Need to upgrade to "stronger" wifi device

[NetWareHead]

I lived in an apartment and used my old linksys router as a wifi access point. Cheap flimsy typical new construction that is easily penetrated by the access point resulted in good coverage anywhere in the unit.

Now that I'm living in an old house built around the turn of the century, signal strength is drastically different one room to the next. Beefier house construction really affects this apparently.

So the question is, when shopping for a new access point, is there a measure or way of showing Wi-Fi "power"? I'm assuming higher end devices will have a greater tx/rx range and be able to cover more of my house with one device.

Thanks

 

[onething]

You know, I was in a similar predicament with weak wifi signals, packet losses, etc. I thought I'd give powerline a try, since I had nothing to lose, and it actually worked out really well.

Powerline; there are ethernet adapters and wifi extenders if the device you're using does not have ethernet.

 

[NetWareHead]

You know, I was in a similar predicament with weak wifi signals, packet losses, etc. I thought I'd give powerline a try, since I had nothing to lose, and it actually worked out really well.

Powerline; there are ethernet adapters and wifi extenders if the device you're using does not have ethernet.

Yeah Ive heard about powerline but Im not yet at the stage where Im done with WiFi to move over to powerline. Id like to have some wifi capability in the backyard as well and hope that a more powerful device can penetrate beyond my walls and reach there.

How is wifi "ability", range or power measured when comparing one access point to another?

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless Power does not add much. Unlike Power tools and cars more Wattage does not correspond to significant increase in range.

Common way to extend Wireless is to lay few cable and put more APs good locations.

That said you want power this vendor offers power.

http://www.data-alliance.net/servlet/-strse-Alfa-Products/Categories

 

[azazel1024]

Well, it would if there were no FCC limits and both client and base station could be crank up the juice.

However, FCC limits and also more client power isn't generally an option. Doesn't matter much if the base station is screaming if the client is whispering and the base station can't hear it.