Chris Schroeder Veteran Posted July 2, 2015 Veteran Share Posted July 2, 2015 Hey fellow Neowin readers and participants. I'm moving into a new place but I face a hurdle that I must overcome. I don't have a line of internet service to my place. It's a separate building on a singular lot and I have access to WiFi, but the router is about 50-75 ft away. I've got my Xbox One and PC that need connectivity (and a strong signal). So I'm looking for suggestions on wireless signal extensions. I've read some reviews online but would appreciate direct suggestions for hardware. I do have a Linksys EA4500 router that's sitting around, but I don't expect it could meet the range needs if its possible to convert it into a repeater. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remixedcat Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 range extenders are de debil... wire in some access points! ubiquity's are cheap 3 packs on amazon for like 300 or less I think. As for me I use: My Network hardware: Cisco Meraki Z1 router, 2 x Aruba RAP 109 APs, 1 Cisco Meraki MR12 AP, Cisco Meraki MS220-8p Poe Switch. D-Link DGS-1210-10P PoE managed switch.And I just got an Xclaim Xi3 802.11ac AP. I also got a spare netgear ac1900, a spare luxul ac1750 router, a spare netgear N900 router, a spare d-link AP, a spare luxul N900 AP, and some other POS routers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+StevoFC MVC Posted July 3, 2015 MVC Share Posted July 3, 2015 range extenders are de debil... wire in some access points! ubiquity's are cheap 3 packs on amazon for like 300 or less I think. As for me I use: you really didn't read at all what they said did you. xD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remixedcat Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 I did and they are talking about extending wifi signal and I told them to stay away from range extenders.... -_- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T3X4S Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 Best you can do is maybe an AP connected by 50' of CAT5 or something like that - repeaters (range extenders) will give you a connection, but you wont like it on anything but basic browsing. Regardless, you are going to have to spend some $$ (not much though) remixedcat 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conna Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantenna Upgrade your antennas. T3X4S 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BudMan MVC Posted July 3, 2015 MVC Share Posted July 3, 2015 So is there no way to run a cable, or get the internet moved to your actual location? Repeating wifi is automatic /2 to the bandwidth.. Would really suggest you run a wire.. But then again depending on the internet speed a /2 in the wifi bandwidth might be moot anyway? If your on say a 100/50 connection going to really suck getting /2 on your wifi.. If your internet connection is slow then who cares if your only getting 25mbps wifi if your internet is 5 for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draconian Guppy Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 Hey fellow Neowin readers and participants. I'm moving into a new place but I face a hurdle that I must overcome. I don't have a line of internet service to my place. It's a separate building on a singular lot and I have access to WiFi, but the router is about 50-75 ft away. I've got my Xbox One and PC that need connectivity (and a strong signal). So I'm looking for suggestions on wireless signal extensions. I've read some reviews online but would appreciate direct suggestions for hardware. I do have a Linksys EA4500 router that's sitting around, but I don't expect it could meet the range needs if its possible to convert it into a repeater. Before spending anything, you could try setting that up as a repeater, if in built software doesn't allow it, DDWRT openWRT and Tomato do. Edit: something I considered, but never did https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WokFi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Schroeder Veteran Posted July 3, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted July 3, 2015 Well I'm looking at several options. Range extenders from Netgear and other OEMs claim 10,000 ft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draconian Guppy Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 In my experience, commercial range extenders work well, if there aren't any thick walls/metal structures/tiles/roofs etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T3X4S Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 Well I'm looking at several options. Range extenders from Netgear and other OEMs claim 10,000 ft Draconian Guppy 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COKid Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 http://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-RE6700/;jsessionid=3B7E39C05E29A582EC82D4A6BC90283C/ I wonder if these types of things can be piggybacked? Good luck and hope it all works out. Come to think of it, 50-75 ft isn't really that far. What, 10-15 body lengths. I'd just get a long Cat5E cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draconian Guppy Posted July 3, 2015 Share Posted July 3, 2015 http://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-RE6700/;jsessionid=3B7E39C05E29A582EC82D4A6BC90283C/ I wonder if these types of things can be piggybacked? Good luck and hope it all works out. I used something similar and piggy backed over three linksys 54G router... slow, but I managed to get slow internet to over 4 houses without spending a dime. On topic, OP, is using UTP cable that hard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helpifIcan Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 If the two buildings are on the same power panel you could try a pair of power line devices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveLegg Developer Posted July 4, 2015 Developer Share Posted July 4, 2015 Your best bet might be to get an access point you can run in client mode, and then connect your devices via cable and a switch, that way you're not cutting potential bandwidth in half like you would by running a repeater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duoi Veteran Posted July 5, 2015 Veteran Share Posted July 5, 2015 I had a similar issue in my household, so what I did was buy a second router and flash OpenWRT on both, then set them to operate in a WDS configuration. This allows me to take the second router and move it wherever I want, and I don't have to see more than one network in my network list. Total cost was about $45 for both routers (one was $35, the other was $10). I could have spent as little as $20 but I wanted one router to be a little more powerful (so it could handle at least ~20 mbit of AES-256-CBC encryption and decryption). The only real catch to doing it is to make sure both routers have the same brand of SoC (i.e whether they're Qualcomm or Broadcom) otherwise you'd have some issues in making them play together. Your other option is to buy a powerline adapter, some of which have gigabit throughput and very little latency, and cost as little as ~$30 on special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BudMan MVC Posted July 5, 2015 MVC Share Posted July 5, 2015 This is also a /2 setup.. What is the internet speed? Using wireless as the backhaul would be the best wireless method without a /2 to your speed. Be it you used wired clients in the 2nd location or run another AP there. But powerline would be a better option then wifi more than likely.. But I really don't see how running a cable is not an option. A hour or so of your time and run a cable.. You can rent a small trencher/ditch witch for sure less than $100 a day. Cost of cable and you time your looking at at most 200 bucks to have a wire that you can get gig with... Run a couple of wires while your at it.. You can buy direct bury cable and simple trencher makes it a easy project. The direct bury cable does not need to be 18" Just needs to be out of the way, something as simple as say this would work But you can also rent a 18 to 24 inch ditch witch for really cheap if you can not just get the cable company to do it. Pretty sure you can call them and say hey I need internet in this building install fee should be less than 200 for sure.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remixedcat Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 burrowing like a dog to increase wifi to cheeta speeds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiB3R Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Just saw this and thought of you... http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/07/from-the-wirecutter-the-best-consumer-grade-wi-fi-extender/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BudMan MVC Posted July 5, 2015 MVC Share Posted July 5, 2015 Notice the /2 in speeds unless your using the other band as backhaul. This is wireless uplink feature of normally enterprise grade AP to use radio 1 as clients wifi, and the other radio band as uplink to other network. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helpifIcan Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Don't forget if you decide to go BudMan's way to have them come out and check for any thing that is already buried does not get damaged. This I believe a free service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BudMan MVC Posted July 5, 2015 MVC Share Posted July 5, 2015 most states and countries would have a number to call before you dig.. in IL its julie http://www.illinois1call.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aan91 Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Just saw this and thought of you... http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/07/from-the-wirecutter-the-best-consumer-grade-wi-fi-extender/ just like it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Schroeder Veteran Posted July 6, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted July 6, 2015 Lots of good ideas here - my complications are that it's not MY house, I rent a separate building on the same lot as the owner and getting them to do something like burying a cable to run into another building is a bit... difficult. That being said, I've taken a couple days to try different approaches to pushing WiFi signal from the base station to my building and it seems to be possible with a more powerful router. I am using a cascading setup from the Xfinity router with my own router. This could end up being the easiest thing to do, and is worth it to me if I'm getting better signal quality, throughput speeds, etc. without having to drastically cut DL/UL speeds. I'm using my Linksys EA4500 right now and it's only offering me mediocre speed and connectivity via WiFi at about 50 ft. away. It's basically worthless for gaming and HD streaming but is good enough to push media-lite pages or email. I could use some suggestions for what's a solid upgrade without spending $150+ for a replacement. I'm comfortable spending $70-$120 (new/refurb/used, doesn't matter as long as it's working), I just need a more stable connection for my devices and I'll be good to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+BudMan MVC Posted July 7, 2015 MVC Share Posted July 7, 2015 And again what is the internet speeds? So is this there internet that is part of your rent to use their wifi? Or do you pay for this internet? If so have the isp run the line to your dwelling. How is your ea4500 getting its internet? Are you plugging into the main house internet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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