anything else I can do to boost the signal?

I have a Linksys WRT54GC router. I got the antenna for and tried to strategically place it. It did help to boost the signal. Just wondering if there is anything else I can or should do to increase it even more?

Maybe a range extender?

[quote6bda8b47d6="Twon"]I have a Linksys WRT54GC router. I got the antenna for and tried to strategically place it. It did help to boost the signal. Just wondering if there is anything else I can or should do to increase it even more?[/quote6bda8b47d6]

Make sure there are no microwaves or cordless phone stations between the device and the router. I've been told that causes interference

[quoteb7d1a1bdcb="CollidgeGraduit"][quoteb7d1a1bdcb="Twon"]I have a Linksys WRT54GC router. I got the antenna for and tried to strategically place it. It did help to boost the signal. Just wondering if there is anything else I can or should do to increase it even more?[/quoteb7d1a1bdcb]

Make sure there are no microwaves or cordless phone stations between the device and the router. I've been told that causes interference[/quoteb7d1a1bdcb]
Along with what CG said, try changing the channel of the router to improve performance. That will prevent other things such as phones and microwaves from interfering with the signal, as it will run of a different frequency.

Thanks for that info... I have it right beside my phone dock.

[quotee55b381c6f="Twon"]Thanks for that info... I have it right beside my phone dock.[/quotee55b381c6f]

Plus I forgot, Canadians live in igloos. I'm not sure how all that ice impacts the signal

That's true...

A few years back (when I was still living with my parents), this American couple stopped me while I was cutting the lawn. They had been looking at the beef cows on the farm across the road. They wanted to know if the cows were "Great Canadian Bison"...

Wrap tinfoil around the antenna and hold it with one hand while standing on one leg. Used to work for our old TV anyway...

But there is no program or anything that will boost the signal? In case you can't tell, I know nothing about this...

[quotecd2b02c47d="Twon"]But there is no program or anything that will boost the signal? In case you can't tell, I know nothing about this...[/quotecd2b02c47d]
There are..."hacks" where you can install custom firmware which emits more power from the router than "legally allowed", so basically it's kind of illegal, but if you got it right, I believe it would give off a stronger signal.

No, there is no one-shot fix. You can boost output signal power through modified firmware, but that does nothing to increase reception, so it won't help by itself -- the connection is bidirectional and once you exceed the range in one direction, the increased power in the other direction is useless. So the typical approach is to both increase output power AND upgrade or supplement the built-in antenna with external antenna or range boosters to improve reception. You can buy hi-gain antennas to fit most routers & AP's, as long as yours has a standard antenna connector. A possibly easier approach would be to buy a repeater (range extender) which is essentially just an AP running bridge mode.

http//www.amazon.com/Linksys-Wireless-G-Range-Expander-WRE54G/dp/B00021XIJW

I believe they're router specific.

[quoted89844d463="TFOAF"]http//www.amazon.com/Linksys-Wireless-G-Range-Expander-WRE54G/dp/B00021XIJW

I believe they're router specific.[/quoted89844d463]

It's just a signal repeater, which wouldn't be router-specific.

Thanks everyone!

+karma

[quote3538e425b9="CollidgeGraduit"][quote3538e425b9="TFOAF"]http//www.amazon.com/Linksys-Wireless-G-Range-Expander-WRE54G/dp/B00021XIJW

I believe they're router specific.[/quote3538e425b9]

It's just a signal repeater, which wouldn't be router-specific.[/quote3538e425b9]
Correct. While it's entirely possible that Linksys can build their range extender to only work with their gear, that would only be one approach.

There are different ways to use an AP or range extender to increase range. Some router/AP vendors do have proprietary functionality that allows them to better integrate with their own brand of equipment. Others may have restrictive firmware that limit your options. However any AP/RE that is capable of operating in client bridge mode can be used to extend any router/AP. The client bridge acts just like another PC on the network -- you point it to the main router/AP, provide the encryption key, etc., and it connects to it just like your PC would. The main router doesn't even know that it's a range extender. Your PC connects to the range extender, which forwards traffic to/from the main router.

Most of the devices marketed specifically as range extenders are generic enough to work with any standard WiFi hotspot.

Depending on what you're doing, you may also consider getting a different antenna for the device you're using to connect to the wireless AP. I replaced the stock antenna with a cheapo Hawking antenna (it was free after rebate)[=http//microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0223679]cheapo Hawking antenna (it was free after rebate) for someone using a desktop PC a long way away from the router, and it fixed their connectivity problems.

I guess I was wrong, sorry. The only reason why I stated that was because with my range extender...supposedly it only works with specific D-Link models.

Or get this. 8)