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I've got a computer set up in the basement of our house and it connects via Wi-Fi to a router I've got set up on the ground floor. Now the signal seems to be strong enough, but there are times when pages fail to load, videos fail to buffer properly and even file transfers from PCs on the upper floor take forever and then end up failing. I get on average 2-3 bars out of 5 according to XP but I notice that the "Speed" label in the XP Wireless connection status page fluctuates from 11-54 Mbps constantly which, I've read, is a sign that the signal is low quality or weak (can anyone confirm that?).

I scoured the web for info on DIY wifi boosters and found this, but all of the applications seem to be focused on outdoor usage. Would this type of antenna be suitable for boosting signal indoors, with plenty of thick concrete walls and furniture to get by? I'm thinking of building a simple one out of a wok I've got lying around and then pointing it in the direction of the router, and I'm imagining that the effect would be akin to cupping your hand around your ear in order to hear someone speaking to you over some background noise, but is that even an accurate analogy?

Enrico Tuvera Jr
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2 Answers2

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How good is the signal on the ceiling of the basement?

I am thinking you could mount a wireless WDS access point as physically near to the upstairs wifi as possible, perhaps even moving the upstairs one to accommodate it. If you can get a wireless repeater (WDS) to get a good signal, then no need for any diy antenna solutions.

Paul
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Have you tried reorienting the antenna(e) on your router so that they point horizontally rather than vertically? The vertical orientation is optimized for a single-floor layout, and the radiation off the ends of the antenna(e) is minimal compared to the radiation from the "face".

Daniel R Hicks
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