# How do I increase the range of wireless Internet connection? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437 "2006-02-01T00:12:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/1 "2006-02-01T00:12:26Z")
I recently acquired [a wireless network adaptor](http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?childpagename=US%2FLayout&packedargs=c%3DL_Download_C2%26cid%3D1115417109934%26sku%3D1121874580905&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper), in an effort to get wireless internet. However, the signals are identified as “weak”, and though they work decently sometimes, at other times the signal is intermittent. How do I optimize the stregnth of the signal? Thanks in advance for any help. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/2 "2006-02-01T00:16:29Z")
Do you own the wireless router as well? That is where you can extend the signal with special antennas (Linksys makes them). It is harder if you are just picking up other people’s signals. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/3 "2006-02-01T00:19:23Z")
What sort of access point are you using, and where is it located with respect to the computer with the wireless adaptor? If possible, you may wish to consider moving the access point. If that’s not practical for you, you might try high-gain antennas on both the access point and on the wireless adaptor. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/4 "2006-02-01T00:19:47Z")
No just the reciever unit. Anything for placement, home-made add-ons, or should I upgrade to a more sophisticated unit if one’s available? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/5 "2006-02-01T00:20:38Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > It is harder if you are just picking up other people’s signals. Harder, and also probably not entirely legal, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/6 "2006-02-01T00:46:39Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Harder, and also probably not entirely legal, as well. Cite, please? In my short time as a wireless user, I’ve occasionally picked up and used a signal from someone nearby’s router and if it’s unlocked I figured they didn’t care who used it. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/7 "2006-02-01T00:51:07Z")
> [@Nawth Chucka](#): > > Cite, please? In my short time as a wireless user, I’ve occasionally picked up and used a signal from someone nearby’s router and if it’s unlocked I figured they didn’t care who used it. There isn’t much of a cite one way or another. It is one of those things sitting out in legal limbo. Technology is moving faster than the laws can adapt. Some people set up access points and want people to connect. For others, they just don’t know better and leave their connections open. How is the end user supposed to know for sure which one are leagl particularly when there are a mix of connections you can pick up in the same area? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/8 "2006-02-01T00:52:21Z")
I leave one of my wireless APs open for web/email use. Discussions on whether using an open AP is legal never go well here though. For those interested in improving reception to their AP, if you only need the reception in one direction (not in all), then get yourself some cardboard and tinfoil and make one of [these](http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/9 "2006-02-01T00:53:31Z")
> [@Nawth Chucka](#): > > Cite, please? In my short time as a wireless user, I’ve occasionally picked up and used a signal from someone nearby’s router and if it’s unlocked I figured they didn’t care who used it. You need a cite to tell you that using the services that someone else pays for is illegal? Are you saying that when you need some water, you can just go up to the spicket on the side of someone’s house and get all the water you need? Because, hell, if he didn’t want to share it, he would have put a lock on the spicket, right? He just left that hose right there for everyone to use I bet… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/10 "2006-02-01T00:55:53Z")
> [@Nawth Chucka](#): > > Cite, please? [Sure thing](http://www.enterpriseitplanet.com/security/features/article.php/3518716). ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/11 "2006-02-01T00:56:24Z")
Talk to the person who is in charge of the wireless router, and tell them about your problem. If the person who is in charge of the router doesn’t know that you’re using their network, or you don’t know who’s in charge of the router, stop trying to use that network. It may or may not be legal to use someone’s wireless network without their knowledge or consent, but it most certainly is not ethical. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/12 "2006-02-01T01:40:48Z")
You can buy a wireless range extender kit. Here is one such: [http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGXB102.php](http://www.netgear.com/products/details/WGXB102.php) I am not recommending that product in particular…just showing it as an example. Other manufacturers make them as well. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/13 "2006-02-01T02:19:21Z")
> [@Nawth Chucka](#): > > Cite, please? In my short time as a wireless user, I’ve occasionally picked up and used a signal from someone nearby’s router and if it’s unlocked I figured they didn’t care who used it. Some states are prossecuting people for accessing other peoples wireless, and some are making it illegal to have an unsecured wireless network. You might find yourself in prison or not depending on someones whim at this point. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/14 "2006-02-01T03:26:29Z")
I’ve tried the Linksys range extending antennas and (and in addition to being absurdly expensive) they weren’t, in my experience, worth a bucket of spit if you’re at the far end of the house where the signal is punching through multiple walls. Directional cantennas might be more effective and some people claim you can increase the router’s RF output somewhat by flashing the router BIOS with modified firmware but that would probably make the FCC unhappy. There are some routers, [like this Linksys unit,](http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?childpagename=US%2FLayout&packedargs=c%3DL_Product_C2%26cid%3D1130279435381&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper) with protocols that claim to punch farther and operate fasher than the standard B and G. If I needed maximum range that might be your best bet. You would also need an enhanced compatible RF receiver ([like this)](http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?childpagename=US%2FLayout&packedargs=c%3DL_Product_C2%26cid%3D1130279434670&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper) to take advantage of this increased range and speed. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/15 "2006-02-01T12:04:40Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > You need a cite to tell you that using the services that someone else pays for is illegal? Are you saying that when you need some water, you can just go up to the spicket on the side of someone’s house and get all the water you need? Because, hell, if he didn’t want to share it, he would have put a lock on the spicket, right? He just left that hose right there for everyone to use I bet… :rolleyes: Since we’re in General Questions, I won’t respond to your jerkish, poor and sarcastic analogy in kind. A broadcast signal is not the same as a contained product that has to be accessed. Going up to a house, finding and then turning on a spigot to take something away w/ you is not comparable to a wireless card finding a signal and you clicking a button. I’ve met many people w/ wireless routers that know others use it and some are bothered while others are not. I know some people who share cost w/ the router owner. Maybe you’d like to start a thread in the Pit for people you feel ‘steal’ bandwidth and other ‘intangibles’? ---
**Author:** ![meanoldman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@meanoldman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meanoldman)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-increase-the-range-of-wireless-internet-connection/342437/16 "2006-02-01T15:12:55Z")
Oh, I _LUV_ the water analogies. So if my neighbor leaves his spigot on and the water is pouring into my house, I can’t use the water… since he paid for it? Why isn’t the neighbor responsible for controlling his own water? My neighbor has a kid in a band. They get paid real money to play. They aren’t famous, but they do make money. They play/practice at my neighbor’s house and we can hear them very well in ours. Do I need to start going over there with cash in hand when I hear their music? FTR, I do have my own wireless router, and I have it locked down. I make it a general habit not to use anyone else’s wap unless they advertise it as part of their business. However, I don’t get all bent about thinking that there are folks that do legal stuff like email and what-not using someone else’s signal.