matter: the intensity of human exposure to microwave radiation from wireless networks is incomparably less than the impact of other microwave devices.

The procedure for registering radio electronic devices is described in Decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation dated October 12, 2004 No. 539 “On the procedure for registering radio-electronic equipment and high-frequency devices” and dated July 25, 2007 No. 476 On amendments to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated October 12, 2004. No. 539 "On the procedure for registration of radio-electronic equipment and high-frequency devices"

According to Resolution N 476 of July 25, 2007, user (terminal) radio access equipment (wireless access) in the radio frequency band 2400 - 2483.5 MHz with a transmitting device radiation power of up to 100 mW inclusive is EXCLUDED from the list of radio electronic equipment and high-frequency devices subject to registration.

We remind you that the standard transmitter power of all currently sold consumer WiFi devices is within this figure, and the installation of any antennas that do not have active elements does not increase it.

Access point operating modes Access Point Mode

(Access Point) - Access Point mode is designed to wirelessly connect laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets to an access point. Wireless clients can access the access point only in Access Point mode.(Wireless Client) - AP Client or Wireless Client mode allows an access point to become a wireless client of another access point. Essentially, in this mode, the access point performs the functions of a wireless network adapter. You can use this mode to exchange data between two access points. Communication between the wireless card and the access point is not possible in Access Point Client / Wireless Client Mode.

Point-to-Point / Wireless Bridge(Wireless Point-to-Point Bridge) - Point-to-Point / Wireless Bridge mode allows a wireless point to communicate with another access point that supports point-to-point wireless bridge mode. However, keep in mind that most manufacturers use their own proprietary settings to enable wireless bridge mode on the access point. Typically, this mode is used to wirelessly connect equipment in two different buildings. Wireless clients cannot communicate with the access point in this mode.

Point-to-Multipoint / Multi-point Bridge(Wireless point-to-multipoint bridge) - Point-to-Multi-point / Multi-point Bridge mode is similar to Point-to-point / Wireless Bridge mode with the only difference being that it allows the use of more than two access points. Wireless clients also cannot communicate with the access point in this mode.

Repeater Mode(Repeater) - Operating in wireless repeater mode, the access point extends the range of the wireless network by repeating the signal from the remote access point. In order for an access point to perform the functions of a wireless range extender for another access point, it is necessary to specify the Ethernet MAC address of the remote access point in its configuration. In this mode, wireless clients can exchange data with the access point.

WDS(Wireless Distribution System) - allows you to simultaneously connect wireless clients to points operating in Bridge (point-to-point bridge) or Multipoint Bridge (point-to-multipoint bridge) modes, but this reduces the operating speed.

All access points and wireless routers currently sold are easily configured via a web interface, for which you need to access the specific IP address specified in the documentation for the device when connecting them to your network for the first time. (In some cases, special TCP/IP protocol settings will be required on the computer used to configure the access point or router, also specified in the documentation)

Equipment from many manufacturers is also equipped with special software, including for mobile devices, which makes the setup procedure easier for users. The specific information necessary to configure the router to work with your provider can almost always be found on the provider’s website.

Security, encryption and user authorization in wireless networks.

Initially, to ensure security in 802.11 networks, the algorithm was used WEP(Wired Equivalent Privacy), which included an RC4 encryption algorithm with a 40-bit or 104-bit key and a means of distributing keys between users, but in 2001 a fundamental vulnerability was found in it, allowing one to gain full access to the network for a finite (and very short time) regardless of the key length. It is strictly not recommended for use at this time. Therefore, in 2003, a wireless certification program called WPA(Wi-Fi Protected Access), which eliminated the shortcomings of the previous algorithm. Since 2006, all WiFi devices are required to support the new standard WPA2, which differs from WPA by supporting a more modern encryption algorithm AES with a 256-bit key. WPA also introduced a mechanism to protect transmitted data packets from interception and falsification. It is this combination (WPA2/AES) that is now recommended for use in all closed networks.

WPA has two modes for authorizing users on a wireless network - using a RADIUS authorization server (targeted at corporate users and large networks, not covered in this FAQ) and WPA-PSK(Pre Shared Key), which is proposed for use in home networks, as well as in small offices. In this mode, password authorization (from 8 to 64 characters long) is performed on each network node (access point, router or computer emulating their operation; the password itself is pre-set from the access point settings menu or in another way specific to your equipment).

Also, many modern household Wi-Fi devices use the Wi-Fi Protected Setup mode ( WPS), also called Wi-Fi Easy Setup, where client authorization on the access point is carried out using a special button or by entering a pin code unique to the device.

For cases when a fixed set of equipment is used on the network (i.e., for example, a bridge created using two access points or a single laptop connected to the wireless segment of the home network), the most reliable way is to restrict access by MAC address (a unique address for of each Ethernet device, both wired and wireless, in Windows for all network devices these addresses can be read in the Physical Address column after issuing the ipconfig /all command) by entering a list of MAC addresses of “your” devices in the access point menu and selecting access permission to the network only to devices with addresses from this list.

Also, any wireless network has a unique identifier - SSID(service set identifier), which is actually displayed as the network name when viewing the list of available networks, which is set when setting up the access point used (or a device replacing it). When you disable broadcasting (broadcast), the SSID network will appear to users browsing available networks as nameless, and to connect you need to know both the SSID and password (in the case of using WPA-PSK, however, disabling the SSID in itself does not make the network more resistant to unauthorized penetration from outside.

Development of WiFi technology

The main disadvantage of WiFi networks is their low capacity, that is, as the number of clients increases, the connection speed, despite the fact that the signal level is excellent, can greatly decrease. To change this situation, a new standard, 802.11.ax, is currently being developed. Its adoption is scheduled for December 2018. Because of this, there is no exact information about all the features of the new standard yet, and depending on the source, the information may vary significantly, for example, throughput is promised from 1.8 to 10 Gbit/s. From what is known for sure the following can be said:

Operating frequency 2.4 and 5 GHz
. Support for OFDMA modulation coming from LTE/WiMax. Thanks to it, the point is able to transmit data to 30 clients at once (20 MHz channel) or request data transfer from the same 30 clients simultaneously
. Supports 1024-QAM modulation, which will increase data transfer rates

In general, the new 802.11ax standard will provide backward compatibility with previous versions, but full benefits will only be possible if all devices migrate to the new standard. Old adapters will greatly reduce performance.

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!

From time to time we all face the problem of insufficient signal strength from the router. The signal is unstable at some points, often disappears or does not exist at all. This is noticeable in rooms with a large area: in a country house, in a private house, at a recreation center, in an apartment with more than one room. In this article we will describe options to solve this problem.

Figure 1. WiFi coverage area of ​​a router in a typical apartment (router next to the front door).

We produce passive and active antennas, including for data transmission networks and WiFi. In this article we are interested not so much in the problems of wireless access, but in ways to increase the WiFi coverage area. Note that we are not considering specific options for creating special “powerful” access points. Everything is within the framework of the standards and norms adopted in the Russian Federation.

In our experience, the router is usually placed: next to the front door, in the corridor behind the closet, or in the distribution panel. In such cases, the area of ​​the apartment is covered unevenly by the WiFi network. Depending on the layout of the apartment, the back rooms, kitchen, loggia are outside the zone of stable coverage. (Example in Figure 1)

The same situation is true for a private house. The area of ​​the house is usually larger, and the Internet is needed not only indoors, but also outside - near the barbecue area, swimming pool, or on the playground. Here the problem is more serious.

Figure 2. WiFi coverage area of ​​a router in a country house

Figures 1 and 2 show examples of WiFi coverage; zones with a good network level are highlighted in green, zones with a low level are highlighted in red, which often does not allow normal work on the Internet. Please note that the WiFi signal, being a radio wave, travels better in free space, so walls and other partitions in the room will weaken it and, as a result, reduce the level of the signal passing through them.

The problem has been identified - insufficient WiFi network coverage indoors. Let's figure out why this happens. The standard antenna of the router has a circular radiation pattern - it emits WiFi in all directions. Including in the direction of your neighbors, which is usually pointless and unnecessary. At the same time, the antenna’s own gain is relatively low, as a result of which such an antenna is insufficiently efficient. As a result, the WiFi signal coverage area is small.

Figure 3. Radiation pattern of the standard router antenna (f=2.45 GHz)

Figure 3 shows the radiation pattern of the external antenna of a standard router, calculated in the physical simulator. A dipole is used as an antenna.

How to Improve WiFi Coverage

The first thing that comes to mind is to replace the router with another one. Buy a device with a more powerful external antenna or with several antennas. If you have an outdated router model, then it's worth a try. Be prepared that this will require additional costs, and a positive result is not at all guaranteed. Most likely the picture will improve, but the problem will not be eliminated (Fig. 4-5).

Figure 4. Router with two external antennas.

Figure 5. Router with three external antennas.

The next method is to use an active WiFi repeater, also called a WiFi repeater. This device is specifically designed to increase the range of a WiFi network. An excellent way that often allows you to solve the problem at the root. But it also has disadvantages:

— prices from one and a half thousand rubles and above;
— need for customization;
- limited area of ​​use.

And that’s not all: the repeater will again receive the signal from all directions and radiate it around. That is, if we have an “uncovered” corner of the apartment far away, then we will need two or even three repeaters. It would be great to concentrate the signal in a given direction, but it won’t work - the built-in antennas of repeaters have a circular diagram. We have not seen repeaters with a socket for an external antenna.

It is worth mentioning another feature of the WiFi repeater - the presence of a 220V mains power supply. Not all people are ready to leave some devices plugged in when leaving home. And turning it on and off every time is an amateur job. In addition, for a home or cottage, the decision is complicated by the fact that there is most often no power supply between the house and, say, a barbecue area, and repeaters are often not intended for outdoor use.

Figure 6. How the WiFi repeater works

The next solution is to use an external directional antenna. The simplest thing is to unscrew the standard antenna from the router and connect a directional one, which will focus the entire signal in the desired direction. There are a lot of antennas of this kind, but we will focus on the developments of our enterprise.

The first solution is the WiFi Extender antenna (Figure 7):

Figure 7. WiFi Extender Antenna

This is an indoor antenna of the “wave channel” type in a radio-transparent plastic case. Antenna gain 10 dBi.

The second option is more complex and effective - a panel antenna. In our case - BAS-2301 WiFi (Figures 8-9). Inside the radio-transparent sealed case is a patch antenna. Gain of at least 12.5 dBi.

Figure 8. BAS 2301 WiFi antenna

Figure 9. Radiation pattern of the BAS 2301 WiFi antenna (f=2.45 GHz)

The third option is a “wave channel” antenna for the WiFi range (2400-2500 MHz). In the REMO version, this is the BERKUT WiFi antenna (Figure 10). There are already 19 elements (6 of them are placed in a box on a printed circuit board), the maximum directional gain is 15 dBi.

Figure 10. Berkut WiFi antenna

All the methods mentioned above will most often solve the problem. WiFi will appear in the right place, and with an excellent signal level. But there are some nuances here:

- The price of the issue. These antennas are cheaper than a repeater, but their price is above 1000 rubles.
- Installation. All such antennas require installation. The bracket needs to be installed. If you live in a rented apartment, then obtain permission from the owner to secure this structure. Also, this may entail some inconvenience if you do not have the opportunity to mount the bracket on the wall yourself. I think the reader understands that it is not always possible to secure the bracket for various reasons, even despite the simplicity of this procedure.
— Accommodation. If in a house or cottage you can install an antenna outdoors by running only a cable inside, then for an apartment this is not a suitable option.

Another limitation on the use of such antennas is that not all routers have an antenna connector for connecting external antennas. The middle and budget segments often have non-detachable antennas and, as a result, the above-mentioned solutions are not suitable for such routers by definition.

Therefore, remote antennas are a good solution, but not applicable in all cases. What else can you do to increase your WiFi network coverage?
We have been asking this question for a long time. What could you come up with that would be applicable in almost all cases, would be effective, inexpensive and simple?

The reader may be familiar with our popular modem product Connect 2.0 or its older versions.
The principle of operation is simple - using the device’s (modem) own internal antenna as an active element of the antenna system. So, in a simplified way, you can imagine the entire series of “Internet signal amplifiers”.

We thought - is it possible to apply the same principle in a WiFi router with an external antenna?

Figure 11. Connect 2.0 Antenna

Development of an antenna attachment for a router (WiFi Ladder)

So, we have a router with an external antenna (important: we do not consider routers with a built-in antenna). The question arises: how to use this own antenna as an active element (vibrator) of the antenna system? Our goal is to give directional properties to the external antenna of the router, which will entail an increase in the range of transmission and reception of the WiFi signal in a given direction. The first thing that comes to mind is the “wave channel” antenna, also known as “UDA-YAGI” (after the names of its inventors from Japan). This is a simple and at the same time effective antenna design that has proven itself throughout the world.

So an idea appeared and it had to be translated into a design. The developers were faced with the task of calculating a multi-element wave channel for the 2.4-2.5 GHz range, into which it would be possible to “implement” the standard antenna of the router. During the simulation, it was decided that the best option would be a 7-element “wave channel”. With quite compact dimensions of the structure, we received an antenna system, the amplification of which allows us to solve the assigned problems. The dimensions of the directors and the distances between them were optimized in the physical model; we consider them the best for solving the problem (Fig. 12).

Figure 12. “Stuffing” of the BAS-2002 WiFi Ladder antenna

The next stage was the development of the antenna mounting design. After monitoring the router market, we decided to place a “wave channel” on the external antenna of the router, using it as a supporting element (Fig. 13). We are faced with the fact that routers have antennas of different diameters, and sometimes their shape is far from cylindrical or conical. For example, a “flattened” external antenna is very popular. For this reason, the designers have developed a universal clamp that allows you to mount the product on almost any external router antenna. In some cases, this will not be the most rigid mount, but we would like to note that the antenna is usually installed indoors and only once, so third-party physical impacts on it will be minimal.

Figure 13. BAS-2002 WiFi Ladder antenna mounted on the external antenna of the router

A series of tests were carried out, during which the “shaded” areas of the room became covered by WiFi, and with a decent level (Fig. 14). The area with a good WiFi signal level is highlighted in green in the figure.

Figure 14. WiFi coverage area of ​​a router with an antenna attachment
BAS-2002 WiFi Ladder in a typical apartment

Below is the radiation pattern of the developed antenna, which is attached to the external antenna of a typical router (Fig. 15).

Figure 15. Radiation pattern of the external antenna of the router with the BAS-2002 WiFi Ladder antenna attachment

The router antenna acquired directional properties and, as a result, directional gain, resulting in an increase in the range of WiFi signal transmission in a given direction. In red in Fig. Figure 15 shows the maximum antenna radiation - the direction in which the WiFi network coverage area will increase.

During development, the working name firmly attached to the antenna - “ladder”, therefore, without thinking twice, we decided to name this product, translating only into English, taking into account our export practice: “BAS-2002 WiFi Ladder”.

One more question cannot be ignored: where should the product be mounted on the external antenna?

Having studied the designs of external antennas of different routers, we came to the conclusion that the antennas inside the plastic case are not always located as we expect (Figure 16).

Figure 16. “Inside” of one of the router’s external antennas.

As can be seen from Figure 16, the antenna is not located along the entire length of the plastic case, but only in its lower part.

Most often, the antenna structure is located in the lower or middle part of the plastic housing. That is why the user needs to find the optimal height location for mounting on an external antenna (Fig. 17). It happens that the user forgets or ignores this important setting point and does not get the expected result, so let us remind you once again - height adjustment is important and mandatory!

Figure 17. Adjusting the BAS-2002 WiFi Ladder antenna height

The antenna operates in IEEE802.11 b/g/n standard networks using frequencies of 2.4..2.5 GHz.

As we said earlier, there are routers with multiple external antennas. In this case, you can use an antenna attachment for all antennas or just one or two. Depends on the tasks. You can create maximum gain in one direction, then all antennas will be “aimed in one direction” and their gain will add up (Fig. 18).

Figure 18

You can strengthen WiFi in different directions, i.e. expand coverage area:

Figure 19

It is worth mentioning programs that will help you adjust the direction of such antennas (not only WFi LADDER).

Repeatedly I came across questions, the essence of which boiled down to whether it was possible to somehow increase the signal strength of a wireless network by changing the settings of the router. Usually those who are installing and configuring a router are interested in this. Especially when they discover that Wi-Fi is only available in certain parts of the apartment/house.
Sometimes it happens. For example, my router (model TP-Link TL-WR841N) basically supports the network, but in one of the three rooms of the apartment it is unstable. The computer and laptop somehow find it, but the phone (and I have it in a metal case) cannot do this.
You should think about the coverage area even at the stage of purchasing a router. Take into account the number of rooms in your home and the thickness of the walls.

Increasing Wi-Fi Power

Unfortunately, there are no specific, special settings with which to regulate the signal strength. At least, I don't know anything about this possibility. Optimal settings on routers are installed by default.

If it so happens that you have already purchased a router and installed a router, and the signal strength is unsatisfactory or in some areas it is completely absent, you can, of course, experiment with the settings; if nothing works, you will probably have to buy an additional antenna or repeater.

As for experimenting with the settings, you can change the channel and its width. Sometimes the coverage area from such manipulation increases slightly. Changing the channel can even change the Internet speed (we talked about this in one of our previous publications).

Don't forget to save all settings and reboot your router for the changes to take effect.

Antennas and repeaters

If you do not get any positive results from changing the settings, your router will have to purchase a new, more powerful one. antenna. In this case, I can recommend you TL-ANT2408CL, TL-ANT2405CL. If you have a router for example Asus, then it is better to take accessories from Asus.

In very advanced situations, another option is to buy a special device called repeater. These are some kind of wireless signal amplifiers. For example TL-WA854RE.

You turn on this device in a room where your Wi-Fi signal is still there, but not very strong. And the repeater amplifies the signal, thereby increasing the range of the network. Another router can be configured as a repeater if it supports this function (WDS).
Another option is to try installing the router as close to the center of the house as possible. If possible. This will allow for a more rational division of the coverage radius.