The best place to put your router, according to physics

Heres a list of wifisignal checking softwares.
www.geckoandfly.com...

www.labnol.org...

I found that this works for me. Tinfoil!

I could not get my internet to work, everything in line of sight, as I sat drinking my 3th large brandy the answer came to me. As so often in cases like this the answer was beutiful and simple and so clear, why had I not though of it before, why only after 3 large brandys was I able to understand this. So I made my way to the rooter, took it in my hands and turned it on

No one mentioned the dangers of placing a router in a center place?

You know, it spews radiation... Not like Fukushima, but surely it's not a good deal that everyone gets the radiation equally.

The problem is that physics does not determine where your router is placed. The RJ-11 jacks to your phone line or the entry points to your cable connection do. So the issue is usually academic. Most routers can be read through a couple of wallboard-type walls just fine, even outside. In my neighborhood, which is composed of fairly large single-family houses on half-acre lots, I can "read" three or four other WiFi hubs from my location. The signal strength is lower than nominal, and these connections are (mildly) encrypted, but still. They exist. Recently a repairman visited and wanted to upload the record and details of his visit to his company's computer. He laughed at me an accused me of not encrypting my router. I was confused that he would claim that and looked on the list of available routers and saw the one he hooked to was a Netgear. But mine is a Motorola. He was hooking up to my neighbor's unencrypted connection.

The "problem" with this issue is in apartment complexes and cities with very narrow lots where you can pick up a signal from every apartment in the building. In these areas, if you do not encrypt your signal, it is subject to being hijacked. This has led to the practice of "Wardriving" where people cruise the streets looking for open WiFi connections. When one is found a chalk mark glyph is written on the sidewalk in front of the 'offending' house.

Up until recently my son lived in these type places and never paid for Internet service. Showing his depth of character he opined that if people were too stupid to encrypt their signal it wasn't his problem. This may seem like a non-issue until you exceed your bandwidth cap because your neighbor downloads full-length movies, or, perish the thought, downloads child porn and it links to your IP address.

I named my router "FBI Surveillance Van," which has led to some funny encounters. Freaked my grandson out when he tried to hook his computer to my system. At least it shows he was paying attention.

originally posted by: mOjOm
a reply to: eisegesis

Do you use the DYI reflector thing??? Have you had success with it that is noticeable??? I've heard mixed reviews but I've never tried it.

I figure those with no success might not be doing it like they should. Using a reflective surface it's important to get everything just right to focus the signal.

What's your opinion???

It does work, but how effectively depends on other factors in you home. For single router setups, you have to take into consideration how many people need reception and whether they remain stationary when connected. Of course, the signal behind the reflector will be exceptionally weaker and how wide of a beam you create depends on the shape of the reflectors curve.

I've used long rubber bands of different length to create more or less of an arc to achieved the best results. I noticed a lower ping which equals less latency, creating a smoother more consistent surfing experience. There is less "spooling up" when loading pages.

Turn the power level up as high as it goes and be mindful of interference from other devices. When the signal is focused, any interference can severely hinder the routers effectiveness compared to letting the router blanket your entire home with a weaker signal.

Put it in the corner of your house and aim it inward using a wider arc for best results. If you are outside and nobody is using WiFi indoors, you can just flip the reflector around and enjoy a stronger signal outdoors. It's usually better for bachelor pads or if your router has multiple antennas, you have the choice of reflecting only one towards you so the others can still benefit from an omnidirectional source.

a reply to: pl3bscheese

Power range is limited by the FCC most devices put out from 50-200 milliwatts.

Can you buy some kind of a linear to boost the signal or one that can suck the signal in to a Lap Top . I have a D-Link wifi plugged in to mine but I still need to be close enough to get the connection .

originally posted by: PhoenixOD
I always use inSSIDer for checking signal strength to the router. But theres lots of other programs that do that same as well.

Thanks.

inSSIDer.com I assume?

originally posted by: pl3bscheese

Power range is limited by the FCC most devices put out from 50-200 milliwatts.

The health implications of microwave radiation is a hot debate, with conflicting information coming out from one set of studies to the next. I think separating the industry funded studies from independent studies is best here, and the results seem to indicate, at least in terms of using low power non-ionizing radiation put to our skull (talking on a cell phone), that there are observable deletrious health consequences of their usage. As for using wireless devices further away from your person, I think the effects are much less serious.

THANKS

Mine is about 5.5-6.5 feet from my head.

I think the inverse square law applies, right?

originally posted by: FamCore
a reply to: BO XIAN

Can someone enlighten me as to the difference between having a Router with a built-in modem versus having the router and as modem separate units? I have Comcast/Xfinity and have one of the devices that combines the two, and my wifi is beyond horrible.

Well your first problem is that you have comcr@p but that is a given.

However besides what pl3bscheese stated, another difference between the Comcast/Xfinity gateway combo and your own modem and router:

Comcast/Xfinity gateway is defaulted to allow other xfinity users to utilize your connection when near by. Comcast claims that it doesn't impact your service and its an isolated point of access but ,well we know how comcast likes to lie.

If to be believed its truly isolated Just the added heat from the additional parts could impact speed and that is assuming they aren't sharing other components which they likely are.

originally posted by: mOjOm

I wouldn't recommend wearing one as a hat or athletic support. But other than that I doubt it's any more harmful than cell phones at our ears or being swamped with EM waves from every possible direction 24/7 like we are now.

Don't us it as a pillow either.

It's about 20 feet or so through a wall from my bed.

I am advised by my pacemaker's manufacturer to use my cell phone on my right ear and not my left, now. I rarely talk on the cell. Use it to arrange lunch apts etc. usually by text.

I still suspect there's hazards that lots of folks claim are not significant but will eventually will turn out to have been more serious than anyone realized. I'm particularly concerned for children with the things glued to their ears so many waking hours.

originally posted by: eisegesis
Get on the "windsurfer" bus. It works.

Of course, results may vary.

www.freeantennas.com...

Clever. It seems to me that such a thing could be used to shield a person or area of a room, somewhat?

originally posted by: PhoenixOD
Heres a list of wifisignal checking softwares.
www.geckoandfly.com...

What a great bunch of resources.

Thanks tons.

a reply to: schuyler

LOLOLOL.

Yeah. I have one phone line connector in the entire single wide. I did just discover I could move my router further than I thought so it's now about 7 feet from my head and 8' or so from my pacemaker. Wheee.

a reply to: eisegesis

Sounds like very useful info to me.

Thanks for your helpful post.

originally posted by: BO XIAN

originally posted by: eisegesis
Get on the "windsurfer" bus. It works.

Of course, results may vary.

www.freeantennas.com...

Clever. It seems to me that such a thing could be used to shield a person or area of a room, somewhat?

After asking for help with my crazy meditation room, I found this...

www.lessemf.com...

It's probably expensive and will completely destroy your cell reception. That doesn't stop me from wanting to paint my whole house with it. It'll turn any single room or closet into a makeshift Faraday cage in order to take a break from the constant barrage of EMF radiation.

For when one wants to achieve maximum clarity.

originally posted by: eisegesis
After asking for help with my crazy meditation room, I found this...

www.lessemf.com...

It's probably expensive and will completely destroy your cell reception. That doesn't stop me from wanting to paint my whole house with it. It'll turn any single room or closet into a makeshift Faraday cage in order to take a break from the constant barrage of EMF radiation.

For when one wants to achieve maximum clarity.

THANKS TONS . . .

My former housemate wants me to make my bunk bed a Faraday cage after my pacemaker installation. Am planning to as soon as I get moved over to Dad's doublewide. Been 2 years and I'm still dribbling the task along. Sheesh. At this rate, WWIII and EMP will catch me first. Sigh.

Sounds like a shell sort of enclosure around my Laz-Y-Boy might not be a bad idea, either.

My router reaches well enough into the nearer rooms at Dad's double wide. I only need it to reach my computer Actually, I could turn the Wireless off most of the time and just use the ethernet cable. I use it most for my Kindle and downloading books etc.

a reply to: BO XIAN

That's disturbing to say the least. You think someone would have thought about making something that runs your heart a bit more stable and secure than that.

If you're unsure about what signals might effect you I'd say shut down the wifi and just go with wired connection then. You can even use shielded cable just to be extra, extra safe.

originally posted by: BO XIAN
I think the inverse square law applies, right?

That's correct. I think the real danger is being but an earlobe away from your skull. I'm not all too concerned about microwave radiation from my own wifi, but when I think about the average amount of networks which are picked up from any given location inside a metro area, combined with 4G, and regular cullular networks, that's when I start to wonder. We've expanded exposure to microwave radiation a couple orders of magnitude in the last 30 years, most of that in the 21st century.

originally posted by: the2ofusr1

Can you buy some kind of a linear to boost the signal or one that can suck the signal in to a Lap Top . I have a D-Link wifi plugged in to mine but I still need to be close enough to get the connection .

There are 1 and 2 watt boosters that are fairly expensive last I checked. Another way is to increase the length of your antennae for a few dba in gain. There are also long-range point to point antenna. If I for whatever reason had serious issues I'd walk around with a 100/200ft cord off my lappy, right now there's already 30ft cords hooked into the servers.

This is some of my gear:

www.dropbox.com...