I know of two clues that may help:

1.  Built-in or USB-powered wifi radios typically only use a fraction of
the power that the FCC permits.  On the recommendation of Google's wifi
support folks, I bought a Ruckus "wifi modem" (silly nomenclature for a
router...) with its own separate power supply, and got a much more
reliable connection, apparently due to the more powerful signal.

2. The FCC limits are in terms of Total Radiated Power.  t is expected
and even somewhat encouraged that people will use *directional* antennas
to achieve higher effective power in some specific direction, and there
are a number of directional antenna components available -- you may have
to replace some of your current wifi gear with stuff that either
includes a directional antenna OR accepts a separate external antenna.

  Failing all else, you *might* need to consult an RF Engineer who knows
wifi, but it sounds like you should be able to make this work with a
handful of relatively inexpensive components.

David Gillett


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [PCBUILD] Extending wireless range
From: Tom Waddell <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, March 11, 2011 1:01 pm
To: [log in to unmask]

I have a computer in my workshop, about 50 feet in a straight line from
the home desktop router. In a straight line the signal would have to
pass through a house wall, a mudroom wall and a garage wall, all
insulated but none with foil backed insulation. The signal strength is
always "very low" and often drops out completely. How can I improve the
signal so I can listen to on line content while I work?

Router:
Cisco-Linksys E2000 wireless N router

Home Computer:
AMD 3+ GHz dual core prosessor, 6 GB RAM, Win 7.

Workshop Computer:
3 GHz P4 processor, 2 GB ram, Win XP, Netgear wireless G card

I can hardwire but distance around walls would be about 100+ feet, some
of it outside.

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