REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

03c0upe · 05-14-2010, 03:04 PM

ive got a wireless network card adapter on my pc, it does have a single antenna on it. How can i make the antenna stronger so it can pick up the signal from my router more effectively.

Will using some sort of wire wrapped around my antenna help? if so what kind of wire

striderblade · 05-14-2010, 04:06 PM

what router are you using? There is a lot of do it yourself ghetto mod out there that you can do to help you boost the signal. Here are some of them that i came across. Most are done on the router end. But there are couple can be done on the wireless network card end as well. But will require more work =)

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects...te2/index.html

This site provide you the template for this project. Just save print it on a paper then trace it on to a folder paper. Then tape some tin foil paper on it. Although i haven't tried any of these myself. Since i had no problem with my wifi. But i do keep them in mind for future references in case i need a cheap way to fix a signal.

03c0upe · 05-14-2010, 04:37 PM

just messed around and wrapped aluminum foil around my antenna and it dropped my speed and signal strength lol

striderblade · 05-14-2010, 04:40 PM

wrapping around wont' help. You need to make it like a dish like looking object so it redirect the signal. I added another video showing you how to make it. I'll try this tonight and see how it goes. But if you're able to make it before i do. Post a reply lol

striderblade · 05-14-2010, 05:28 PM

ok i tested this with my itouch in my house with and without the tin foil. I find out quite a few things. Positioning the dish is the KEY. There were times my signal were lower. But once i find that sweet spot. It stayed in the 95-100% mark. Without it i'm on the 75-85% mark. My transfer rate also went up a couple notch. Without the foil my Mbps rate sit around 24 to 34. With the foil the rate when up to 54 Mbps. Which is pretty much the max on the itouch. I'll have to try this on my gf house since she tend to get weaker signal from her router to her comp.

But all in all. This might work or might not work for some. But if you find yourself having wifi signal issue. Give this test a try. Is cheap and best of all. there is nothing to lose beside a couple piece of tin foil and papers =P

raygunpk · 05-14-2010, 07:44 PM

if your router supports it, custom firmware may be able to boost the transmit power. probably not as drastic as that tin foil dish.

underscore · 05-15-2010, 06:24 PM

as said before, you need the dish shape and you should have the shiny side pointed inwards to reflect the signal a bit better.

nns · 05-16-2010, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by striderblade

ok i tested this with my itouch in my house with and without the tin foil. I find out quite a few things. Positioning the dish is the KEY. There were times my signal were lower. But once i find that sweet spot. It stayed in the 95-100% mark. Without it i'm on the 75-85% mark. My transfer rate also went up a couple notch. Without the foil my Mbps rate sit around 24 to 34. With the foil the rate when up to 54 Mbps. Which is pretty much the max on the itouch. I'll have to try this on my gf house since she tend to get weaker signal from her router to her comp.

But all in all. This might work or might not work for some. But if you find yourself having wifi signal issue. Give this test a try. Is cheap and best of all. there is nothing to lose beside a couple piece of tin foil and papers =P

There's no way you got 54 Mbps. Factor in overhead. Your iTouch is not the most accurate tool of measurement.

StylinRed · 05-16-2010, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by striderblade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnMFp...eature=related

It was awesome when he was on TechTV(g4tv) before they revamped the whole show to accommodate pre-teen super nerds

Eclypz · 05-16-2010, 01:37 PM

try changing the channels on your router. Interference can weaken a signal.
If all else fails, you can also buy a signal booster
Posted via RS Mobile

DragonChi · 05-16-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eclypz

try changing the channels on your router. Interference can weaken a signal.
If all else fails, you can also buy a signal booster
Posted via RS Mobile

http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider

or find a wifi repeater

rageguy · 05-16-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StylinRed

It was awesome when he was on TechTV(g4tv) before they revamped the whole show to accommodate pre-teen super nerds

I miss TechTV too. G4 really sucks. But honestly, Patrick is annoying as hell. I'm all down for Leo and Kevin for The Screen Savers.

striderblade · 05-16-2010, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nns

There's no way you got 54 Mbps. Factor in overhead. Your iTouch is not the most accurate tool of measurement.

All those stats are reported directly from my router statistic report. I can only post what it is showed me. I know wireless measurement are not always accurate due to fluctuation in the signal nor is using the itouch, but that is the only wireless equipment i have in the house. What i'm trying to show is there are indeed some sort of improvement involve when using this cheap way to increase signal strength. I had done countless of speedtest with the speedtest.net app on the itouch with or without the foil. 10 tests with the foil and 10 without. And i can clearly say to you that speed did increase and signal did improve. Since i use the touch a lot while i'm dumping the big one and killing time sitting in the toilet. =P.