Can't reach wi-fi signal on Ubuntu, but can do it on other OS/devices (ath9k)

I have two laptops, both running Ubuntu 13.10, as well as a different OS (Windows 7), dual boot on both.

My wi-fi router is on my bedroom and I want to get the wi-fi signal from the living room. I can reach the wi-fi signal from both pcs when running windows, with a relative good signal, but can't reach it on both of them when running Ubuntu, can't even connect to it.

Is there something that I can do to amplify the wi-fi signal?

Ok, we solved it!

Using Atheros driver ath9k. If you have the same problem, please follow these steps (I found it here):

1. Open the Terminal

2. Install the build dependencies if you don't have it already (but it is installed by default):

   sudo apt-get install build-essential

3. Type the commands (steps 3-9): wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/projects/backports/2014/01/31/backports-20140131.tar.xz

   • Here you can get the latest ones from kernel.org site, but this version corrected the issues and it is the latest at the moment of this post!
4. tar xvf backports-20140131.tar.xz
5. cd backports-20140131/
6. make defconfig-ath9k
7. make
8. sudo make install
   • (type your password)
9. sudo update-initramfs -u
   • (type your password if needed)
10. Reboot your pc.

Remember that after a Kernel update (sudo apt-get dist-upgrade) we have to repeat the steps 4 to 9.

This is useful for Atheros wireless cards, but if you have some issue with other manufacturers, try installing the backports drivers for them from kernel.org.