increase your WiFi signal

[sandbox]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY8Wi7XRXCA...feature=related

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBoBPaLZ1NA...feature=related

[sandyman]

From experience I can say that the firmware solution works really well.  My house is built with materials (gods know what) which mean that I get a lousy signal from my router on the middle floor to laptops on the ground floor.  Going up works fine. I've been using DD-WRT on my Linksys WiFi router for about 18 months and it works brilliantly.  When you read some of the stuff online it may seem complicated but to do a simple task like boosting the signal is pretty easy.

On the hardware side, I believe that the mobile phone solution can be simplified.  I haven't tried it, but I am assured it works.  Make an antenna booster as shown but just stick it behind your router and point it in the right direction.  No 3G required.


Sandy

[gunug]

I don't know about the aluminum foil/salad bowl idea and I have "no idea" about wrapping ethernet cable around your cell phone.  I have also upgraded the Linksys Router software and was amazed by how much better things worked.  My desire was to lower my wifi broadcast strength to limit it to my townhouse as much as I can and that works as well.

[sandbox]

Sandy I was faced with a two floor issue about six months ago and happens to catch Invid's post at ars. http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums...31#996006693831
 I flashed the linksys GL with Tomato and it's been a good solution since. Personally, I run Netgear WGPS606 with a printer server that requires a biannual need to reboot. There are none of the reported heat issues, even running torrent, and the range is more than I need. (2 bars out of 4 at 150 feet. (any slowdowns seem to be Pipe related rather than in my network access point)

I thought the 3G suggestion was a bit overboard myself but I only pass um on, I don't make them.

With the return of the SnowBirds a friend with a large boat introduced me to a router that I was unfamiliar with. http://www.draytek.com/product/Dual_Wan_Se...igor2910VGi.php

The option package available on this router I've not seen from any other manufacturer. He explained the differences between professional grade routers and the type I use and the difference is remarkable. Not having a need for this level of equipment didn't deter my interest so as I was looking around at our local city annual Yard Sale event I happened upon one of these  for $40 dollars. http://www.netgear.com/Products/VPNandSSL/...rs/FWG114P.aspx  To my surprise it has options that my WGPS could only hope for.

Netgear routers don't seem to have the same issues as Linksys, so the need to flash them with new firmware wouldn't have the same return. I don't even know if you could use DD-WRT on an Nedtgear?

Gunug your problem is becoming the predominate issue in the WiFi world, overlapping and saturation in housing complexes has caused many a disturbance throughout the radio wave community. What were you able to do to restrict your perimeter while maintaining your local saturation?

[sandyman]

Sandbox

You lucky sod getting the Netgear for that price.  They retail for £198 in the UK. That's $275.

There are a couple of Netgear routers which can use DD-WRT but most don't.

I used to have a Netgear but the signal strength downstairs was too low to be of much use.  I think it's down to the construction of the house. It's an ex-council house which goes back to the days when local councils built to very high standards.  We got an attic (loft) conversion done and the signal up there is brilliant.  This may however be partly due to the fact that according to a mate, WiFi signals propagate better upwards than downwards.

I guess I'll stick with my Linksys, because, as they say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Sandy