Most of us use WiFi wireless technology to connect to the internet using our laptops, tablets and smart-phones. And most of us have been frustrated when it is difficult or even impossible to connect because of a poor wireless signal.
In your own premises (home or business) you can take steps to improve the wireless coverage, but when you are using public wireless hotspot services (eg in hotels, airports, bars, cafes etc) then you are limited in what you can do.
The possible solutions for extending wireless coverage and/or improving performance are:
- Deploy a better wireless router;
- Relocate your wireless router;
- Install additional wireless access points;
These solutions are summarised in the paragraphs below. The summaries contain links to more detailed descriptions some of which also offer the opportunity to buy (from Amazon) the featured products in each solution category.
Deploy a better wireless router
The first step to ensuring the best possible wireless coverage is to have a good quality wireless router that complies with the latest “N” standard. The best wireless routers would also have features that can improve wireless performance such as:
- output power adjustment;
- simultaneous dual-band capability;
- channel selection;
- bandwidth selection; and
- removable and replaceable antennae.
Click here for more information on choosing the best wireless router.
The performance boosting features suggested above would also apply in situations where it is necessary to deploy a better wireless access point. This would be the case in situations where the wireless access point is not integrated with the router.
Relocate your wireless router
In many situations the wireless router would be connected to a phone socket that is located on the periphery of the area that requires wireless coverage. The reason for this is that the phone socket is often located near the entrance to the premises, for example near a door or a window.
In such situations it would be possible to extend wireless coverage by relocating the router to somewhere that is more central to the required area of wireless coverage. It would also help to have the wireless router as high as possible so that any floor standing objects would not block the wireless signal.
The main problem with relocating the wireless router is that it also requires the phone socket to be relocated or an extension socket to be installed.
Another problem is that it is necessary to provide power to the router. This means that the router needs to be located near a mains electrical socket.
Contact Premitel if you would like advice and assistance in relocating your wireless router.
The guidance suggested above would also apply in situations where it is necessary to relocate a wireless access point. This would be the case in situations where the wireless access point is not integrated with the router.
Additional wireless access points
Even if you have the best possible wireless router (or wireless access point) and it is located in the ideal position there may be areas within your premises where the wireless coverage and performance is not sufficient.
The problem is usually that the router’s integrated wireless access point is not sufficiently powerful to provide the required coverage throughout a home or business premises.
In such situations it would be necessary to provide the required wireless coverage by deploying one or more additional wireless access points that are connected to the router, either directly or via a network switch.
In situations where it is necessary to provide wireless coverage over a large area it may be necessary to install multiple wireless access points.
There are three methods of connecting wireless access points back to the router (or network switch) each of which requires a different type of device. The different methods are:
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If you wish to deploy a stand-alone dedicated wireless access point in the area that requires wireless coverage then you would need to use an ethernet cable to connect the access point to the router either directly or via an intermediate network switch. This is in fact the best method of extending wireless coverage in terms of speed and reliability.
In cases where a cable connection is impractical or too expensive in your premises then you would need to use a Repeater or a HomePlug device.
With a Repeater the wireless access point is connected to the router by means of a wireless connection.
With a HomePlug adaptor the wireless access point is connected to the router by means of a connection via the mains electrical cabling.
It should be noted that in the case of a HomePlug adaptor the wireless access point may be incorporated in the HomePlug adaptor or it may be a separate device connected to the HomePlug adaptor by an ethernet cable.
To find out more about each method of boosting wireless coverage by connecting additional wireless access points just click on the appropriate link above.
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Get in touch with us if you have a specific requirement or if you wish to discuss how your business could make better and more cost-effective use of its existing telecommunications and internet infrastructure and services.
