Have you ever been frustrated by Wi-Fi range limits when trying to stream your favorite shows or games? While boosting Wi-Fi power seems like an easy solution, it actually presents various technical problems. One of the main issues is that as speeds get faster, the modulation schemes become more complicated and more prone to errors and interference. This means that if your access point isn’t getting any reply from another gadget acknowledging that it received the signal, the AP will slow the speed down until it gets a response. As we demand faster speeds for hi-def streaming, gaming, and file transfers, simply slowing down our Wi-Fi to make it go farther isn’t a viable solution.
The Wi-Fi standard doesn’t have a super high transmit power to begin with in order to comply with telecommunications laws in different countries. For example, in the United States, you can’t go higher than 200 milliwatts, and most routers are configured by default to transmit at this maximum. However, there are ways to extend your Wi-Fi range. One trick that works is to focus the Wi-Fi signal in one direction. You can get something called a patch antenna, which looks like a big flat panel and sends the signal out in one direction. They’re more common in commercial settings or at trade shows, but you can stick one on the side of your house to blanket your backyard in a strong Wi-Fi signal.
Another trick that’s built into some Wi-Fi standards is the use of a long guard interval. Between short parts of the transmission called symbols are short time intervals before the next symbol is sent. These guard intervals are there to cut down on the interference between symbols. If they’re short, you get more data, but if they’re long, you get less interference and therefore longer range at the expense of some speed. Wi-Fi 6 is introducing extra long guard intervals for outdoor use, where ranges often need to be longer.
To cut down on interference, use narrower channels, and make sure you don’t have unnecessary transmissions flying around your house, like from baby monitors or Bluetooth devices that you aren’t actually using. This can make more of a difference than you might think. A huge part of how wired Ethernet has gotten faster has simply been by cutting down on noise inside the cable.
Other than the tips mentioned above, don’t expect too much new tech in the near future that can extend Wi-Fi range without adding more antennas in something like a mesh network. Speed and range will always be balancing acts.
In conclusion, while you may experience Wi-Fi range limits, there are ways to extend your Wi-Fi range. Focusing the Wi-Fi signal in one direction, using a long guard interval, and cutting down on interference are all ways to improve your Wi-Fi range. Don’t expect too much new tech in the near future, but with these tips, you can enjoy your Wi-Fi experience more.