USB Wifi Range Extender

[connda]

I'm looking for recommendations for a USB Wifi Range Extender.  I travel to a couple of locations that have Wifi available but the signal is often too weak to make a connection.  I'd like to purchase a USB Wifi range extender with a high-gain antennae that can capture and boost signals from Wifi routers.  I'd like to buy one that is capable of being installed on both Windows and Linux, support dual Wifi bands - and - that is available to purchase locally in Thailand (I live in the Chiang Mai area).  I've found them on Amazon, but the shipping / duties are a magnitude more than the cost of the device, so looking to buy one either in Chiang Mai or from an online retailers that ships to Thailand without charging an arm and a leg.  Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[OneMoreFarang]

I recommend you look for a model where you can move the antenna. Because that plays a big role for the reception.

If you have a stick with a build in antenna then the antenna won't be in the perfect place.

Something like this.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

OP, do you mean a range extender or simply a USB wifi adapter?

 

A range extender, as I understand it, doesn't need to be connected to a PC and just plugs into power and then captures a wifi signal coming from a wifi router elsewhere that it re-transmits, extending reception to its area.

 

The device OneMoreFarang posted above looks to me to simply be a USB wifi adapter with an antenna that you plug into a USB port on your PC, and may help improve its wifi reception by having a better/bigger antenna that the one you may already have on that PC.

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 2020 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[KhunBENQ]

A range extender would need to be plugged/connected to A/C mains.

And usually placed at location between router and your device.

Connecting in your room/close to device does not make much sense.

 

For that an adapter with antenna (as above) and maybe some meters of USB cable to find best spot (near door/window) makes more sense.

 

After coming to Thailand the public WiFi at the local school was the only option.

More than 300m away and obstructed view.

So I played around with things like in post #2.

Even considered buying a directional antenna, available only online or at specialized shops.

Edited January 5, 2020 by KhunBENQ

[WorriedNoodle]

4 hours ago, connda said:

I've found them on Amazon, but the shipping / duties are a magnitude more than the cost of the device, so looking to buy one either in Chiang Mai or from an online retailers that ships to Thailand without charging an arm and a leg.

Loads on Lazada to choose from.

[sammieuk1]

Brought a think BT one back a couple of years ago got to admit its utter rubbish maybe they are better now ???? 

[tjo o tjim]

It is a hard way to solve the problem. Usually range isn’t as much of an issue as airwave congestion or an overloaded router.  “Talking louder” will only make things worse for everyone.

 

But, if you have a high-gain directional antenna you might be able to pull it off. 
 

Today though you generally have issues with routers that can only support a maximum of 50 devices, but only 10-20 active. 

[johng]

The best option would be to run a LAN cable (CAT6) to the dead spot/s   then hook up an "old"  WiFi router

yes its a bit of a pain to run the LAN cable  but only needs doing once  with much more reliability and performance than

"AC extenders" and such.

 

https://www.wirelesshack.org/how-to-extend-your-wireless-range-using-an-old-router.html

[Don Mega]

41 minutes ago, johng said:

The best option would be to run a LAN cable (CAT6) to the dead spot/s   then hook up an "old"  WiFi router

yes its a bit of a pain to run the LAN cable  but only needs doing once  with much more reliability and performance than

"AC extenders" and such.

 

https://www.wirelesshack.org/how-to-extend-your-wireless-range-using-an-old-router.html

Where does the lan cable run to ?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

45 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Where does the lan cable run to ?

 

It's talking about using the backup/old wifi router as a range extender.

 

So that involves running a LAN cable from one of the LAN ports out of the main wifi router and into the WAN port in of the old/backup router being used as an extender.

 

But you do have to adjust various settings on the old/backup router to get it to function in that mode.

 

[Don Mega]

54 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

It's talking about using the backup/old wifi router as a range extender.

 

So that involves running a LAN cable from one of the LAN ports out of the main wifi router and into the WAN port in of the old/backup router being used as an extender.

 

 

 

 

Thats assuming the OP has access to the main wifi router.