Slow Internet Connection - Router in Basement - Shit Wifi In my Room - I WANT A NEW WIRELESS CARD!? HELP ME CHOOSE

[luca26]

Hello my favorite community of computer geeks!

So I have a netgear N router in my basement in the back of my house. On the 3rd floor of my house is my room with my desktop and laptop which is in the front of the house.

So I always had horrible internet connection but still manageable when my desk was on one side of my room,I recently moved my bed, and furniture around leaving computer desk on the opposite side of the room and im getting horrible connection problems! (literally moved it 5 feet)

I tested this out by having my laptop in my new desk spot and barely able to connect to internet, then moving it to its original spot and working perfectly fine :S

So to fix this issued I would like a new wireless card for my desktop. I currently have a horrible 1 antenna that I paid 15$ for when I built my computer.

So here is what I ask from you guys!

Should I get a new new Wireless network adapter with a good antena? What do I look for in one, any recommendations for my use.

Should I get a new router that can boost my signal? I would prefer not to see I paid around 70$ for my last one.

Is there anything else I can do? Any recomendations?

Also is there anyway to test my internet connection speeds?

 

[esco_sid]

Best Solution is always to just run an Ethernet cable to your computer all issues disappear and no more dealing with it ever. If you cant you can do power line networking too. all other solutions will include getting a router that can increase gain and buying expensive adapter that has high gain antennas.

 

[bill001g]

If your current card is USB I would try the simple 15ft usb extender trick. This lets you place the USB receiver in the part of the room that works and lets you have the computer where you need it.

When you are at the very edge of signal there really is no simple way to solve this. If you were to place a repeater it would need to go half way between you and the router. I would not use a repeater until there are no other options. They are a pain to get setup right and cause all kinds of strange random wireless issues.

 

[hang-the-9]

A better network adapter or antenna for the router will only cure some of the speed and connection issues. The devices are just too far away for a good signal though walls. You can use a power line adapter or a wifi repeater, or re-locate the router to a mid-point of the house.

 

[luca26]

I went in today to purchase a 15ft cable to attach my antenna to, but then I saw some pretty affordable power line adapters!

Purchased myself a 40$ TP-LINK 200MBS powerline adapter and it works wonderful! Much better then wireless, still isnt super fast like a ethernet cable would be, but it for sure does the job!

 

[TheChick3n]

Move it up a floor. If possible.