I have a Linksys WRT54GS v 2.1 wireless router. I’ve already installed a firmware hack that boosts the output power from the default 28mW to 251mW. But I want MOOOORE POOOWER!!
For no greater reason than I want to do it. I’ve switched it to a channel that won’t interfere with other routers in the neighborhood.
Can I use an amplifier? Since this router has 2 antennas (already with Linksys hi-gain attachments), what sort of amp do I need? And where can I get a good deal on one?
Since I believe 4 watts is the max legal output, thats what I’m shooting for.
You would probably be in violation of the FCC regulations on power output. The 4 W limit is for EIRP, not transmitter output. Hacking the firmware is also a bad idea unless you have a spectrum analyzer to verify that the transmitter still works properly at the higher power level. You may just be overdriving the transmitter and causing it to generate noise and interference for other users of the radio spectrum. In general, you shouldn’t use more power than is needed to maintain communications. The excess power is a form of environmental pollution.
You don’t say where you are, Gabe. But if you’re in the USA, here’s the relavant FCC section:
Looks like you’re already past the 250mw threshold. Leave it there.
But wait! You could get your amateur radio license and boost your power legally (on three of the channels only) to 150W! You’d just have to provide a voice or morse code ID every 10 minutes, not use your router for any commercial service, and leave the pr0n alone…
Looks like a typo. I meant to say that I had it set at 250mW. Then as a purely theoretical exercise, how would one go about doing what I described above?
You probably couldn’t do it with the equipment you have, Gabe. I think you would have to have an outboard amplifier to boost the signal to the antenna.
But that would also boost any signal impurities, so unless you have a spectrum analyzer and can “see” your signal, I’d strongly advise against it.
I am know little about wireless, but is there any practical point to boosting the routers output? It may mean you can pick up the routers signal while sitting in the upstairs toilet, but more importantly the router wont be able to pick up your laptops puny output in return.
Due to default settings among the major brands of wifi equipment, channels 1,6, and 11 are nearly always occupied at any given location, with the most conjestion on ch6.
Those three channels are the only ones that don’t overlap. If you are on any other channel you are causing/experiencing interferance to a greater or lesser degree. Increasing the power will insure that the “lesser” option does not apply to the “causing” case.
Increasing the power from .25W to 4W will yield a 12dB increase in signal strength. There are many directional, and a few omni-directional antennas available that will do that much or more. A directional antenna will also limit transmitted and recieved interference to a given sector.
I forgot to add that client to AP range is nearly always limited by the weaker signal transmitted by the clients.
laptops tend to have low powered cards, and suboptimal antennea. Desktops tend to have a single antenna wedged between a metal case and a wall.
APs should be up high, where they have a better sight line to the clients. Unfortunatly this exposes them to more noise and interferance as well, which degrades reception.
Putting a better antenna on the AP does little to help this situation, as the improved antenna also picks up more noise and interferance along with desired signal, thus the S/N (signal to noise ratio) doesn’t change appreciably. Only if the old antenna was so poor that the reciever’s internal noise figure (not altered by antenna changes) was limiting performance will significant improvement be had.
A wifi repeater pretty well solves all of these issues if increasing your coverage area is the goal.
But you are increasing your transmission range beyond what you can detect, you could easially be interfering with others who is too far for you to ‘see’.
Also again unless you are using a wireless bridge, where you are using a boosted access point ON BOTH SIDES, there really is no point as boosting transmitting power does not increase the sensitivity of the access point.
Here’s a review about two repeaters: Linksys WRE54G and Buffalo WLA-54G. I have used the Linksys Range Extender on several installations and haven’t had a problem yet, but its antenna cannot be replaced.
Much better to relocate the whole AP and save the feedline losses. Even “low loss” coax is pretty lossy at 2.4 gHz. Run UTP to the AP, with POE (power over ethernet) and put it in the attic, or a weatherproof box.