Extending WiFi range on the cheap - 1

Wireless networks can clear up all the clutter of cables and wires and ease, considerably, some of the problems associated with communications in a home or business environment. But one real issue can be the limited range of a WiFi environment - especially in a business setting where the business may spread over a relativley large area where WiFi communications can become problematic.

Boosting signal strength is one of the best and cheapest ways of addressing the limited range issue but can also increase data transfer speeds.

With the right set up it is possible to communicate throughout your home (eliminating all those troublesome black spots), across the street or spanning several suburbs.

Before we can proceed there are a few terms that are important to understand:

dB (decibel) this is a term that describes the impact a device has on signal strength. It's not a linear scale but rather logorithmic where each extra 3dB doubles the signal strength. So a 6dB device is twice as powerful as a 3dB device and a 9dB device is four times as powerful and a 12dB eight times as powerful and so on.

dBm (dB milliwatts) is a measure of the signal strength itself. 0dBm is 1mW of power. Smaller signals have negative values (eg -25dBm). 30mW is typical for an 802.11b card and is equal to approx. 15dBm.

dBi (dB isotropic) is the 'gain' that a directional antenna has over one that transmits in all directions. While a completely omni-directional antenna does not exist in the real world it is used as a reference point for comparing, designing and constructing aerials.

The average Wi-Fi set up outputs a lousy 30mW which is good for about 300 metres line-of-sight, but add a couple of walls and other impediments and the range can be cut to 15 metres indoors. Without the addition of boosters, extra aerials and other support equipement it can, at times, be difficult to get a signal to the other side of your house - let alone to the shed/workshop on the other side of the property.

But the best way to overcome the problem is to boost signal strength and the best of these is to create an omni-direction beam.