My wireless router just barely reaches its signal to my room, but cuts out sometimes.

[HolySkinnyAgent]

Just got a new pimp-ass Apple Powerbook with AirPort Extreme built-in. I was just wondering what some of the most commonly used and effective methods are to boost a signal and increase its range. I'm pretty good with computers, but pretty much new when it comes to this.

In case this helps, my house is 1 story, router in the front, my room in the back.

[danielmaui]

Unfortunately, as superb as the Apple PowerBook is, it has lower reception capabilities with Wi-Fi due to the aluminum casing. Improved over the previous Titanium versions, especially since the antennas are in the screen rather than the bottom sides, but still, not that great. The iBooks are much better, as are the previous "Pismo" and similarly-styled Powerbooks.

Directing the signal of the router towards the back of the house will help quite a bit if possible. Here's (http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template/index.html) a do-it-yourself method if you're up to it and your access point has a typical omni-directional antenna. Also, use
MacStumbler (http://www.macstumbler.com/) to be sure you are not on the same channel as another access point nearby, and if so, change yours to something different.

If your access point is an Airport Extreme, then you could expand your wireless signal by adding an external antenna (depending on if your model supports the external antennas), or alternatively, add another Airport Extreme or the recently released and less costly Airport Express (http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/) and use WDS to extend/repeat your signal automatically. The Airport Express will also allow for iTunes streaming and USB printer sharing if desired.

Good luck!

[HolySkinnyAgent]

thanks for your suggestions. I've heard that there are devices that you can buy that basically serve to increase the range of a wireless signal by picking up and re-amplifying surrounding signals. do those exist? or am i just insane? it's probably the second one....

[Ewan]

Originally posted by HolySkinnyAgent
thanks for your suggestions. I've heard that there are devices that you can buy that basically serve to increase the range of a wireless signal by picking up and re-amplifying surrounding signals. do those exist? or am i just insane? it's probably the second one....

You are right you can buy a repeater or use an AP in repeater mode... just be sure that whatever you buy compatible with your AP (this is an issue because repeaters are not Wi-Fi certified).

[danielmaui]

Originally posted by HolySkinnyAgent
thanks for your suggestions. I've heard that there are devices that you can buy that basically serve to increase the range of a wireless signal by picking up and re-amplifying surrounding signals. do those exist? or am i just insane? it's probably the second one....

Yes, and that is what I already described... both the Airport Extreme and the Airport Express can be used as a repeater in WDS mode (Wireless Distribution System).

"Extend Your Network - If you already have a wireless network in your home and would like to extend its range, AirPort Express is your answer. Suppose you want to connect to the Internet with your PowerBook in an area that lies beyond the 150-foot range of your AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme Base Station. You can use AirPort Express as a wireless bridge to extend the range of your primary base station."

Apple has a page describing how to do this here (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107454).

If your access point is from another manufacturer, look to see if they offer a similar product (many do now) because as Ewan noted, you'll want to try to get them from the same manufacturer to be sure it works together with your existing equipment. There are some exceptions to this rule, but generally, this seems to be the case.

So, what brand/model is your access point?

[HolySkinnyAgent]

it's a belkin wireless router. and sorry i misunderstood what you said about the AirPort.