need to extend my wi fi reception

[jaideeguy]

Here's the situation.................We are renting out our guest house that is just out of range of my house wi fi and the new rentor wants a stronger signal. What is the cheapest and most efficient way to extend the range of my wi fi signal?? Can I just add another wi fi unit mid way between the 2 houses? And would that solution lower my signal in the main house that has 4 computers...............kids gaming and me downloading??

Thanks in advance..............

[irlguy1]

Here's the situation.................We are renting out our guest house that is just out of range of my house wi fi and the new rentor wants a stronger signal. What is the cheapest and most efficient way to extend the range of my wi fi signal?? Can I just add another wi fi unit mid way between the 2 houses? And would that solution lower my signal in the main house that has 4 computers...............kids gaming and me downloading??

Thanks in advance..............

Just buy a wifi booster about €30 or a stronger wifi dongle for about €50

[jaideeguy]

Will this wi fi booster pick up my wireless signal, then re broadcast it without any input wires??. assume that it will need a power source............

[lopburi3]

If you have an old WiFi modem/router it can be attached by LAN cable to provide another WiFI signal (many set up instructions with Google). This is what I did as my main unit is in outer corner of home - in my case turned off the main unit WiFi and just use the remote. If not you can buy extender point.

[NanLaew]

The cheapest option would be to try and relocate the existing wifi router to a place where the external signal improves. Both height and proximity to rf absorbing materials can make a difference. This can be done by simply extending the LAN cable.

The next option would be to try an external antenna but not all brands and/or models of router have that capability. Some high-end Linksys units have the antenna inside the case but TP-Link do have a range of higher gain external antennas and coax cables.

If that fails, then wirelessly extending your wifi coverage with a repeater is the next option. Note the repeater will need ac voltage. Most manufacturers have wifi routers that are configurable as a repeater and simply extend the existing wifi coverage, ie. same SSID and same channels.

The only gear I have had issues with both configuring and in operation was made by D-Link so I avoid them. I recommend Linksys or, a bit cheaper and easier to find, TP-Link.

[sarotti]

This works perfect and is easy to set up, just plug and play

http://global.dlink.com.sg/site_pdtpdfs/DHP-W310AV/DHP-W310AV_ds.pdf

[Kopitiam]

This works perfect and is easy to set up, just plug and play

http://global.dlink.com.sg/site_pdtpdfs/DHP-W310AV/DHP-W310AV_ds.pdf

This system only works when it is in the same house. OP mentioned that his guest house is outside his home.

[mallyrd]

This works perfect and is easy to set up, just plug and play

http://global.dlink.com.sg/site_pdtpdfs/DHP-W310AV/DHP-W310AV_ds.pdf

This system only works when it is in the same house. OP mentioned that his guest house is outside his home.

But if the power feed to the guest house comes from the main house then it should work because the system uses the household electrical wiring.

[Kopitiam]

This works perfect and is easy to set up, just plug and play

http://global.dlink.com.sg/site_pdtpdfs/DHP-W310AV/DHP-W310AV_ds.pdf

This system only works when it is in the same house. OP mentioned that his guest house is outside his home.

But if the power feed to the guest house comes from the main house then it should work because the system uses the household electrical wiring.

I do not know how OP's house is wired. There could be a separate electric meter for the guest house. If we go by your logic, then we can tap on each other's wifi for extension if we are all are on the same electrical grid.

[jacnl2000]

Laptops containing a Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter can be positioned as usefull wireless extenders somewhere between your regular access point and WiFi devices of customers.

In practice relative old laptops may be much easier to connect to WiFi hotspots in other houses having poor to good signal strength WiFi signals than especially relative more cheap much slower modern tablets having e.g. less quality connections between their antennas and motherboards, both packaged inside cages which most likely have not been perfectly optimized for long distance WiFi signal reception ( weak signals ). Sometimes it helps when the owner of such a tablet first takes a walk to the front door of a home made of stone to pickup a relative weak WiFi signal ...

More information can be found here: https://virtualrouter.codeplex.com/

[RichCor]

Cheapest: if your WiFi has external antenna(s), swap it out for a higher dbi antenna (the electromagnetic signal will be flattened out, less signal going up, more going out horizontally)

Second cheapest: move your WiFi to the closest glass window viewing the guesthouse. (WiFi works cleaner with clear line-of-sight)

Third cheapest: replace the antenna with a flat panel antenna pointed at the guesthouse.
note: signal is greatly reduces for users to the back and sides of this antenna.

Forth cheapest: Buy a second Access Point / Repeater, set up in Bridge Mode, connected somewhere along the line as close to the guesthouse where it has access to power and adequate signal to receive your WiFi and allow then adequate signal to use.

Fifth cheapest: run an rj-45 cable from your house WiFi to the guest house. Allow them to either direct connect of furnish them with a WiFi Access Point set up in Bridge Mode.

Running a cable underground, in plastic conduit, will last longer than a cable run over-ground or overhead.

In the US we used to purchase Ubiquiti AirWire, but looks like they don't make them anymore

[NanLaew]

Laptops containing a Microsoft Virtual WiFi Miniport Adapter can be positioned as usefull wireless extenders somewhere between your regular access point and WiFi devices of customers.

In practice relative old laptops may be much easier to connect to WiFi hotspots in other houses having poor to good signal strength WiFi signals than especially relative more cheap much slower modern tablets having e.g. less quality connections between their antennas and motherboards, both packaged inside cages which most likely have not been perfectly optimized for long distance WiFi signal reception ( weak signals ). Sometimes it helps when the owner of such a tablet first takes a walk to the front door of a home made of stone to pickup a relative weak WiFi signal ...

More information can be found here: https://virtualrouter.codeplex.com/

Excellent link to wonderful little utility!

That's two less pieces of gadgetry (and cables and power supply) I have to pack for field work!