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I've got a Netgear WNR2000v2 router. I flashed it with DD-WRT firmware. I'm assuming cranking up the TX Power will extend the wireless range. I'm given the option of 1-251mW with 71mW as default. Anyone know what is a safe amount to increase it? What will happen if I go too high?

Too high and the transmitters will overheat, and you'll piss off your neighbors by overriding their signals.

I remember reading once that it's not recommended to go past 84 mW with my old WRT54GL (default 42 mW), so that's where I left it.

Increasing the Tx level on the router may not even help your range much. If the router can't "hear" the PC, you're not going to have a reliable connection no matter how much power the router is pumping out.

just brew it! wrote:

Increasing the Tx level on the router may not even help your range much. If the router can't "hear" the PC, you're not going to have a reliable connection no matter how much power the router is pumping out.

One of the few spots where increased power has helped me is the install I did for a friend. They put up a business building on one side of their property and bought business-class from Comcast, while still having resi-class in their house. A pair of WRT-54GLs and some increased transmitter power later, they now have a stable WDS system spanning both buildings with the business-class service, allowing them to drop the resi-class in the house. Since there are 2 APs/routers, 1 in each building, client TX power isn't an issue and the increased router TX power means both WRTs have no issues talking to and hearing each other.