need to boost my wireless signal

In my small business I have an AT&T 2 wire gateway. I have two desk tops on ethernet connection and two desktops on wireless and a lap top on wireless. We have added another lap top and desk top that are on a lower level of the building with a brick wall separating the sections of the building. The signal is not quite reaching those two computers. I can see the network but the signal is not strong enough to connect. What do I need to do to boost the strength of the signal?

 

you can use a router for your laptops!
if you want to buy one

 

Disclaimer:
Wireless connections in a business environment should only be used as a last resort.

With that said. Several companies make APs with higher power.
The Cisco Aironet 1200 comes to mind and it has a wide verity of antennas available.

These industrial APs can be put in any location you can get a cat5 cable to and the power can be injected remotely.

Here would be a middle of the road AP.
http://netgear.com/Products/APsWirelessControllers/AccessPoints/WG102.aspx

Here is the antenna to go with it.
http://netgear.com/Products/APsWirelessControllers/AntennasandCables/ANT24O5.aspx

 

By default the 2Wire has the Channel set to 11 and the Power Setting set to 4. You can change the power setting to 10 and the channel between 2 & 10. Due to FFC regs using channel 1 & 11 the power setting can only go to 4 and will revert back if power is set higher on those channels.

Access the 2Wire modem/router and select Home Network. Click on the Edit Settings button for Wireless Settings. Input your password to enter Configure the Wireless Network window and make your changes. See if this helps. Otherwise go with an AP setup.

 

Hello mdavis1965;
I agree with the router solution.

Would like to ask whiskeyman about the configuring the power settings too.
Do I need to make another post or send a mess. direct? I'm still new at this posting stuff too.

 

You can try lots of things to enhance signal
Generally wi fi distance is quoted at 300 feet inside , 1000 feet outside
The limiting factor is more in terms of barriers - brick wall in this case , most likely with metal bracing
Metal pipes in walls , dense objects such as metal doors , filing cabinets , aquariums etc etc
Its often said 3 good barriers will stop signal
Signal reception is said to be line of sight , yet a lot of signal received is the bounce around
First of all , is the router up high and not cluttered
Change the channel from the default channel to any others , 1 and 11 are first picks as the other 2 distinct non overlapping channels
If you are miles away from any other buildings then this would not be concern
Yet signals from neighbors can drift in long distances suddenly out of nowhere
Default channel with most routers is channel 6
Change the SSid from default values -
even if to only add a digit
Turn on encryption
If the network adapters are g ( as opposed to b) some people say set it to g only , others will say b goes further - try b only as opposed to
mixed signals "
If the network adapters are PCI , they always work yet reception is not that great - close to floor , shielded by metal case
Try a USB network adapter along with a USB extension cable to take the adapter away from the metal case and up high
Many people say even moving the router a foot or two over can make all the difference ( bounce around)
You can try the range extenders - they usually have to be matching brands
and although high tech and impress people - it sounds like a great idea - many have found these not too useful in real life
The best thing to do - get an older Linksys WRT54G ( now sold as the WRT54GL ) ( the L stands for Linux)
You can get them on ebay and Amazon
There are third party firmware updates which add additional features - like boosting power big time
Also Linksys sold a higher power antenna for the model that you can get on ebay
Various third party firmware are available Sveasoft and Tomato are among many
Linksysinfo.org is one
Seattle wireless is another

 

rockinrob, welcome to the online problem-solving community at Windows BBS!

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