A wireless signal is a method of transferring information without the use of wires or cables http://geckobeach.com/cellular/articles/data.php. Wireless technology has been a revelation in homes and businesses. In the past lengthy cable trails existed but now these have been replaced with wireless routers. These routers do the same job provided that you have an adequate wireless signal. Typically we use a wireless signal to give our PC’s and laptops access to the internet and we want this access in whichever room in the house the equipment happens to be. We do not want the restrictions that cabling brought, we want the flexibility of wireless technology.

Wireless technology is great provided that it works and very frustrating if it does not. In this guide we start in step 1 with explaining the benefits of wireless technology. In steps 2 and 3 we look to optimize your wireless set-up to work at peak performance.

The three steps of this guide then are:

1. Step 1: Benefits of Wireless technology
2. Step 2: Barriers to a good signal
3. Step 3: How to boost your wireless signal

If you need to know how to boost your wireless signal then this guide will help.

There are a wide number of benefits associated with operating a wireless local area network (WLAN).

Mobility http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_Web_files/N100688.asp Wireless LAN systems offer true mobility. The internet is served where the end user requires the service and is not restricted by cabling and physical locations.

Installation speed Installing a wireless LAN system is particularly fast and efficient in most cases.

Installation simplicity http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/the-advantages-of-wireless-networks-504616.html Installing a wireless LAN eliminates the need to pull cable through walls and ceilings.

Reduced Cost of Ownership Whilst the original investment in a wireless LAN can be higher, the running and full life cycle costs are certainly lower. Where a wireless LAN operates in an environment where changes occur frequently this will realize the largest savings.

Scalability http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com.au/articles/37988-Wireless-or-Ethernet-LAN-An-apples-to-apples-cost-comparison Wireless LAN systems are ultimately scalable to suit a single user all the way up to thousands of users. With larger wireless LAN’s additional investment will be required to broadcast the signal over larger distances but this is much more economical than the cost of cabling. In addition the cost of adding additional computers to your network reduces, as provided you have not reached the maximum limit of your router, all you will need to pay for would be an additional wireless adapter.

Tidiness / Health and Safety http://www.bizhelp24.com/it/how-can-a-wireless-network-benefit-your-business.html Wireless technology is very tidy, requiring typically just a wireless router and an adapter on each connecting device. This is much more tidy than cabling which not only can look untidy/unsightly but also can be a trip hazard and therefore has “health and safety” implications.

Now having understood the benefits of a wireless LAN we now look at methods to optimize it first of all by removing barriers to a good signal in step 2.

In this step we consider the barriers to a good signal and give you advice to overcome them. Adopting any of the suggestions in this step will improve your wireless experience, improving the speed of your wireless network may be a series of improvements as opposed to just one major change.

Change the WiFi Channel WiFi routers ttransmit signals with a radio frequency of 2.4 GHz. This can on occasions cause interference with other household devices, which may operate at around the same frequency (e.g. cordless phones). Where such interference exists it can significantly slow down your wireless connection speed.

In the U.S. there are 11 predefined channels for router set-up, an often used default is channel 6. These channels are listed below http://en.kioskea.net/faq/sujet-2142-choosing-the-best-wi-fi-channel:

1. Channel 1: - 2.412 MHz
2. Channel 2: - 2.417 MHz
3. Channel 3: - 2.422 Mhz
4. Channel 4: - 2.427 Mhz
5. Channel 5: - 2.432 Mhz
6. Channel 6: - 2.437 Mhz
7. Channel 7: - 2.442 Mhz
8. Channel 8: - 2.447 Mhz
9. Channel 9: - 2.452 Mhz
10. Channel 10: - 2.457 MHz
11. Channel 11: - 2.462 MHz

It is possible that by changing the channel you will reduce some of this interference. To change your WiFi channel you will need to use software such as NetStumbler. This tool provides straightforward options to change your wireless channel. We can provide no guidance as to which channel will work best for you, it is a case of “trial and error”. It should be noted that changing your channel is more likely to prevent your connections getting broken off than it is to improve system speed.

Update your router drivers Your router manufacturer will provide updates to resolve bugs, to improve speed, general performance and system reliability and in some cases to add new features. You should always ensure you have the latest releases to ensure optimum router performance.

Ensure your equipment is all from one manufacturer Essentially wireless technology is a two-way transmission, from a wireless router and from a wireless adapter on your PC/laptop. Occasionally compatibility can be an issue, it makes sense (where you can) to buy all of your equipment from one manufacturer. Certain manufacturers have embedded functionality that only works if all the equipment is from their brand.

Replace your wireless adapter Wireless technology involves a two way transmission. It may be your wireless adapter that it is underperforming and not your wireless router. Where your computer can not send wireless signals through to the router, you will need to consider purchasing a wireless adapter. There are two types of wireless adapter your computer might have:

1. Internal wireless card or
2. External wireless adapter normally powered through the USB port

With most modern PC’s, an external wireless adapter is fitted. Our advice would be to consider use of a USB wireless adapter, which uses an external antenna. This advice only really applies to desktop computers as laptops tend to have powerful inbuilt wireless technology that will not need replacing.

Upgrade 802.11b and 802.11g devices to 802.11n Wireless networks run off the 802.11 standard, understanding this can be important to your system speed. This is fairly technical but if you can ensure all of your devices are 802.11n compliant this will significantly improve speed and performance. 802.11n is said to be 10 times faster than 802.11g and 50 times faster than 802.11bhttp://www.a2zcomputersolutions.com/wireless.php. All network types are backwards compatible but if you use mixed equipment it will perform at the slowest speed, therefore (if you can) try to have 802.11n compliant equipment for both your wireless router and wireless adapter.

In step 2 we considered how to remove some barriers to a good wireless signal. In step 3 we consider methods you could use to boosting your wireless signal.

Re-Position your wireless router These are the general rules we would give for the placement of your wireless router, observing these rules is critical to the smooth performance of your wireless network:

1. Position your wireless router as close as you can to the center of your house
2. Position your wireless router in an open position
3. Position your wireless router away from metal (e.g. filing cabinets, safes), floors and walls. If you place your wireless router close to any of these then interference is likely and this to some extent will weaken your overall connection
4. Try to locate your wireless router away from other sources of electronic interference (e.g. microwave ovens, baby monitors , cordless phones and garage door openers, etc). If your signal crosses over into the signals from these devices it may cause interference and signal loss.

Replace your antenna You could consider replacing the standard omnidirectional antenna with a high gain antenna. With this antenna the signal is all concentrated in one direction, this gives the maximum strength for that given direction. With an omnidirectional antenna the signal is dispersed evenly. This means if you had no choice but to place you router next to a wall all of that signal transmission is wasted. The main requirement to change to a high gain antenna is that your router must have either a external antenna jack or a fully removable antenna.

Purchase an extra Wireless Access Point (WAP) or Repeater This is mainly used in businesses and/or very large houses where one wireless router just can not cover all of the desired locations that need wireless internet access. An extra wireless access point or repeater is just an extension of the original wireless router. This is implemented purely to extend the distance of the signal. To implement this solution you need to technically know what you are doing. Adding an extra WAP requires the capability to connect an ethernet cable from your primary wireless router to the secondary wireless router.

By investigating all and implementing some of the suggestions in steps 2 and 3 we are confident that your wireless signal strength should improve.