# Can i boost my ability to receive a wireless network? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [June 23, 2008, 8:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458 "2008-06-23T08:38:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/1 "2008-06-23T08:38:36Z")
My landlord gave me the password to his network so i can get online, but the signal is SUPER weak. Is there any way i can increase my ability to receive the signal without hassling him? ---
**Author:** ![zwarbyt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zwarbyt/32/7623_2.png) [@zwarbyt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/zwarbyt)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/2 "2008-06-23T08:42:18Z")
buy a wireless repeater and place it between you and the source… ---
**Author:** ![zwarbyt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zwarbyt/32/7623_2.png) [@zwarbyt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/zwarbyt)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/3 "2008-06-23T08:42:35Z")
they are like 40-80 i think ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/4 "2008-06-23T08:44:39Z")
the thing is he is in another building. I’d have to put it outside. HAHA. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/5 "2008-06-23T08:45:30Z")
Repeater, high-gain, or directional antenna. If it’s a laptop, or something without an external antenna, a repeater would probably be the best bet. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/6 "2008-06-23T08:46:56Z")
anyone have something i can TRY? It’s a desktop w/ a wireless card. I have the little antenna thingy on the back. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/7 "2008-06-23T08:48:59Z")
pay for your own? how far from the source are you? ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/8 "2008-06-23T08:49:43Z")
> [@Anonymity](#): > > pay for your own? what far from the source are you? i think you mean HOW far… and… i don’t know where he keeps his router… maybe 200 feet? and i’m not going to pay 65 bucks a month to check nyspeed/myspace at home once or twice a day… i’ll just go w/out if that’s the case. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/9 "2008-06-23T08:50:26Z")
[http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/1008901](http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/1008901) ---
**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 9:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/10 "2008-06-23T09:00:05Z")
> [@newman](#): > > i think you mean HOW far… and… i don’t know where he keeps his router… maybe 200 feet? > > and i’m not going to pay 65 bucks a month to check nyspeed/myspace at home once or twice a day… > > i’ll just go w/out if that’s the case. i know that is not the only thing you do on the internet… but with barking dogs and no internet what made you want to live there? > [@FuzzyFish](#): > > [http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/1008901](http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/1008901) i was going to post this. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 9:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/11 "2008-06-23T09:00:51Z")
haha, nice. i’m totally going to make this > **[O'Reilly Media - Technology and Business Training](https://www.oreilly.com)** > > Gain technology and business knowledge and hone your skills with learning resources created and curated by O'Reilly's experts: live online training, video, books, conferences, our platform has content from 200+ of the world’s best publishers. ![http://www.oreillynet.com/images/weblog_graphics/flickenger/shotgun.jpg](http://www.oreillynet.com/images/weblog_graphics/flickenger/shotgun.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![skylinez07](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/skylinez07/32/4993_2.png) [@skylinez07](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/skylinez07)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/12 "2008-06-23T09:01:29Z")
im about 300 feet away from the router i get my signal from. i just went to radio shack and bought a netgear wifi extender paid 50 bux but i get full sig. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/13 "2008-06-23T09:01:37Z")
> [@Anonymity](#): > > i know that is not the only thing you do on the internet… but with barking dogs and no internet what made you want to live there? It’s really an awesome place! ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 9:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/14 "2008-06-23T09:16:02Z")
> [@newman](#): > > haha, nice. i’m totally going to make this > [O'Reilly Media - Technology and Business Training](http://www.oreillynet.com/lpt/wlg/448) > > ![http://www.oreillynet.com/images/weblog_graphics/flickenger/shotgun.jpg](http://www.oreillynet.com/images/weblog_graphics/flickenger/shotgun.jpg) :picard: I hate to say it, but I’ve heard that cantenna’s actually work really well. Do it. :tup: ---
**Author:** ![boxxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/boxxa/32/5045_2.png) [@boxxa](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boxxa)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 9:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/15 "2008-06-23T09:18:33Z")
if you make something to receive the signal, you might see it but wont stay connected. your laptop doesn’t change its sending power. kind of like the old CB radio things. people would buy the huge antennas so they can receive further signals but you still are only outputting at a certain power. only thing you can try is to find a wireless card that supports Enhanced-G network and hope the router does the same. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 9:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/16 "2008-06-23T09:32:18Z")
The whole idea is to focus those signals, much in the similar way a satellite dish does. (Just less efficently obviously.) It does work, but it is extremely temperamental in regards to directional changes. A large antenna is a whole different ballgame, and there are many other things on how that can hurt a signal in both directions. Both in broadcasting, due to what you mentioned above. And in receiving, length not optimal for the waveform. Most of the antennas used for wireless are around 1 to 1.5 inches for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![zwarbyt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zwarbyt/32/7623_2.png) [@zwarbyt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/zwarbyt)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 9:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/17 "2008-06-23T09:40:34Z")
try rubbing your dick on the window facing the street helps me sometimes :gotme: ---
**Author:** ![Locutus](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/locutus/32/7574_2.png) [@Locutus](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Locutus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 10:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/18 "2008-06-23T10:18:52Z")
what they said will work. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 10:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/19 "2008-06-23T10:22:49Z")
especially zwarbyt? ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 11:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458/20 "2008-06-23T11:16:43Z")
A properly made cantenna will work quite well if you can aim it towards the router. Just make it decent out of a pringles can and it should do the job just fine… Theres plans all over the internet. Or you can get a cheap linksys WRT54G router, run DD-WRT on it, boost the output, and make it into a $20-40 repeater… Its quite simple and can be done all via software in 2-3 mins… [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/can-i-boost-my-ability-to-receive-a-wireless-network/50458.md?page=2)