If your problem is the wireless range of your laptop or desktop then read this and follow the steps below.
Wireless networking at 2.4 GHz is a two-way system. Each device must be capable of both sending and receiving a signal equal distances. Think of it as two people, a substantial distance apart, throwing a ball to each other.
Person A has to be strong enough to throw the ball, that substantial distance, to person B. Person B also has to be strong enough to throw the ball back, that substantial distance, to person A. If neither Person A nor B can throw the ball that distance they will not have much of a throwing game.
Access points and wireless routers (as shipped from the manufacturer) have an advantage over laptop and desktop cards because they have a higher output power and therefore have the ability to send a signal further then most laptop and desktop cards. When a higher-gain antenna is installed on a desktop card the output power of that device is now increased closer to the output level of the access point or wireless router therefore equaling the two devices. In some cases, the antennas of both the access point/wireless router and the desktop/laptop card may need to be replaced. This is if the distance you are attempting to achieve is greater than the capabilities of the access point/wireless router when using the (factory) antennas that came with your card.
Building-to-Building Connections: When connecting two or more buildings it is best to first establish a wireless bridge between the two points. If you want to be wireless within a building, once the building-to-building bridge is created, then attempt to establish a wireless network within each building or location. Desktops, laptops, and other client devices will not work correctly if the access point/wireless router is not resident in the building where the access point/wireless router is located. You should consider Step 4, below, for this application. |
