WIRELESS NETWORKING HAS always delivered less than it promised. Put blunt¬ly, it has never been as fast as it makes out, and its effective range is disap¬pointing indoors. Hopeful¬ly, 802.11n will change all this, but until we get the final specification, we can concentrate on getting the most out of our current Wi-Pi hardware.

If only you could pop to the shops and buy a bigger, more powerful access point or network adaptor. Unfor¬tunately, this isn't an option because of the restrictions placed on the power of such radio devices.
You could employ a bet¬ter antenna to improve your network's wireless signal and reduce interference, and you can play around with your hardware's set¬tings. A good bet is to care¬fully site your access point, giving it the best possible transmission range.

And remember that house¬hold fixtures can profoundly affect your wireless network.
Most wireless users leave their access points and routers set to their default configurations. If you are one of these people, a few simple tweaks can wring every last bit of bandwidth and transmission power from your equipment.

With our help, you can extend your range and improve your network's per¬formance. These tips won't break the bank, but they will improve your wireless net¬working power no end.