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 So, you've taken the plunge and set up a home wireless network. You're undoubtedly enjoying
the freedom of untethered computing, but now what? Well, it's time to tweak your network to increase its performance and its security. This TechTip looks at some simple and effective ways of doing just that.
Locked Down and Out of Sight
Unless you're a completely selfless soul, you probably don't want just anyone hopping on to your wireless network and using your bandwidth without your permission. A previous TechTip looked at how you could harden your wireless network. But there are two other things that you can do to add a little extra security.
First, change the way that your wireless router encrypts data. There are two popular encryption schemes: WEP and WPA. By default, many browsers use WEP encryption which is easy to crack. WPA is a lot stronger. (You can find a good, brief discussion of WEP versus WPA here ).
 If possible, use WPA to encrypt your network. Notice that I wrote "if possible". Sometimes, it just isn't. In my house, we use notebook computers exclusively. My wife's laptop computers runs Windows XP, and my main laptop runs Linux. The wireless systems on both handle WPA quite nicely. But, until recently, I also had another laptop running XP, which could not connect to a WPA-encrypted network, even with an operating system update that was supposed provide WPA support. It didn't. If that's your situation, and you have to use WPA, change your password regularly. And also hide your SSID.
The SSID is a way in which your router identifies itself. Remember that your router is like a radio transmitter, and the SSID is its call sign -- instead of, say, radio station KBZT your router will identify your network as nesbittNet. However, you can turn the broadcast of the SSID off by logging into your router. The instructions for doing this will vary from router to router. And while turning off the SSID broadcast won't make your wireless network any more or less secure, it will discourage people from trying to hop on. What you can't see you can't get to ...
 Boosting the Signal
Not all routers are created equally. Some can send a strong and steady signal far and wide. Others have a signal which peters out after 30 feet or so. This becomes an issue when you use your wireless device all over the house.
In positioning your router as in real estate, it's all about location. You'll want to have the router in as open area as possible, away from as many obstructions as possible. Keeping the router in a closet or behind any other closed door will weaken the signal. If you live in a two- or three-story house, put your router somewhere on the second or third floor. If you live in a bungalow, apartment, or condo, try putting the router on top of a bookshelf. I know of at least two people who have actually put their routers in their ceilings. Once you get over seeing a pair of antennae sticking out like fangs, you realize the boost you can get.
Also, keep the router at least two or three yards away from such electronic devices as computer monitors, microwaves, or a cordless phone. These devices pump out radio waves that can interfere with the signal from a wireless router, and the closer the router is to them then the greater the interference.
Don't discount the interference from other wireless networks in your neighborhood. Often, people don't change the default SSID and channel (usually channel 6) on which their wireless routers transmit. When that happens, it's like two radio stations trying to transmit on the same wavelength -- one signal will fight the other and they'll both suffer.
If that's you, then use a wireless utility to check the SSIDs of any networks in your vicinity. Here are a few things you can do:
- In Windows, right click on the wireless network icon in the system tray and then click View Available Wireless Networks. Or, use a tool like NetStumbler.
- In MacOS, click the AirPort Status icon. Or, use a tool like MacStumbler.
- Under Linux, install wifi-radar or wicd.
If you notice any SSID that is the same as yours, log into your router and change the SSID. Also, consider changing passwords and channel settings.
The next tweak is a bit more fun. Back in the days when TV came mainly over the air, some people thought that they could improve reception by wrapping aluminum foil around the rabbit ear antennae sticking out of their sets. Whether or not this worked, I can't say. But someone actually came up with a way of doing this with a wireless router:
If you try this, please leave a comment and let us know how it works!
 Finally, try using a wireless range extender (like this one ). As the name implies, an extender is a device that acts as a kind of relay, boosting the output of a weak signal. The extender picks out the signal, and then gives it an extra push. How much further an extender will push the signal out depends on the extender itself, the strength of the original signal, and how far away from your router the extender is.
Experiment with the tweaks outlined in this TechTip. Search out some more on the Web. That way, you'll find the best ways to improve the performance of your home wireless network.
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