Previous in Forum: PIC Programming   Next in Forum: SMPS Calculation
Close

Comments Format:






Change Mode
Close

Subscribe to Discussion:

CR4 allows you to "subscribe" to a discussion
so that you can be notified of new comments to
the discussion via email.

Close

Rating Vote:







Add Vote
8 comments
Rate Comments: Nested
energyconversion
Guru

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: England & Ireland
Posts: 1063
Good Answers: 61

Wi-Fi Booster

11/26/2011 8:58 PM

Is there such a thing as a wi-fi booster? I am trying to share my neighbor's wi-fi internet system, but the signal strength is very low at my room location. Is there anything I can add to my Dell Inspiron to boost the signal strength at my end?
Register to Reply
Pathfinder Tags: Wi-Fi Booster
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
lyn
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 42355
Good Answers: 1693
#1

Re: Wi-Fi Booster

11/26/2011 9:03 PM

Does your neighbor know this?

If, yes, maybe he'll move his wi-fi station?
Register to Reply
Drew K
Guru
Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering -

Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1651
Good Answers: 71
#2

Re: Wi-Fi Booster

11/26/2011 9:25 PM

There are many commercial wifi antennas that are designed to increase distance. Most work off of isolating the signal from outside noise with a tube or focusing the signal with a parabolic lens. Here is one that is a signal booster, you connect it to your existing wifi antenna (providing you have an external). Here is another that connects via usb and replaces your internal wifi. Here is another from ebay, I knew some guys in the military who used these when deployed (look in the body of the auction for other sizes).

Drew K

__________________
 Question: What is going on with the American's Government? Response: Who is John Galt?
Register to Reply Score 1 for Good Answer
No more "Almost" Good Answers.
Tobugrynbak
Guru

Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Deepest Darkest Rutherford Oz
Posts: 951
Good Answers: 145
#3

Re: Wi-Fi Booster

11/26/2011 9:30 PM

Do a "google" on "War Chalking", and wifi boosting, some assembly required...

__________________
 There are two reasons for a man to do a thing, One that sounds good, and the real one...
Register to Reply
Usbport
Guru
Engineering Fields - Optical Engineering - Member Engineering Fields - Engineering Physics - Member Engineering Fields - Systems Engineering - Member

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Trantor
Posts: 5363
Good Answers: 647
#4

Re: Wi-Fi Booster

11/26/2011 10:23 PM

You could try using a Wifi 'dongle' on the end of a long USB cable. This would allow you to move the wifi antenna around to find the spot with the strongest signal.

Or you could spend a few bucks for your own DSL.

__________________
 Whiskey, women -- and astrophysics. Because sometimes a problem can't be solved with just whiskey and women.
Register to Reply
Wal
Guru

Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Phnom Penh
Posts: 4019
Good Answers: 102
#5

Re: Wi-Fi Booster

11/27/2011 6:29 AM

The wifi usb dongle on a long usb cable works a treat and allows you to find a sweet in spot your house without relocating your work station.

You could also install a high gain (directional) antenna in your neighbour's premises off his wireless router and point it at your house. Also works a treat. Mirror the setup in your house and it will work even better.

These solutions are cheap, easy to implement out of the box and do not require any bespoke fabrication.

__________________
 Difficulty is not an obstacle it is merely an attribute.
Register to Reply
WJMFIRE
Guru

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: USA, Florida
Posts: 1595
Good Answers: 125
#6

Re: Wi-Fi Booster

11/27/2011 1:46 PM

Try these people. There are many others like them. I have successfully used one to extend wi-fi to an outbuilding.

__________________
 An obstacle is something you see when you take your eyes off the goal.
Register to Reply
energyconversion
Guru

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: England & Ireland
Posts: 1063
Good Answers: 61
#7

Re: Wi-Fi Booster

11/29/2011 11:19 AM

Thanks so much for all your answers. Am investigating the various possibilities. Have been stuck with Verizon Wireless for several years (living in the sticks) at $60/Mo plus 5gB limit.
Register to Reply
Drew K
Guru
Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering -

Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1651
Good Answers: 71
#8
In reply to #7

Re: Wi-Fi Booster

11/29/2011 5:13 PM

I was using my Virgin mobile LG optimus to make a wifi hotspot at home. About $60/mo without limit (unlimited everything). I have the phone with a monthly pay as you go non-contract and have had no problems.

Not sure if that will help you any more than a wifi booster...

Drew K

__________________
 Question: What is going on with the American's Government? Response: Who is John Galt?
Register to Reply
Register to Reply
Have a Different Question?
8 comments

"Almost" Good Answers:

Check out these comments that don't yet have enough votes to be "official" good answers and, if you agree with them, vote them!
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

Drew K (2); energyconversion (1); lyn (1); Tobugrynbak (1); Usbport (1); Wal (1); WJMFIRE (1)

Previous in Forum: PIC Programming   Next in Forum: SMPS Calculation

Advertisement

Got Something to Say?
Ask a Question
Start a Discussion

Search this Forum
Communications & Electronics:
Go

CR4 Sections
Aerospace
BioMech & BioMed
Chemical & Material Science
Civil Engineering
Communications & Electronics
Education and Engineering Careers
Electrical Engineering
General Discussion
Instrumentation
Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
New Technologies & Research
Software & Programming
Sustainable Engineering
Transportation

Site Directories
Forum Directory
Blog Directory
User Group Directory
RSS Feeds

CR4 Rules of Conduct
CR4 FAQ
Site Glossary

Who's Online (100 right now)
Show Members
Advertisement