Extend Wifi Range?

[Pantomimehorse]

Does anyone know of a way I can extend my wifi range?

In my cigar shack I can just pick up my wifi signal but its quite weak and kicks in and out quite alot. The box is a wireless N but my laptop wifi isnt, is it worth getting a N usb dongle thing? or is there something else I can buy to extend the wifi signal ?

ta

[DeadBase]

You can either buy a WiFi extender or configure a second wireless router as a bridge (this could either be nearer the shack but inside the house or in the shack if you have power as the aerials tend to be better on the routers due to lack of size constraints).

Get in touch if you need any pointers.

[Deano]

My first attempt would be a N dongle, but can't guarantee it'll work.

Next step is to add high-gain antennas on your router, but I don't think that works for the MIMO-type N routers, nor do I k now where to get them from.

Are your router antennas detachable?

[Deano]

What DeadBase is suggesting is a 'repeater', quite an expensive option and I don't know where you'd actually put the router considering you're outside your house and your original router is in the house.

[Pantomimehorse]

thanks for the replies, think I can borrow a usb N thing to try and see if that helps, if not will have to look into one of these repeaters, how expensive are we talking?

[Deano]

Well if you use a standard wireless router, anywhere from ?30 to ?200+

[Jimmeh]

thanks for the replies, think I can borrow a usb N thing to try and see if that helps, if not will have to look into one of these repeaters, how expensive are we talking?

If not - you could buy one from PC world or other and return within 14 days (i believe) if you are not happy with the product i.e. it doesnt suit your needs.

[Lee Nub]

My original Netgear router i bought for ?15 from an office clearance on ebay. It had 100m range and worked really well. Just upgraded to the latest Netgear, which hasnt got anything like the range and cost nearly 15 times the price

[Pantomimehorse]

yeah I know what you mean Lee, the anoying thing is I can pick up half the bloody streets wifi from the shed but my own signal is really dodgy!

[PoohBore]

Extend Wifi Range?

Any chance of moving your hub closer to the shed? Or nearer a window ? Probably a stupid question but you never know - wood for the trees and all that. good luck

[Pantomimehorse]

nah its plugged into the only phone socket in the house and thats right at the front of the house!

ideally Id like to run a RJ45 cable straight to the shed but it could get a bit messy!

[gt3911]

You can pick up a good old WRT54G mega cheap, and put some opensource firmware on her to seriously unleash it, its a highly modified router, you can get crazy range out of these things if you fancy a little project

[Pipe Dude]

If you've got an omni-directional antenna on your router, try focusing the direction of the broadcast using a piece of silver foil as a reflector. I tried it in my house and gained about 10% improvement.

[tupacboy]

another vote here for a wifi extender...

[gt3911]

Pipe dudes on it also. Google Wind surfer or project wind surfer antenna, you should be able to find a template you can print, cut, and cover. Pretty effective also.

I've found that some antenna mods, and even extenders increase signal distance but offer poor signal quality with high packet loss transmissions, the latency of your connection can become quite poor.