I want to be able to connect to my wifi network from downstairs in the garage. My apartment is three floors up, and, while the signal is detectable there, it's very weak.
I have tried lifting the laptop up higher. The reason is depicted here:
How can I extend the range of my wifi router?
I've had a ton of luck by building a little 'dish' on the receiving end using a mesh colander and a USB WiFi adapter.
I've used this to get on the neighbours WiFi while waiting for the new internet to arrive:
Obviously, mine is very temporary. A much nicer and more permanent one could be made.
Things that I use:
Place it in a area that is not crowded. I usually place it on a window sill because that gets better reception.
If you want the best signal, you'll need it out in the open, free of any walls and obstructions. Point the antennas vertically, and elevate the router if you can (one reader found that his attic was the perfect spot). Lastly, make sure it's in the center of your house, so you have the best coverage possible throughout your home.
Make sure that fewer people are using the Wi-Fi when you plan on connecting, this increases chances of Wi-Fi working better.
Perhaps the easiest way to improve your router's performance is by ensuring that its firmware and driver are up to date. Check the device manufacturer's website regularly for these updates to keep your router in peak operating condition.
Additional Info
DIY tricks.
As shown above, by carefully folding tinfoil into a parabola, you can boost your wireless strength tremendously. The fellas in the video saw gains from 82% to just under 100%, though I only saw boosts of around five percent, so your mileage may vary. This project should only take about three minutes and will hopefully leave you with impressive results. If you don't want to attach unsightly parabolic boosters and you're using the same basic router as the fellas in the video, you can also upgrade your firmware to DD-WRT
You could also upgrage your firmware to Tomato
Physically extend your router's antenna with copper wire, a wood screw, a drinking straw, and a black marker
Few tips about improving WiFi reception of your WiFi router:
Minimize mirrors. All metallic surfaces reflect WiFi signals, including the thin metal layer found in most mirrors.
As electromagnetic waves, and in this case, wireless signals travel, they interact with objects and the media in which they travel. As they do this the radio signals can be reflected, refracted or diffracted. These interactions cause the radio signals to change direction, and to reach areas which would not be possible if the radio signals travelled in a direct line.
Place your router to maximize effectiveness. Where you place it has a lot to do with how it performs. When placing a router, consider putting it:
Away from cordless phones and microwaves, which operate on the same 2.4Ghz frequency. (There are some cordless phones that are WiFi friendly).
Away from power cords, computer wires, microwaves, baby monitors, and halogen lamps. These wires and waves can interfere with radio reception.
Experts recommend placing wireless network components far from other devices in the house that can cause interference, like cordless phones, microwave ovens, baby monitors or halogen lamps. Of course, people living in crowded urban areas face a greater risk of outside interference from neighbors' wireless networks and devices.
Place your router halfway between your access point and your computer for an instant boost.
Aluminium Can Signal Booster.
Using kitchen foil:
photo and solution by @wifi_guy
Using beer can. Read more: How to boost your WiFi signal with a beer can (7 Photos)
Links:
Use a sheet of aluminum foil behind the antennas. By using foil, you will reflect the signal going away from your devices back toward your devices.
However, since your goal is to transverse multiple levels of floors, this won't be very effective. Instead, get a wi-fi repeater. If you have -- or a friend is willing to give you -- an old router, there's a good chance it can be setup as a repeater, perhaps on the second floor.
if you're unable to obtain a repeater or place it on the second floor, and the tin foil trick doesn't help, your remaining option is to buy a more powerful router.
I notice that the appartment is two floors above the router. Because of the way the radio signal is emitted from the antenna, almost none of it goes straight up if the antenna is vertical. (One trick to visualise where most of the signal goes is to imagine a donut threaded onto the antenna. No signal at the ends of the antenna, but all around the sides, good signal.)
This means that you must point the side of the antenna towards the direction in which you want to have the best signal. In this case, that would mean setting up the antenna so it's almost parallel to the ground.
This will work with any router which has a positionable antenna. Plus, it's free!
A note about multiple antennas: place the antennas at 90 degrees from eachother, in a "V" shape, to get the best overall coverage, since each antenna will be covering the other's "dead zone".
I hope this helps :-)
According to this picture the access point is on the floor, if possible place it near the ceiling and put a metal sheet or aluminium foil under it (the sheet should be bigger than the AP). Instead of metal sheet you can use alluminium cup for backing or something similar
This isn't really a lifehack, but I can say from experience that just buying an antenna can be a great solution. Yes, it's a little pricey, but it works better than most of the things listed here (trust me, I've tried most of them).
Alternatively, if you're into making stuff, you can build one very cheaply.
wi-fi is just like a 2-way radio, so you need to think in the same way
A. if this is your wi-fi
why do you have your wi-fi in the garage , why not extend the cable and move it to the 3rd floor or somewhere in between ?
turn off, remove some plastic from the top of the antenna, and either elongate it ( the antenna) with a thicker copper wire about 1 meter, or with a thinner wire up to your room
B. not your wi-fi, maybe you are renting
use a thin copper wire, like from a transformer, wrap it around the antenna, all the way up to your room, and then wrap it around the end of a piece of a thicker copper wire even if its a stranger's wi-fi you can do this and they cant see it , assuming you have access to the wi-fi location
get yourself a thick copper wire, longer this time ( like 2 millimeters in diameter ) fix it on the desk with the length to be the same as the width of you laptop then stick it out the window about 2 meters in the wi-fi's direction , this will carry your signal thru the walls ( put your laptop on the desk over the wire )
ps: of course a more direct , hard linked route carries more signal
I would purchase a signal extender. Many electronic stores have numerous models/options from dirt cheap (poor quality) to better quality hardware.
If you don't have foil or if that doesn't work (for the asker or anyone looking here for an answer), I recommend a jug of water. I know from experience that the water amplifies the signal well, and should work in your case. Try a two liter (or 1 gallon) jug filled with plain tap water, and place it next to the router. It may not seem like much, but the water molecules amplify the signal of the Wi-Fi. I currently have this setup to increase the range to an upstairs room in my house, and devices receive Wi-Fi where they didn't before.
It's not a life hack, but a power line option is a fantastic alternative to give you a wired connection anywhere in your building.
