What is the best way to improve coverage?

[Ernie]

I am using a wireless router Zyxel Prestige P650HW equipped with a wireless PCMCI-card Zyxel ZyAir B-120.
On the first floor I have two PCs each equipped with a wireless USB-adapter ZyXEL ZyAIR B-220.
PC in room1 has poor signal strength.
PC in room2 has no coverage at all.

What would be best way to improve coverage?
Get a new wireless router with a better signal range than my Prestige?
Or use an antenna, a range extender, a repeater...?
What are the pros and cons anyway?

thx

[idiotech]

Call me stupid, but I need to know the following: I have a desktop PC connected to a wireless ADSL router in the basement of my home. I have a 2nd desktop PC in a room upstairs. I also have a notebook computer that I would like to use wirelessly everywhere in the house. I can only use the laptop in a few rooms closest to the basement where the router is. Any further away and I lose the signal.

I do have two more telephone jacks in the house. What are my options? Should I take the wireless router upstairs and get an additional ADSL modem for the basement PC to work on LAN only? Or should I get a WLAN repeater to boost the signal throughout the house? Or do you have a better suggestion?

Would appreciate all the help I can get.

Best wishes

[M/Q]

Hello Ernie and Idiotech, I merged the threads as they were similar enough and did not want to have members flip between the two.

So, to improve coverage can mean many things. I will list what I would suggest trying.

1. Have you tried a different channel to see if that improves the signal?
2. Do the routers and client devices have the latest firmware and drivers installed?
3. Move the router to a more centrally located spot or at least try to improve its coverage area.
4. Try to improve the antenna situation if possible. It can be using directional antennas or reflectors on the client radios or using improved omni-directional antennas on the routers.
5. Get a secondary access point or wireless router that will be used as an access point only. Locate it where it will do the most good and run an Ethernet cable back to the initial wireless router.
6. Finally, you could try getting an AP and using it as a repeater. This should be the last resort as it reduces throughput by almost 50% and is only meant to be used where the signal strength is above 50%.

This is just a start, as I realize you both have specific devices that will not allow some of the suggestions.