#Extend wireless signal install
#Extend wireless signal drivers

Finally, select “Browse my computer for driver software” and select the file you downloaded from the manufacturer.Īlthough most new routers feature internal antennas - which are difficult to modify or replace - some still use external antennas. Once there, click the Driver tab and select Update Driver. Otherwise, head back to Device Manager and double-click the name of the wireless adapter.

If the file is an executable (i.e., a “.exe” file), just run the program.

#Extend wireless signal drivers

Next, go to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your device. Head to Device Manager in the Control Panel once there, expand Network Adapters to find your adapter’s model and make. To get the latest drivers, you’ll need to find out which manufacturer the adapter comes from. Like your router, your wireless adapter also receives periodic updates, some of which can boost your Wi-Fi performance. Let the upgrade process complete before clicking on any other link on the router configuration page.

#Extend wireless signal install

After you’ve downloaded the file, install it by opening the router’s configuration page (described in the previous tip), opening the tab for Firmware Upgrade and choosing the downloaded file as the source. With those in hand, go to the manufacturer’s website to find the latest firmware for your router. First, look on the back of your router to find the model and version numbers. The good news is that downloading and applying the update is a fairly simple process. Unfortunately, wireless routers don’t often inform users that an update for their firmware is available. Router manufacturers routinely roll out new firmware for their products, which fixes bugs and increases performance and reliability. Like any piece of hardware, your router can eventually fall out of date. You can change your wireless channel from there. Then type that address into your browser’s address bar. Switching your wireless channel is easy enough - just read the documentation that came with your router to find the IP address for its configuration page (or type “ipconfig” into a command line, and find the address listed for Default Gateway). If the majority of surrounding routers are using channel 1, for instance, those people will suffer from limited range and power. You can use a free tool such as inSSIDer ( to scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks and detect which wireless channel they’re using, then switch to a channel that’s more open. The more routers operating on a certain channel, the slower all their connections will be. Wireless routers use specific channels (one of 11) to send and receive data.