How to increase signal/range of your Wi-Fi antenna-less repeater/booster over the network

repeaterwireless-networking

I've BT Home Hub in the upper flat (2-3 walls behind) and I'm using WPS Wireless-N Wifi Range Router Repeater Extender in my flat where I'm using my laptop. These are antenna-less devices.

Are there any life-hack tricks to increase signal/range of my repeater without buying the new more powerful repeater?

I've tried already to move my repeater closer to the ceiling or putting the aluminium foil underneath, but it didn't help.
Are there any methods, specific plates or materials which can boost the signal?

Specification:

Model: WN518W2
Frequency range:    2.4-2.4835GHz
Wireless transmit power:    14 ~17 dBm (Typical)
Wireless Signal Rates With Automatic Fallback:  11n: Up to 300Mbps(dynamic), 11g: Up to 54Mbps(dynamic), 11b: Up to 11Mbps(dynamic)
Modulation Technology:  DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK, OFDM, 16-QAM, 64-QAM
Receiver Sensitivity:   300M: -68dBm@10% PER / 150M: -68dBm@10% PER / 108M: -68dBm@10% PER / 54M: -68dBm@10% PER / 11M: -85dBm@8% PER / 6M: -88dBm@10% PER / 1M: -90dBm@8% PER
Product dimensions: 11 * 6 * 7cm

Best Answer

Are there any methods, specific plates or materials which can boost the signal?

You're likely to succeed only to degrade the signal or its strength - fine-tuning radio transmission requires special equipment and intimate knowledge (as in schematics and calculations) of the actual gear used.

There is no "magic" tin-foil trick that can be used. If your device has a connector for an external antenna that is your only option - but may well turn out to be of little gain, depending on the antenna you choose.

The actual construction of the walls may be relevant; i.e. if there is a lot of iron bars inside concrete walls, or if there is sun-protection film on sheets of glass... - these would attenuate any radio signals.

Note: there are WiFi devices that operate at 5GHz - as these are quite new, you might get less disturbance (few neighbours have them) on such a device - the reach might not be as long though; higher base frequency also implies less reach.

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