Weak wifi connection HELP!!

simon360

Mods feel free to move this thread to a different category if necessary So I bought a new desktop pc recently for gaming and web surfing and installed a belkin wireless g network pci card. my router is downstairs on the other side of the house and im only getting 2 out of 5 bars of signal I was wondering what i should do to get a better signal, I cant remove the router from that room because it is connected to another computer via ethernet cables. I have a bt voyager 2110 adsl. My price range is 10-20 euro, anyone help??

zg3409

2 bars means nothing. 2 bars should be ok. Is the computer connected directly actually surfing faster?

You could buy a directional 2.4ghz antenna with a pigtail lead to match the connection on your wireless card (assuming the aerial can unscrew), but you would need to point the aerial in the right direction to get a better signal.

If you state the exact model of your PCI card I could advise. Also state what speed is your internet connection and what speed the wired computer perform in speed tests vs the wireless one and which internet provider you are with.

simon360

I am with bt as far as i know, yes i can unscrew the antenna on the pci card and as i said its a belkin wireless g desktop card. It is slow compared to other laptops that are in the other rooms. I'd just like to have faster downloading from steam etc.

Morf

I had unending hassle with wireless. Dropping to a crawl <0.5mbps at times. Since I put in a cabled connection if had almost no problems at all and thanks to UPC recent speed boost I get above what I'm paying for.

zg3409

If it is like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-802-11g-Wireless-Desktop-Network/dp/tech-data/B00008XYJ3/ref=de_a_smtd

something like this
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/2-4GHz-25dbi-RP-SMA-Yagi-Wireless-WLAN-WiFi-Antenna-New-/170869284434?pt=UK_Computing_Boosters_Extenders_Antennas&hash=item27c89a5e52
would meet your budget. It may take a month or 2 to arrive but point it towards the wifi router and you should get more bars.

or something like this:
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/2-4GHz-8dBi-Directional-Dish-Antenna-wifi-Router-AP-/230821065548?pt=UK_Computing_Boosters_Extenders_Antennas&hash=item35be01f34c
would be smaller but I would recommend the first one.

simon360

ah, i was looking to buy a repeater or some sort in a shop or off adverts

jimmycrackcorm

The best solution is to buy one of those power line packs. They're quite cheap now and work really effectively.

icdg

Moved to Broadband.

srsly78

Best solution = physical cable.

Otherwise...
Get a wireless N router, and a wireless N network card. I didn't even realise they still sold wireless G cards....

Difference is night and day between the two. Don't bother with range extenders etc for wireless G, waste of time.

colm_mcm

Homeplugs

jimmycrackcorm

srsly78 wrote: »

Best solution = physical cable.

Otherwise...
Get a wireless N router, and a wireless N network card. I didn't even realise they still sold wireless G cards....

Difference is night and day between the two. Don't bother with range extenders etc for wireless G, waste of time.

Obviously physical cable is ideal but more often than not its impractical to fit in an existing house layout. I switched to using the power line solution because even a new wifi-n router didn't get through the concrete.

srsly78

Yeah the plugs are good and can also be used to connect a second wifi point for another area. Wifi is essential these days coz of tablets/phones etc.