The tiny WiFi transceiver in your laptop should be capable of picking up any wireless network within about 100 feet, perhaps a little more if you have newer equipment. If indoors, this typically includes no more than about two or three walls, and perhaps one floor or ceiling.
But the placement of your wireless router and the arrangement of natural obstacles near it will have a significant effect on the strength and range of your WiFi signal.
Your router should be out in the open; don’t put it under your desk, in a drawer, or behind a metal file cabinet. If you’re feeding more than one computer, it should be placed in a central location, if possible. Use the signal strength indicator to test various configurations. One such software is a freeware called WiFi SiStr from this URL.
Consider cabling stationary computers so that you can optimize the placement of the router for your portable ones. The 802.11b, g, and n standards operate over the 2.4 Ghz band, which is also inhabited by cordless phones and microwave ovens.
(The black sheep of the family, 802.11a, solves this problem by using the 5 Ghz band, but its short range and limited compatibility make it an unpopular choice.) This means that you’ll get better results if you move the router away from any cordless phone base stations, televisions, radios, or TV dinners.
If, after adjusting the placement of your router, you still need more range than it seems to be able to provide, consider either a repeater (range extender) or an aftermarket antenna for your router.
Ben Carigtan shows you how it’s done!
Thanks for the info. It was helpful.