Not in the linksys website, nor in the product box can I find this information. Why? I know that it depends on walls or stuff like that that might screw up your signal, but on AVERAGE, what would be the range for a LINKSYS wireless router?
How long does the signal from a LINKSYS wireless router go for?
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well…I believe the WORLD RECORD is something like 6 miles….BUT…They were using high gain antennas and above the treeline towers…And finally their signal only had a 1meg transfer rate….
Now for the REAL world…Typically, depending (depending on obstructions like walls,etc) your range is between 50-75 feet…
Now, if you look outside the box (pretend you’re looking down from your attic, or the apartment above you), look at your floorplan, you’ll get a better idea of how many obstructions are killing your signal….Wi-fi signals don’t like things like walls, but they can "work" thru them….Got a bathroom with real tile in it? DOH!!! Signal killer!!! Just remember that material like brick, stone, rock, and tile absorb your signal, therefore cutting down your range…Metal will generally reflect your signal, but not necessarily in the direction you want…
Another thing to consider is that wi-fi signals radiate out in circles like dropping a rock in a pond…So try this idea..If your router/access point is at the center of a circle, and your other end (say your laptop) is sitting a 3 o’clock, then you are losing 359 degrees of broadcast signal (in an area with clear line-of-sight, and no obstructions)….I did a lot of looking on the net regarding wi-fi antenna design, and found some REAL interesting mods that folks have done to improve their signal thru redirection.
Things like making parabolic-type (semi-round) dishes out out screen door material or aluminum foil than can sit behind your wi-fi router to redirect and thereby "boosting" the signal…There’s also the route of going w/ external antennas, but this CAN become expensive for things like connectors, low-loss cable, antennas, mounting kits….blah, blah,blah…
Try doing a search for either "802.11 antenna design" or "wi-fi antenna design". It might take a while to find what you’re looking for, but after you see what’s out there, I’m sure you’ll be surprised…
Finally…The "rubber-ducky" antennas on your Linksys (and most other wireless routers) have a 5db gain rating…There is a (as THEY call it) "range booster" kit from Linksys for $50/list that has some longer antennas with 7db gain rating….It will help your signal SOME….But finally, it still comes down to what’s blocking your signal….
Hope I helped here…