Increasing Airport Range

bashypack · Junior Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 40

Hi, I am using my MacMini 1.83 Intel as a media centre - to great effect I might add! - Problem is its position is just on the limit of my wireless router ... is there anyway I can tweak the airport software to increase its range or are there any better 'budget' methods of getting a stronger signal?

Thanks very much.

g5g5 · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:29 am Post subject:

You could go with the a/b/g/n card and tri-band antenna from QuickerTek, but it's expensive.

What kind of router are you using?
_________________
1.25GHz Mac Mini / 1.8GHz iMac G5 / 2.0GHz C2D Mac mini (2009)
4GB iPod mini / 2G iPod shuffle / 16GB iPhone 3G
Apple TV 2
iLife's a Bitch!

bashypack · Junior Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 40

cable & wireless .....
my Airport extreme died some time ago ....!

g5g5 · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:15 am Post subject:

How many bars are you getting now? Were you doing better with the AirPort Extreme? Maybe this new router is just weak.

You could also try a USB solution like this. It would allow you to move the receiver to a better location. Is your Mac mini in like a TV stand now?
_________________
1.25GHz Mac Mini / 1.8GHz iMac G5 / 2.0GHz C2D Mac mini (2009)
4GB iPod mini / 2G iPod shuffle / 16GB iPhone 3G
Apple TV 2
iLife's a Bitch!

bashypack · Junior Member Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 40

The bars seem to vary from 0 to full strength but generally between 1 and 2 - and yes the MacMini is in a wooden cupboard now - with like a radiator grill cover along its front - I guess interference from the other electrical stuff could have something to do with it as well - the Extreme base station died before the mini came along so not sure if there was a difference ..

g5g5 · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

An external USB adapter might help you then. You could move it out in the open to a higher spot, away from the rest of your gear (you might need another USB extension cable though). You'd also be ready to go with 802.11n if you get an other router down the road. I think it would be worth a try at $50 bucks. If it doesn't work out, return it.

I thought of something else. Does this router have a 802.11g-only mode?
_________________
1.25GHz Mac Mini / 1.8GHz iMac G5 / 2.0GHz C2D Mac mini (2009)
4GB iPod mini / 2G iPod shuffle / 16GB iPhone 3G
Apple TV 2
iLife's a Bitch!

barnz · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject:

The wireless antenna definately seems to be problem - one I wasn't expecting. An Apple technician explained to me the pretty simple concept that my MacBook PRo had an anteenna as high as the screen, and the mini only as high as could fit inside the mini chassis... an outboard could definitely help. Has anyone tried this? Is there any setup issue to adding wireless to a system that already has it?
_________________
MacMini 2GHz C2D 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD| Panasonic TH-37PX60U | iPhone 3G 16GB
in cold storage:
Winegard Square Shooter HD Antenna | Elgato 250+ | Linn AV5103 | Thule IA60 | Linn Sondek LP12

jb · Last edited by jb on Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:44 am; edited 1 time in total

hackersmovie · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:20 pm Post subject: Re: Increasing Airport Range


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