How can I weaken my wireless signal strength?

[kinggori]

Hi guys,

I do research in a computer lab and I have different computers communicating together via 802.11b/g

I’d like to weaken (attenuate) the wireless antennas' signal strength so that I can do my tests in the lab without moving out.

I tried wrapping the antennas in aluminum foil but that doesn’t do anything. Anyone have any other idea on how I could weaken the signal?

I’d really appreciate it if someone could help out

[gman]

Take away the antennas?

[kinggori]

when i take away the antenna the signal drops to 0.

and in laptops i can't take off the antennas since they're stuck into the computer

[wbastien]

whats the model # and make of the router?

[kinggori]

I’m using something called Microsoft Mesh which allows computers to connect to each other without a router.

So I need to make the signal from the PCs weaker. Each PC has a different wireless card… some d-link wireless card, some d-link wireless USB, some laptopns have built in cards.

I need to weaken the signal in general. It shouldn’t depend on the make

[evilbunny]

Tom's hardware does this sort of thing. They use something called "programmable RF attenuators"

http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2006/06/01/draft_11n_revealed_part1/page5.html

A quick google search turns up this;

http://mrtmag.com/mag/radio_demystifying_rf_attenuators/

I know some basic electronics but this is too advanced for me.