Wireless routers (and access points) normally contain a built in WiFi antenna that radiates signal equally well in all directions. These antennas are sometimes called omnidirectional. An omnidirectional antenna makes router setup easier. When the router is installed in the center of a home and wireless clients are distributed throughout the rooms, an omnidirectional antenna helps ensure all corners of the house can be reached. Sometimes, however, it is better to replace the router's built-in antenna with a different one. An omnidirectional antenna can have difficulty reaching a long distance because its signaling power must be expended in all directions. To address this problem, some router manufacturers sell external omnidirectional antennas that are significanly stronger than the router's built in antenna. Installing a stronger omnidirectional antenna obviously allows far-away locations to be better reached. Because WiFi connections are distance-sensitive, a stronger connection also often leads to increased network performance.
A wireless antenna that is too strong, however, raises security concerns. Omnidirectional WiFi signals are more likely to bleed outside the house into neighboring areas where the signals can be snooped. Greater WiFi range can also be achieved with a high gain directional antenna that sends a strong signal in a particular direction. By focusing the signal, a high gain antenna allows the signal to be better controlled, literally aimed toward the area of the home where wireless devices are located.
In summary, consider replacing the wireless antenna on a router to improve wireless network reach and performance if possible. Many routers support an external antenna jack that allows connecting the new antenna. Consult the router product documentation for details.

Computer and Wireless Networking Basics

By Bradley Mitchell, About.com Guide to Wireless / Networking

These pages review the types of designs, equipment, protocols and other technologies essential to building computer networks. You will learn how home and other private networks, public hotspots and the Internet function.

Fundamental Computer Networks Concepts

In the world of computers, networking is the practice of linking two or more computing devices together for the purpose of sharing data. Networks are built with a combination of computer hardware and computer software. Some explanations of networking found in books and tutorials are highly technical, designed for students and professionals, while others are geared more to home and business uses of computer networks.

Types of Computer Networks

Networks can be categorized in several different ways. One method defines the type of a network according to the geographic area it spans. Alternatively, networks can also be classified based on topology or on the types of protocols they support.

Types of Network Equipment

Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter

The building blocks of a home computer network include adapters, routers and/or access points. Wired (and hybrid wired/wireless) networking also involves cables of varying types. Finally, large-scale enterprise networks in particular often employ other advanced equipment for specialized communication purposes.

Ethernet

Ethernet is a physical and data link layer technology for local area networks. Homes, schools and offices around the world all commonly use Ethernet standard cables and adapters to network personal computers.

Wireless Local Area Networks

Chanalyzer 3 - Interactive Charts and Graphs
for Wi-Spy

Wi-Fi is the most popular wireless communication protocol for local area networks. Private home and business networks, and public hotspots, use Wi-Fi to networks computers and other wireless devices to each other and the Internet. Bluetooth is another wireless protocol commonly used in cellular phones and computer peripherals for short range network communication.

Internet Service

Satellite Uplink Station - U.S. Military
(1998)

The technologies used to connect to the Internet are different than those used for connecting devices on local area network. DSL, cable modem and fiber provide fixed broadband Internet service, while WiMax and LTE additionally support mobile connectivity. In geographic areas where these high-speed options are unavailable, subscribers are forced to use older cellular services, satellite or even dial-up Internet instead.

TCP/IP and Other Internet Protocols

Internet Pioneers Vinton
Cerf, Lawrence Roberts, Robert Kahn, and Tim Berners-Lee (2002)

TCP/IP is the primary network protocol of the Internet. A related family of protocols built on top of TCP/IP allows Web browsers, email and many other applications to communicate across networks globally. Applications and computers using TCP/IP identify each other with assigned IP addresses.

Network Routing, Switching and Bridging

Most computer networks direct messages from source to destination devices using any of three techniques called routing, switching and bridging. Routers use certain network address information contained inside messages to send them ahead to their destination (often via other routers). Switches use much of the same technology as routers but typically support local area networks only. Bridging allows messages to flow between two different types of physical networks.

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Tuesday, December 7, 2010