Improve wifi signal?

I live in a shared apartment. The router is placed in the hall and my room is across it on the inside. If I step out of the room, I get full signal, but inside the room I get two bars. I don't have a laptop or PC. I want to know how can I improve my signal strength? Will a signal repeater come in handy? Is there any signal booster? Or do I need to add a router to the connection.. Thanks.

iPad Air-OTHER, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Jan 31, 2014 6:54 AM

Reply
9 replies

Jan 31, 2014 7:43 AM in response to Barry Hemphill

Connection doesn't drop completely. But performance does. When I'm close to the router, internet works like a charm. When I'm inside the room, even a 320p youtube video takes so much time to buffer. It turns into like a cellular EDGE connection. So performance clearly takes a beating with distance. And I can't reset the router as others use it too. Never done a router reset so no idea how it's done but here I think it's not necessary as others have no issues. Their rooms are closer by.

Jan 31, 2014 8:35 AM in response to NemesisMB

How is the router located in the hall - on a shelf? Position it as high as you can. Sometimes the router signal is somewhat directional. Experiment by turning the router to different positions.


Some things to try first:


1. Turn Off your iPad. Then turn Off (disconnect power cord for 30 seconds or longer) the wireless router & then back On. Now boot your iPad. Hopefully it will see the WiFi.


2. Go to Settings>Wi-Fi and turn Off. Then while at Settings>Wi-Fi, turn back On and chose a Network.


3. Change the channel on your wireless router (Auto or Channel 6 is best). Instructions at http://macintoshhowto.com/advanced/how-to-get-a-good-range-on-your-wireless-netw ork.html


4. Go into your router security settings and change from WEP to WPA with AES.


5. Renew IP Address: (especially if you are drooping internet connection)

• Launch Settings app

• Tap on Wi-Fi

• Tap on the blue arrow of the Wi-Fi network that you connect to from the list

• In the window that opens, tap on the Renew Lease button


6. Potential Quick Fixes When Your iPad Won’t Connect to Your Wifi Network

http://ipadinsight.com/ipad-tips-tricks/potential-quick-fixes-when-your-ipad-won t-connect-to-your-wifi-network/


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Fix WiFi Issue for iOS 7

http://ipadnerds.com/fix-wifi-issue-ios-7/


iOS 6 Wifi Problems/Fixes


Wi-Fi Fix for iOS 6

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4823738?tstart=240


How To: Workaround iPad Wi-Fi Issues

http://www.theipadfan.com/workaround-ipad-wifi-issues/


Another Fix For iOS 6 WiFi Problems

http://tabletcrunch.com/2012/10/27/fix-ios-6-wifi-problems-ssid/


Wifi Doesn't Connect After Waking From Sleep - Sometimes increasing screen brightness prevents the failure to reconnect after waking from sleep. According to Apple, “If brightness is at lowest level, increase it by moving the slider to the right and set auto brightness to off.”


Fix For iOS 6 WiFi Problems?

http://tabletcrunch.com/2012/09/27/fix-ios-6-wifi-problems/


Did iOS 6 Screw Your Wi-Fi? Here’s How to Fix It

http://gizmodo.com/5944761/does-ios-6-have-a-wi+fi-bug


How To Fix Wi-Fi Connectivity Issue After Upgrading To iOS 6

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2012/09/fix-wi-fi-connectivity-issue-after-upgrading- to-ios-6.html


iOS 6 iPad 3 wi-fi "connection fix" for netgear router

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsWS4ha-dn0


Apple's iOS 6 Wi-Fi problems

http://www.zdnet.com/apples-ios-6-wi-fi-problems-linger-on-7000004799/


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iPad: Issues connecting to Wi-Fi networks

http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3304


How to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal

http://ipad.about.com/od/iPad_Troubleshooting/a/How-To-Boost-Your-Wi-Fi-Signal.h tm


Troubleshooting a Weak Wi-Fi Signal

http://ipad.about.com/od/iPad_Troubleshooting/a/Troubleshooting-A-Weak-Wi-Fi-Sig nal.htm


How to Fix a Poor Wi-Fi Signal on Your iPad

http://ipad.about.com/od/iPad_Troubleshooting/a/How-To-Fix-A-Poor-Wi-Fi-Signal-O n-Your-iPad.htm


iOS Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1398


iPad: Issues connecting to Wi-Fi networks http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3304


WiFi Connecting/Troubleshooting http://www.apple.com/support/ipad/wifi/


How to Fix: My iPad Won't Connect to WiFi

http://ipad.about.com/od/iPad_Troubleshooting/ss/How-To-Fix-My-Ipad-Wont-Connect -To-Wi-Fi.htm


iOS: Connecting to the Internet http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1695


iOS: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4199


How to Quickly Fix iPad 3 Wi-Fi Reception Problems

http://osxdaily.com/2012/03/21/fix-new-ipad-3-wi-fi-reception-problems/


iPad Wi-Fi Problems: Comprehensive List of Fixes

http://appletoolbox.com/2010/04/ipad-wi-fi-problems-comprehensive-list-of-fixes/


Connect iPad to Wi-Fi (with troubleshooting info)

http://thehowto.wikidot.com/wifi-connect-ipad


10 Ways to Boost Your Wireless Signal

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372811,00.asp


Fix iPad Wifi Connection and Signal Issues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwWtIG5jUxE


Fix Slow WiFi Issue https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2398063?start=60&tstart=0


How To Fix iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch Wi-Fi Connectivity Issue http://tinyurl.com/7nvxbmz


Unable to Connect After iOS Update - saw this solution on another post.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4010130


Note - When troubleshooting wifi connection problems, don't hold your iPad by hand. There have been a few reports that holding the iPad by hand, seems to attenuate the wifi signal.

Some Wi-Fi losses may stem from a problematic interaction between Wi-Fi and cellular data connections. Numerous users have found that turning off Cellular Data in Settings gets their Wi-Fi working again.


You may have many apps open which can possibly cause the slowdown and possibly the loss of wifi. In iOS 4-6 double tap your Home button & at the bottom of the screen you will see the icons of all open apps. Close those you are not using by pressing on an icon until all icons wiggle - then tap the minus sign. For iOS 7 users, there’s an easy way to see which apps are open in order to close them. By double-tapping the home button on your iPhone or iPad, the new multitasking feature in iOS 7 shows full page previews of all your open apps. Simply scroll horizontally to see all your apps, and close the apps with a simple flick towards the top of the screen.


Wi-Fi or Bluetooth settings grayed out or dim

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1559


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If any of the above solutions work, please post back what solved your problem. It will help others with the same problem.


 Cheers, Tom 😉

Jan 31, 2014 8:08 AM in response to NemesisMB

If you've tried different positions and orientations* within the apartment with no improvement, then the extender may be the only solution. Modern constructions with drywall and its steel mounts is notoriously opaque to Wi-Fi signals, especially if a, b or g. 802.11n may fare better, depending on config (which sets the frequency).


As you've discovered, the bandwidth and throughput in Wi-Fi throttles down as signal level falls, even if the link manages to hang on.



*We're discussing Wi-Fi, right? 😉😝

Jan 31, 2014 8:28 AM in response to NemesisMB

This is a cost-free remedy which you may or may have not tried. But every place I lived in had a "sweet spot" to position a router. As long as your router is not near a window or near any electrical appliances or a television.


Another thing that you could do is to use a Wifi analyzer, and check out which 'channel' is not cluttered or used frequently by other nearby routers in your area. Routers are generally set to 6. And there are people who just settle for whatever channel their router has been assigned (resulting in that channel being congested). For me, all I did was change the channel from 6 to something like 11 and it was like night and day.

Jan 31, 2014 10:37 AM in response to Texas Mac Man

Well, settings and all are not an issue here. Location is and unfortunately I can't change the location of the router and neither can I play with the router settings as I don't have a PC and the router is installed in someone else's PC with which I don't want to play. Thanks for the effort though. I guess only option left is the extender, but I don't know whether it requires cabling and all or not. Will have to check. Thanks ya all. Will wait for more suggestions.

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