September 19, 2005

Home Office: How To Improve Your Wireless Networking Signal

When putting up a wireless network in your home office, you might find that the signal is great in some places but not great in other places. Sometimes this is because of electrical interference from other devices but most often it's because the signals are hampered by the distance from your computer and the wireless access point. The distance can be one problem, but another problem is the physical obstructions that could be blocking the wireless signal.

There are new wireless access points and networking cards that boost a WiFi signal and make it much stronger.

While you are setting up your WiFi network remember to keep it secure by at least enabling the built in security encryption technology!

The NY Times writes Regardless of the standard you choose, you will get the widest broadcast area if the base station is placed centrally on an upper floor, or atop furniture, because radio waves spread best laterally and down. Reception will also be better if the signal does not have to travel at steep angles and if it doesn't have to go through thick walls, mirrors, fish tanks or anything metal.

Another base station configuration that needs attention is the security setting. "Most people do not realize that they have no security unless they turn it on," said Charles Stanton, president of Manhattan Home Networks, which helps people in New York and New Jersey set up wireless home networks. It can be a tedious process, because you have to enter a code of up to 26 digits in the base station, as well as in all the computers in the network. (Again, consult the user's manual.) Read the full NYT article here

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