Increase wifi range on a laptop

Forums › New Zealand Mobile and Wireless › Increase wifi range on a laptop

xzava

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#31124 5-Mar-2009 17:07

Im looking to increase the wifi range of my laptop, I found this link

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelessfaqs/f/wifilaptoprange.htm

But where do i buy these products from??
Any ideas??

alig

56 posts

Master Geek

#204694 1-Apr-2009 14:39

I extended the range of my friend's Asus PCI card (with external antenna) by adding a fry pan lid as a microwave parabolic reflector to that antenna.
You may try an external wireless USB adaptor on an USB extention cable instead of antenna and add a mesh or a lid...like this one http://www.usbwifi.orconhosting.net.nz/

kiwitrc

4123 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#204741 1-Apr-2009 16:30

alig: I extended the range of my friend's Asus PCI card (with external antenna) by adding a fry pan lid as a microwave parabolic reflector to that antenna.
You may try an external wireless USB adaptor on an USB extention cable instead of antenna and add a mesh or a lid...like this one http://www.usbwifi.orconhosting.net.nz/

Yes but you need to be careful, I have heard bad things about using the Zip lids as they can clash with the Breville mark 2 lid. The SunBeam seems to be most directional (probably due to the Beam in the name) and the Black and Decker toaster can be used as a great RF shield if you put a Tefal pot lid over the top of the slots.

alig

56 posts

Master Geek

#204755 1-Apr-2009 17:28

Yeah...Black and Decker has the best support ever.. Just downloaded their latest firmware for the toaster. Works like a charm

raytaylor

4014 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#208845 23-Apr-2009 17:58

Surprisingly the above posters are correct for most of what they said - except the toaster doesnt use downloadable firmware

A more practical way would be to use a pcmcia card with an external antenna. Dick smith can help with these. An even easier way is to check your access point / base and see if the antenna is detachable. If it is then you can get a bigger antenna for the base / ap rather than an external antenna attached to the laptop.

Ray Taylor

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alig

56 posts

Master Geek

#208904 23-Apr-2009 23:49

raytaylor:
A more practical way would be to use a pcmcia card with an external antenna. Dick smith can help with these. An even easier way is to check your access point / base and see if the antenna is detachable. If it is then you can get a bigger antenna for the base / ap rather than an external antenna attached to the laptop.

My friend's Asus wireless adaptor had an external antenna. It was almost useless until I placed this antenna into a fry-pan lid and pointed it to the direction of the access point (I wasn't joking). Basic microwave reflector.
So I guess the best way would be using a wireless usb network card on a usb extension cable with some sort of reflector (anything metallic and parabolic).