How to boost router signal.........

Question

Hi- I read through some postings but really didn't see an answer to my issue. Most of that is due to the fact that I really didn't understand what was being said so I thought I'd ask my own question, in my words and maybe I can get an answer or two and get a bit more educated about this issue.
I have a MBP, upstairs here in the living room. Down in the basement is the spaceship-shaped-Airport router (Apple) that we have that serves my MBP, my hubby's G4 and my son's Dell. Prior to the MBP I had a G4 desktop that connected just fine with a very stable signal from the Airport router. Not so with this MBP. It goes up and down way too often. I am wondering if there is something that I can set up on my desk here that would wirelessly connect to the router downstairs that would help boost the signal. I really don't want anything that plugs in- I am already finding the scarcity of USB ports on this machine frustrating. Or if anyone has any other ideas, I am open for suggestions! Thanks so much for all the help! Judy

Answer 1

hi,
i guess we should clarify some information.
first, changing the channel (from 1 to 11) does not change the wireless power signal and shouldn't make any difference unless there is another wireless network near your's using the same channel. check if your computer detect any other wireless other than your's. if it does, you can do testing by switching from channel 1, 6 and 11. but again, this will should not change your wi-fi coverage.
as for the coppertrail's post, I beleive he is refering to a setting in the Airport Extreme. Some wireless router have a setting to adjust the wireless signal power. this setting is intended to those who live in small apartment buildings that deliberatly want to reduce their wireless coverage to avoid other people live near them to use their signal. I do not know either if the Airport Extreme have this setting, but you should verify and adjust this to 100% output power using the Airport Assistant. IF you do have this setting and IF it is adjusted lower than 100%, this may solve your issue.
finally, moving your Airport Extreme will change nothing to your setup. regardless of its location, it will need to be plugged into an electrical outlet as well as your modem. so, you need to move your modem as well and depending if you have a coax cable or a DSL internet provider, you will to have a phone plug or a coax cable near to plug your modem. _the idea is to have the Airport Express near the center of the area you want to use its signal._ consider that any wall, floor or solid material will reduce the wireless signal. the best location will be where there will be the less walls between the Airport and your computer.
finally, the Airport Express will only extend your wireless coverage. It will act as a repeater; i.e. it will receive the signal sent by the Airport Extreme and resend the signal. so, if you place it somewhere where the signal of the Extreme is still there but low, the Express will receive the low signal and resent it full power. Express can only extend the range of another Express or a Extreme Base Station but it should work with your Dell running Linux.
hope this clarify this a little. but the way I understand your setup; is that you have your router on the basement while you try to use it two stories higher. I beleive this is expecting a little bit too much of wireless coverage. unless there is a physical obstacle to place your modem and the Airport near where you use it, do it. It will improve your setup.