block ads at router level

    Hello. After i put online my dns blackhole i have 2 more things to do. 1. Set up a https local proxy for my dns for using dns over https and 2. try to find if is possible to set up a basic adblock at router level.

    It turned up that task nr. 2 is very easy. All you have to do is accessing your router interface (mine is tp-link) and use parental control or access control menu. I used Access Control menu. You have to enable Internet Access Control first. Default filter policy must be "disable the packets.....". Then you use Add New button to add a new rule. For every rule there will be 4 hosts you can block - at least with my router make. For every rule you can add up to 4 host to block and, guess what, those 4 host will be sites and domains that serves adds. After you name the rule and added hosts to block you must use Save button. I didn't tested how many rules i can have, all i have needed was to test if i can do that.

    It's up to you to create how many rules you want and add hosts for every rule.
Search for most major domains that serves adds and block those dommains.

    The main advantages using this method is that is working with every device connected to that specific router and you get rid of tracking cookies served by blocked domains.

 The main cons with this method is that you cannot set too many rules because a router has a limited memory capacity.

   If you want more rules or blocked domains appart for what Access Control can offer, you can use Parental control menu in router interface.

  So far, most reliable and simple method for blocking ads is to use an addon like "NoScript" in combination with ublock or other ads blocker. NoScript addon is a must for efficient ads block.

extend wifi range with quad antenna and some router settings

    this is my quad modified antenna with 2 front elements (reflectors). front elements are the same as antenna itself and are connected using copper wire - 3.1cm length.
    antenna-router connection is using 50ohm rg174 coaxial cable - no more than 36cm length of cable (use 36cm or 24 cm).
    antenna reflector is formed from 2-3 aluminium dishes - at least 20cm diameter.
    the spacing between the antenna and reflector is about 1.6cm.

   router settings (i use a tp-link 740n):
                            - wireless mode: "only n" or "only g";
                            - RTS threshold: 750;
                            - Fragmentation threshold:375;
                            - channel: 1;
                            - region: singapore.

    for those of you with wrt54 g series: install dd-wrt and double the tx power. watch carefully for router overheating. if you are afraid of overheat, reduce tx power a little bit until you are satisfied.

    using this antenna and these settings i am able to transmit outdoor wifi signal over aprox. 200m distance at a speed rate of 7-8 Mbps (aprox. 1 MB/s, or download a mp3 song in 4 seconds).

    i believe that using 2 routers and two of this antenna with the same polarization and these settings,  one can establish a reliable wifi link with at least 8Mbps over 1km distance.

    of course, this antenna is very directional. the beam width is about 50-60 degrees.

    i use this antenna in horizontal polarization (this is working best). for horizontal polarization place antenna vertically!

   

simple method to increase router coverage

   aside from simple trick with canned antenna (wich is very effective), you have one other very simple way for increasing your router signal quality and coverage 2 times at least.
   enter your router configuration page, go to wireless settings and set "N only" for "mode" or "g only". today, almost every mobile device is capable of working in newer "N" mode and every wireless device is able to run in G mode! working a router in b/g/n mixed mode is worthless and is causing a signal degradation.
  also, in wireless "advanced settings" set RTS threshold to 750 and (if router firmware is able to do that) set fragmentation threshold to 375.
  for me, this method lead to a 8 dB wifi signal boost through a wall.

cum mărești raza de acțiune a unui router

   În afară de trucul  cu cutiile de aluminiu puse pe antenă (un truc foarte eficient si ieftin de făcut) sau alte antene mai performante, mai există o cale prin care se poate mări raza de acțiune și calitatea unui semnal wireless al unui router chiar de 2 ori: intră pe adresa de configurare a routerului și la rubrica wireless setezi să emită numai pe standardul n ("only n") sau numai "g" (only g). Mai există, în general, opțiunile b/g sau b/g/n dar, nu le folosim, deoarece aproape toate dispozitivele mobile suportă standardul de transmisie "n" care este mai performant și toate dispozitivele mobile sunt capabile de comunicare în standardul "g".
    La rubrica setari wireless avansate folosim rubrica RTS threshold și schimbăm valoarea la 1500 și, daca routerul permite, rubrica Fragmentation threshold la care schimbăm valoarea la 375. (aceste setări sunt folosite pentru comunicații wireless la mare distanță).
  Simplu, nu? Încearcă și vei vedea cât de mult va crește semnalul util al routerului! Mie mi-a adus o creștere de 9 dB printr-un perete, iar banda de trafic s-a mărit considerabil: de la 1-2 MBs(8Mbs) la 5-6 MBs(40Mbs).