How to boost wifi signal reception?

I just got a X200 but the new Intel Wifi 5300 agn card has worser reception than my X61 with Intel 4965 agn wireless card. My work has shielding agains wifi signals. I can still pick up a weak signal on my X61 but not on the X200 when both were position in the same area.

Does anyone know if theres a way to boost performance in terms of signal reception?

I know I can change th wireless power to Max performance via Access connections but it doesn't seem to do any good.

 

Changing the wireless power only increase the emission intensity, it doesn't do anything to the reception sensitivity... I guess you could try a wireless repeater or some external wifi adapter with a high sensitivity antenna.

 

the new one does worse? really?

 

I would respect your companies policy.

 

huh?

 

Blue means that, if your company has shielding against wifi signals (trying to prevent wifi reception/use/etc), then you shouldn't try to boost signals.

 

oh i see now. I "shrug" to that. The wifi signal isn't from my company, it's from the campus wide university wireless that I'm trying to get on.

So any suggestions? I'm hoping it would be as simple as a software tweak.

 

Nope, there is no software tweak. You would need a more powerful external antenna. You should ask for a desk near a window closest to the university.

 

Try a Long Range USB Adapter
I use a EnGenius EUB362 200mw
There are other external usb network adapters that have up to 500mw power output


Alex

 

Get a cantenna and plop it on your desk facing the direction of the signal.

 

Dont know if this will help(im sure someone will tell you if it wont) but you could try swapping out the wifi card with the one from the older model. Most wifi cards use the same connector so there shouldnt be a problem. But if your notebook just had thicker casing or they did a poor job wireing the attenna then it wont matter much.

 

We cant recommend that you connect to networks that you dont have permission to connect to. But if you do have permission this is what I use.

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-Wireless-G-Network-Adapter-WUSB54GX4/dp/B000HAWGAA

Using my built in wireless card I get 4-5 wireless networks. Using the Linksys adapter I can pick up 13-15. I usually only use it while travelling. The wireless range of hotels are crappy, you usually get better reception in the parking lot than your room. GL

 

Thanks for the advice and recommendations. I do have permission to connect to the campus wireless network but I am not desparate enough to go and buy a hardware wifi adapter.

I was hoping there would be some sort of driver/software setting/tweak, but oh well.

 

Channel it through the deflector dish!


...but no, really, I've had a SMALL degree of luck just updating my wireless drivers. I find that sometimes I may not get a better signal after, but it's more stable and faster with the signal I've got. Not like it can hurt anyway