Increasing WiFi strength

[newyorkpaulie]

I am using a T30 with internal WiFi (antenna in lid). Is there any way to increase the signal I receive (number of bars)?

[rkawakami]

There's not much you can (easily) do on your end other than try to turn the laptop around at various angles and see if the signal strength improves. Beyond that, these things will help to improve your reception:

- try an external antenna; however there's the problem of routing the wire outside of the laptop and/or how you mount the antenna.
- boost the effective power of the transmitter; possible to do on your own wireless access point but not any others. Power increase can be done by either mounting the access point higher, moving it to another location if it's currently being affected by obstructions or using a better (or directional) antenna.
- try another wireless card which could have a more sensitive radio.

[Radioguy]

I don't know your situation specifically, but as a New Yorker, I assume you are using it around town. Without an external wlan adapter you can often be out of luck to find a connection unless you're practically on top of it.

Obviously, Installing the most current drivers may help if you haven't done so already. There are also such things as portable wi-fi repeaters, but I believe they are rather pricey, and bulky on the go. An external antenna for an internal (mini-pci/-e) card is a very bad idea, unless you do a case mod to mount an external jack somewhere. That's also dangerous, and if successful, means having to use external antennae for any signal at all.

If you continue to be frustrated, just get an external wlan adapter with external antennae. EnGenius/Senao, Alfa, and Ubiquiti make the most powerful ones out there, but some of the main retail brands may be enough of an improvement.