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improving wireless

13 years ago

I am using a Belkin wireless USB adapter but the signal is very weak. It is about 70 feet from my other computer with the wireless router. My question is; if I get a long USB extention cord and plug the adapter into that to get it closer to the router, would that help??

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Comments (9)

luis_pr
13 years ago
I would hate to string an Ethernet cable a distance of 70ft throughout the house so I could use the PCs wirelessly. If the router is functioning correctly, have you checked Belkin range extenders?

http://www.belkin.com/us/F9K1106-Belkin/p/P-F9K1106
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
even a short cable can sometimes help, being able to move it in various directions. Also try moving the router around some, if the router has external antenna, you can buy stronger ones that replace them, and there are home made boosters made from aluminum foil and tin cans that work very well.

If you give us the make and model of the router we can help you better.

Here is a link that might be useful: aluminum foil antenna booster
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mikie_gw
13 years ago
I played around making antenna reflectors.. my first was just a Styrofoam cup with alum foil taped inside half of it.. that worked really good actually, just hanging upside down, but the a/c would spin it when it cycled on, drove me crazy for a while to figure out.

Directional antenna's on both ends works best ! And even moving the antenna just a few inches sometimes can make a big difference.
albert_135 　 39.17°N 119.76°W 4695ft.
13 years ago
We've a room where we cannot connect unless the laptop is on top of the refrigerator. Go figure.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
13 years ago
lol albert I don't know if I want to ask how the heck you figured that out! Certainly would make for a difficult work space.
Elmer J Fudd
13 years ago
That sounds like a novel tool for weight loss (keeping the fridge door closed because you're standing against it to use your PC).

I can attest to the effectiveness of aluminum foil signal reflectors. They work surprisingly well.

Wifi signals are easily blocked by walls, wiring and pipes, furniture, water heaters, and general "stuff" causing obstructions in the signal path. Which is why movement of router or receiver some inches in one direction or another (including up or down) can make a big difference.
pfmastin
13 years ago
I tried the foil idea with no success on a laptop I use in the kitchen (the other end of the house), but I did go in and ask windows to troubleshoot. It reset my modem and I did gain a bar...went from 3 bars to 4. Thanks for bringing up the subject,dkeel.
Elmer J Fudd
13 years ago
I may have misunderstood your comment.

If relocating the router as much as possible doesn't help, the aluminum foil reflector should be used next to the router (and behind vertical antennas if any), not on the PC end.
pfmastin
13 years ago
Snidely,
If you're responding to my post, I apologize...I wasn't clear. I placed the foil behind my modem/antenna in the room where the PC is..and I use the laptop in the other end of the house. :)

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