Top Tip: Poor wireless reception! | eWeek

Top Tip: Poor wireless reception!

Written By
eWEEK EDITORS
eWEEK EDITORS
Aug 1, 2003
2 minute read
eWeek content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More

Tips used for Top Tips come from the ExtremeTech forum and are written by our community.

Question from Johdel
“I have had poor results gettering sufficient wireless reception in my old house. The house itself is over 90 years old and has walls made of either concrete or mortar and lath. I have tried 802.11a and 802.11b as well as hardware from Linksys and Microsoft Networking. Does anyone know of a good way to overcome this problem besides running wires into every room? At this point, I am so fustrated cost is irrelvant. Does any one protocol (a,b, g, etc.) perform better in this “hostile” wireless environment? Does any one hardware solution perform better? Are their any repeater type hardware devices that can boost signal strength without having to run CAT5 to? Are there any industrial strength devices designed for offices or factory floors that might do the trick? “

Answer from jbolene
“Not sure why you are having these problems.

You might also have phones running on the same spectrum.

B and G are better than A, with G being the best.

Try and get the base wireless unit higher in the house, put it on top of the closet shelf, not on the floor.

Repeater units are available from Linksys to extend the range.

Also watch out for florescent lights, light dimming controls, and motor speed controllers, they cause quite a bit of radio interference. “

Got a better answer? Post it in the discussion that generated this tip.

eWeek Logo

eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site's focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.