EXPERT RESPONSE
If you are the hotspot provider, signal strength can be increased in numerous
ways: increasing the transmit power of your AP(s), relocating AP(s) to provide
better coverage of the intended area, adding a high-gain directional antenna to
better focus each AP's radiated power (benefit depends on shape of intended
area), or adding more APs to provide higher-density coverage. Because hotspot
providers need to accommodate as many different clients as possible, other
options like using G-only mode or pre-N products are not really helpful here.
If you are the hotspot user, there's nothing you can do to change the hotspot's
output. But there are a few things you can do to improve your own client's
reception. The easy first step is always to relocate -- use your Wi-Fi
adapter's signal strength meter to determine where coverage is better, avoiding
obvious RF obstacles like fountains and heavy stone columns that tend to create
"dead spots." The next easy step is to change the way that you use your client
-- for example, turn your laptop 90 degrees and clear the space around your
Wi-Fi adapter (including the portion that's actually inside your laptop). If
you consistently encounter poor signal strength at every hotspot, consider
buying another Wi-Fi adapter with better transmit power and receive sensitivity.
Some hardware comparisons can be found on the Seattle Wireless.net Web site.
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