Simple Way To Boost Laptop Wifi Connection?

[Possum]

I have a Toshiba M30 laptop and I need to boost the wifi reception on it. DW and I were using our laptops (HP something-or-other) at a local coffee shop and her signal strength showed as excellent and mine showed as poor.

Not the first time we've noticed this discrepancy either. Just now side by side in the dining room hers is again showing excellent and mine shows only as good.

I am told there is an antennae I can buy to plug into a USB port to improve reception and I was hoping someone could give me firsthand information about their experiences with a similar unit.

TIA
Dennis

[dieselclacker]

Dennis,

I purchased a small clip on booster for my Toshiba laptop to aid in recieving Wi-Fi signal while in RV parks. It plugs in to a USB port. I forgot where I purchased it, online purchase, the name is Wi-Fire. It works pretty well . The clip on mechanism leaves a lot to be desired, but is workable. Cost about 50 bucks as I recall.

Also, on my Toshiba lap top, the signal I was receiving from my home router go to the point where I had to use the Wi-Fire antenna just to pick up a signal from 20 feet away. I downloaded a new driver for the wireless portion of the computer from Toshiba, works better than new now.

Dieselclacker

[Rick Long]

Alfa AWUS036H 1000mW 1W 802.11b/g High Gain USB Wireless Long-Rang WiFi network Adapter with 5dBi Antenna

Amazon.com: Alfa AWUS036H Upgraded to 1000mW 1W 802.11b/g High Gain USB Wireless Long-Rang WiFi network Adapter with 5dBi Antenna - for Wardriving & Range Extension: Electronics

ps.. Do NOT go to the 2000mW at this time... it seems to have problems with slow b/g networks

[Big Bear Local]

Originally Posted by Rick Long

Alfa AWUS036H 1000mW 1W 802.11b/g High Gain USB Wireless Long-Rang WiFi network Adapter with 5dBi Antenna

Amazon.com: Alfa AWUS036H Upgraded to 1000mW 1W 802.11b/g High Gain USB Wireless Long-Rang WiFi network Adapter with 5dBi Antenna - for Wardriving & Range Extension: Electronics

ps.. Do NOT go to the 2000mW at this time... it seems to have problems with slow b/g networks

I have one of these, they are amazing.

[Ray,IN]

If you really want one cheap, enter - homemade wifi antenna - into your search feature, lots of DIY ones for <$10.
I bought the EUB 362 EXT high-power antenna and it works very well EUB-362 EXT - High-Power Long Range Wireless G USB Adapternot what some would refer to as cheap though, ~ $70.
This design is great for RV's because you can sit the antenna in a window for even better signal transfer. Since many RV's today have metal framework, the signal is greatly degraded, because the 2.4Ghz wavelength cannot penetrate metal very well.

[Possum]

Thanks everyone. I've started an antenna booster from FreeAntennas.om (Windsurfer) and will see how that works. The materials for the sieve antenna receiver will be purchased tomorrow and we will see how that works.

[Midniteoyl]

You are using to different BIOSes to report your signal strength.. they will be different. What you need to do is go to Speedtest.net and do a test and see who is actually faster. Then head over to DSLReports.com and use there testing/speed/tweak tools to see how to improve it.

You also should hit up Toshiba or the wireless card manufacturer to see if theres a driver update..

[Possum]

Originally Posted by Midniteoyl

You are using to different BIOSes to report your signal strength.. they will be different. What you need to do is go to Speedtest.net and do a test and see who is actually faster. Then head over to DSLReports.com and use there testing/speed/tweak tools to see how to improve it.

You also should hit up Toshiba or the wireless card manufacturer to see if theres a driver update..

Great advice. I had to go to the Canadian support site for my laptop but I now have the updated drivers and this look good in that my reception mode almost matches my wife's much newer HP unit in signal strength.

[Wayne M]

One bar or five bars, you still get the signal.

Of course, i do need to be the better of us two.

[Possum]

Wayne, depends, what kinda bars do you like to hang out in?