Prioritise PC On Home Network

[Mitterhouse]

Hi, we have 3 PCs in our home network, my main office one, media centre in the lounge and my wife's one in the kitchen.

The kitchen one is an old Evesham 10 years or so, and they are all on D-Link wireless receivers powered by the Virgin Media super hub.

The problem is that the network signal to the old PC is slow and weak, usually 1 or zero bars! and it is used a lot for internet, watching video etc.

All are on a secure network.All are optimized using AVG PC Tune Up.

Now the media centre doesn't get used for internet at all but has a fast 3-4 bar signal! as does the third.

So my question is can i prioritise the older PC in some way and/or deprioritise the unused lounge one to make it at least functional ?

[aedipuss]

try moving the wireless router to a different spot close to/or in a more direct line with fewer walls/things in the way. especially metal items like the refrig. signal strength doesn't have anything to do with the other computers.

[Nelson37]

Agree, if they were wired you could prioritize traffic but radio reception is limited simply by distance and intervening materials.

If using USB receivers a simple extension cable will allow for a variety of placement options. You should be able to get significantly better reception just moving the antenna around. Some curved cardboard and tinfoil, oriented in the right way, can yield an amazing improvement.

[Mitterhouse]

Thanks gents for your kind,constructive and insightful advice, i shall experiment.

[AlanHK]

So my question is can i prioritise the older PC in some way and/or deprioritise the unused lounge one to make it at least functional ?

Your problem is nothing to do with "priority" -- the other PCs aren't using the signal up. Either the PC in question has a poor antenna, or the signal in that area is weak (you could check by wandering around with a laptop and monitoring the signal strength; NetStumbler is useful for that if the display your software has isn't helpful).


If the PC has an antenna screwed onto a socket this can be replaced by a better antenna.

And/or you can focus the router's signal. See e.g.
a very simple reflector made from card and tinfoil:
http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html



or
http://www.h-online.com/features/Build-a-Wi-Fi-radio-relay-using-household-materials-747382.html

[Mitterhouse]

Thanks to your signposts I have sorted the issue.By just moving the wireless adapter to the front USB port and the PC to the worktop I have gone from 0-1 bars to 1-2 and even 3! Good work!