The acquisition of a Wi-Fi router allows you to create a wireless home Internet zone by "unfastening" laptops, smartphones and tablets from cable connection. However, the nominal nominal of Wi-Fi signal sources is often not enough to cover large rooms or several rooms, which leads to a deterioration in the quality of data transmission. In this case, Wi-Fi amplifiers come to the aid, by means of which it is possible to expand the coverage area of ​​the network.

Causes of poor signal quality

1. Irregular arrangement of the device. Wi-Fi network is a circle, in the center of which there is a signal source. To create the maximum useful area of ​​coverage with a stable signal, the router is installed in the center of the room.

   In order for the router to provide maximum coverage, it should be placed in the middle of the room

2. Microwave. The quality of the signal will be significantly degraded if the source of Wi-Fi is located in close proximity to the microwave oven. During operation, it emits waves in a similar to the Wi-Fi range, thereby interrupting the signal of the device.
3. Concrete and brick walls. Reinforced concrete and brick prevent the passage of Wi-Fi signal. The more walls or partitions will meet on their way radio waves, the worse will be the quality of communication as far as the distance from the source.
4. Insufficient device power. The coverage radius of the router has a fixed value, beyond which the quality of data transfer is rapidly deteriorating.

In the first two cases, the problem of a substandard signal is solved by the correct choice of the location for the router. This simple action allows you to improve the situation without additional investment. In the last two cases without buying devices that enhance the Wi-Fi signal, you can not do without.

Types of Wi-Fi Amplifiers

Active Amplifiers

Passive Amplifiers

Depending on the model, passive antennas can be installed directly on the router or be carried out beyond it. As a rule, remote analogs have a large amplification potential. The main disadvantage of passive Wi-Fi amplifiers is a relatively low efficiency - an increase in coverage is 5-10 m.

Setting up a Wi-Fi amplifier

After you have decided on the choice of the amplifier and made a purchase, you must make the first setting of the device. Only active amplifiers need tuning, passive antennas are simply connected to the router. For initial setup, you will need a laptop or PC with a Wi-Fi adapter. Setup of the repeater is as follows:

1. Plug the device into a power outlet and wait for the Power Indicator to turn on, which notifies the user that the repeater has been successfully turned on. A full activation of the device can take from one to several minutes.
2. After the device is fully turned on, the Wireless Indicator indicator is activated, which indicates that the repeater starts broadcasting the signal. A new network created by the repeater will be displayed in the list of available wireless connections on your PC.

   The fact that the Wi-Fi network is active is indicated by the corresponding indicator on the router

3. Connect to a new device. When you try to connect to the repeater, Windows will issue a system notification that the new router is not installed, and the offer to configure it. Select "Connect to a network without first installing and configuring".

   If you try to connect to a repeater, the operating system prompts you to start the installation and configuration of the device

4. After the PC connects to the repeater, open any browser and enter the IP address of the repeater in the address bar. By default, this is 192.168.10.1 (repeaters of individual manufacturers can be tied to a different IP address, which can be found in the instructions that came with the device).
5. In the login window that opens, enter your login and password. The default data is admin / admin.

   To enter the setup menu of the repeater, you need to enter a login and password by default

6. In the repeater system menu, select "Wireless repeater mode". In the window that opens, select "Repeater Mode". The device will search for available Wi-Fi networks.

   Pressing the "Repeater" button will start the search mode of available networks

7. Find your router and confirm the selection by clicking the Apply button or refresh the list using the Refresh button if the network you want is not displayed. If your network is protected, you must enter a password to log in.

   In the list of available networks, you must select the router whose coverage area you want to extend

8. The automatic setup of the new network will begin, after which the message on the successful completion of the operation will appear in the Wireless Repeater Mode window.

To configure an additional access point, you will need a LAN cable, compressed from both sides. The configuration process is as follows:

1. First of all, the additional router is reset to the factory settings. For this purpose a miniature button is used, which is usually hidden in the recess - it is necessary to press it and do not release it for a few seconds.

   In order to reset the router to the factory settings, you must press the reset button

2. The main and additional router are connected to each other via a network cable. On the main router, the cable is connected to the LAN connector (usually yellow), and on the additional router to the WAN (usually blue).

   To connect the routers, you need to connect the local (LAN) port of one of them to the WAN (WAN) input of the other

3. If the connection is successful, the LAN and WAN indicators on the primary and secondary routers will light respectively.
4. After successful completion of the connection, you need to configure an additional router through a PC. For this purpose, the router and PC are connected by LAN cable through the LAN port on the router and the corresponding connector on the PC.

   LAN port of the computer is connected to any free "yellow" port of the router with the help of a patch cord

5. In the address bar of the browser, enter the IP address of the router. The default is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1, depending on the device manufacturer. After going to the entered address, an authorization window opens, in which you need to enter your login and password. The default data is admin / admin.
6. In the system settings menu of the router, the "Network" tab is selected, and then the "WAN" tab.

   In the configuration window, you specify how to connect to a network with a dynamic IP address

7. In the opened window, the "WAN Connection Type" field should be set to "Dynamic IP". If this is not the case, set this value by pressing the drop-down arrow on the activation arrow.
8. If the additional access point is successfully configured, the values ​​set by the program appear in front of the "IP Address "Subnet Mask" and "Default Gateway" fields.

Wi-Fi amplifier with own hands

If desired, you can make a Wi-Fi-amplifier yourself from improvised means, thereby saving money. However, it is worth noting that the benefits of such "homemade" is rather doubtful, and the risk of causing the router to become unusable is very high. Below we will consider the design of amplified directional signal attachments that allow us to amplify the Wi-Fi signal without risking the health of our router.

Focusing attachment for Wi-Fi router

Assembly of the nozzle is carried out in the following sequence:

1. From a cardboard we cut out a nozzle in length of 15 sm with a small thickening in a zone of fastening to the aerial of a router.
2. We mark the nozzle and pierce holes for installing wire dipoles in accordance with the scheme.

   On the surface of the nozzle pierced holes for the installation of wire dipoles

3. We install dipoles - pieces of wire length of 48 mm. Their size is calculated based on the wavelength of the Wi-Fi band.

   The amplifier, assembled from always available materials, has a gain of 10 dB

4. We put the nozzle on the antenna of the router and check how much the network radius has increased.

Such a nozzle gives up to 10 dB of gain, while the diagram takes a directional form, that is, the Wi-Fi signal is stably broadcast for the most part only in one direction.

Video: 8 dB Wi-Fi amplifier

Amplifier from aluminum can

For the manufacture of such a device you will need an aluminum can with capacity, l and a conventional construction or clerical knife.

Assembly of the nozzle is carried out according to a simple scheme:

1. We cut off the bottom about a quarter of the height from the cans.

   The bank needs to be cut so that two details are obtained, the heights of which are related to each other as:

2. Most of the can is cut along the long side, but not completely, so that its top cover with the hole can be bent.
3. The received part is put on the antenna.

   From the cut portion of the aluminum can, a directional antenna of parabolic type

Video: how to make a Wi-Fi amplifier free and easy

Wi-Fi amplifiers expand the coverage of the network and stabilize the signal without having to replace the router. Each of these options has its advantages and disadvantages, taking into account which you can choose the most suitable solution for each situation.