WiFi repeater or range extender

[Captain Matt]

Can anyone suggest a good inexpensive WiFi repeater or range extender? My laptop can see the access point from the dock but doesn't connect reliably.

I googled it and now I'm more confused than before. For example, one site reviewed a $50 repeater that looked perfect but when I clicked on the link to the manufacturer's website, they don't seem to make that anymore. A second tells me how to hack a router to act like a range extender. Another site tells me how someone built their own wireless bridge 7 years ago. Nobody seems to have reviews comparing currently available products.

I want a plug and play, off the shelf solution. I went to Best Buy and they had one for a bit more than $100 but based on my past experience with Best Buy that means there's a $50 unit I can buy from a reliable online source that will do the same thing. Anyone have some suggestions?

[Keith B]

Can anyone suggest a good inexpensive WiFi repeater or range extender? My laptop can see the access point from the dock but doesn't connect reliably.

I googled it and now I'm more confused than before. For example, one site reviewed a $50 repeater that looked perfect but when I clicked on the link to the manufacturer's website, they don't seem to make that anymore. A second tells me how to hack a router to act like a range extender. Another site tells me how someone built their own wireless bridge 7 years ago. Nobody seems to have reviews comparing currently available products.

I want a plug and play, off the shelf solution. I went to Best Buy and they had one for a bit more than $100 but based on my past experience with Best Buy that means there's a $50 unit I can buy from a reliable online source that will do the same thing. Anyone have some suggestions?

I just finished reconfiguring one of the Linksys WRE54Gunits for my Brother-In-Law's Mom and Dad at their farm a few days ago. Their daughter live across the field (about 200 yards) from them and has a Linksys WiFi router. The signal is pretty weak at the parents house to the range extender, so we couldn't get the encryption to authenticate and had to go open, but they are in the middle of the boonies and unless someone pulls into their driveway and sits, they aren't gonna connect.

The unit overall works pretty well, and if you have a location in the middle you can put the range extender, then it will more than likely do the trick if it is receiving a decent signal.

If you don't mind upgrading and spending a little more money, then the wireless N routers with MIMO have a much greater range. You can add a wireless N card to your computer and it will give you much better coverage.

You're welcome to PM me if you have other questions.

[evilmercer]

One of the best solutions is to take the cheap linksys (wrt54g) and put dd-wrt http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page on it. The "hacked router" method is what I use, and we also use it as a standard install where I work.

[atxgun]

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-WIF ... n-Booster/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A DIY wifi booster made out of cardstock and aluminum foil. I've tried it, didn't notice any difference while at close ranges but seemed to help out in general connectivity farther away. YMMV

[onecoolpilot]

You could build a Cantenna

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Stupid]

how big and what kind of area are you trying to cover? If for a regular house, a Linksys WRE54G should do fine.

[kd5zex]

More power is not required, all you need is a better antenna setup. You can improve it on either end by installing an external antenna on the laptop or installing a [semi]directional antenna on the router.

Here is a link for a few antennas that plug directly into a off the shelf router:

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wirel ... eless.html

Keep in mind at high frequencies loss along coax cable is high so a long run to an external antenna using normal coax may not be the best solution. Relocating the router to a position near a window that faces the area you are trying to cover will probably slightly improve performance in the interim.

[Captain Matt]

It's a community access point so I don't have the ability to upgrade the primary router, change the antenna, or even move it. I do have permission to connect and they don't mind if I run my own repeater to extend their signal.

I can add an antenna on my end but that would mean buying a laptop card instead of using the built in WiFi. I don't want to do that. One reason is that it costs as much as a repeater to buy a new card and an antenna. It's also less convenient.

I also don't want to look like this to read my email at the dock.

[TexasComputerDude]

anybody got any suggestions for a 15 mile leap with pine trees blocking the entire way. :-(

[Keith B]

anybody got any suggestions for a 15 mile leap with pine trees blocking the entire way. :-(

Yeah, move.

[Stupid]

anybody got any suggestions for a 15 mile leap with pine trees blocking the entire way. :-(

What's the budget? You can up a few telephone phone poles with access points on top as long as they maintain line-of-sight, you will be fine. The bigger problem is power.

[TexasComputerDude]

haha I was actually thinking of using directv dishes and macguvering one onto a cell tower lol...

[LedJedi]

man, someone beat me to posting the link to the home made version here

http://lifehacker.com/software/how-to/b ... 296367.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[WarHawk-AVG]

Oh now that is just too darn cool!

http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kd5zex]

It's a community access point so I don't have the ability to upgrade the primary router, change the antenna, or even move it. I do have permission to connect and they don't mind if I run my own repeater to extend their signal.

I can add an antenna on my end but that would mean buying a laptop card instead of using the built in WiFi. I don't want to do that. One reason is that it costs as much as a repeater to buy a new card and an antenna. It's also less convenient.

I also don't want to look like this to read my email at the dock.

What's wrong with looking like that?

You could try a USB wifi adapter like this http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WUSB600N

You'd be surprised at how much signal strength you gain by simply moving the antenna outside of the laptop, I carry one similar to the link above when I go on the road to connect in the "fringe" areas of hotels and such. Mine came with a USB extension cord so I can position the dongle strategically.

If you are after an appliance to sit on the dock and leave there, linksys offers this http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WRE54G. You would need to place this in a location where it can reliably connect to the main access point to see any improvement.