Help How to extend a WiFi network
- Thread starter High Voltage
- Start date
dessiato
🇪🇸 my spirit is crying for leaving
Years ago I used a similar thing to access the free WiFi from the local council offices. It wasn't great, but it worked.
two sheds
Least noticed poster 2007
Sorry if this has been answered but could you introduce a power socket next to the consumer unit that powers the cave, and plug a wifi extender into it for transmitting across the power line? (Or a power line transceiver there and in the cave if that's how they work? I'm not sure).
magneze
🎧
Powerline internet might work but, in my experience trying to do the same thing, it didn't because the power line to the outside can be very noisy. You can try it but I ended up returning the unit.
Mesh networks are really expensive.
You can get a simple WiFi extender though. We have this one in high speed mode which works really well.
www.tp-link.com
High speed mode means that the link from the house to the extender uses the 5GHz channel exclusively. The extended network uses 2.4GHz exclusively. Devices switch easily and invisibly between them.
I also tuned down the extension signal strength to the lowest as the extender doesn't need to be broadcasting out very strongly.
This setup easily handles video calls and on speedtest I'm getting pretty much full speed internet.
Mesh networks are really expensive.
You can get a simple WiFi extender though. We have this one in high speed mode which works really well.
AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender
TP-Link's RE450 comes with next generation 802.11AC Wi-Fi technology, 3 times faster than the standard 802.11n speeds.
High speed mode means that the link from the house to the extender uses the 5GHz channel exclusively. The extended network uses 2.4GHz exclusively. Devices switch easily and invisibly between them.
I also tuned down the extension signal strength to the lowest as the extender doesn't need to be broadcasting out very strongly.
This setup easily handles video calls and on speedtest I'm getting pretty much full speed internet.
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
Just so you all can have a bit of closure
We decided to plump for a TP-link Powerline WiFi kit, purchased from our local computer shop (yes, these still exist)
Have "explained" to him what I wanted to do and ask IF WiFi over power might be the solution I was looking for we went for this one, granted a bit more expensive than an on-line purchase BUT we had it NOW and safe in the knowledge that if it didn't work (as we were told it might not work in all cases) we could get our money back
The joys of local shopping
And work it did. Truly plug 'n' play. There was one minor hiccup where I was trying to connect to the new WiFi network but . . . patience, patience HV, all will come to he who waits
And then, "ping" azif-bi-magic a functioning network appeared
Leaving behind a highly chuffed Mrs Voltz, who has now come down to snaffle a Sonos speaker
We decided to plump for a TP-link Powerline WiFi kit, purchased from our local computer shop (yes, these still exist)
Have "explained" to him what I wanted to do and ask IF WiFi over power might be the solution I was looking for we went for this one, granted a bit more expensive than an on-line purchase BUT we had it NOW and safe in the knowledge that if it didn't work (as we were told it might not work in all cases) we could get our money back
The joys of local shopping
And work it did. Truly plug 'n' play. There was one minor hiccup where I was trying to connect to the new WiFi network but . . . patience, patience HV, all will come to he who waits
And then, "ping" azif-bi-magic a functioning network appeared
Leaving behind a highly chuffed Mrs Voltz, who has now come down to snaffle a Sonos speaker
pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
Powerline internet might work but, in my experience trying to do the same thing, it didn't because the power line to the outside can be very noisy. You can try it but I ended up returning the unit.
Mesh networks are really expensive.
You can get a simple WiFi extender though. We have this one in high speed mode which works really well.
AC1750 Wi-Fi Range Extender
TP-Link's RE450 comes with next generation 802.11AC Wi-Fi technology, 3 times faster than the standard 802.11n speeds.
High speed mode means that the link from the house to the extender uses the 5GHz channel exclusively. The extended network uses 2.4GHz exclusively. Devices switch easily and invisibly between them.
I also tuned down the extension signal strength to the lowest as the extender doesn't need to be broadcasting out very strongly.
This setup easily handles video calls and on speedtest I'm getting pretty much full speed internet.
I have one of those - gives me excellent speed and coverage throughout the whole house and right along the back of the house outside - for when I get round to fitting my wifi security cameras!
pogofish
Testicle Hairstyle
There is a bit of a subculture dedicated to home made extenders/distance wifi solutions. If you have an old satellite dish to repurpose, you can apparently get connections from tens or sometimes even as much as a hundred miles away!
Try googling homemade Yagi Antennas or "Pringles Can Extenders" for some ideas - we may even have a past thread on the subject!
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
Not in the fucking valley we live in you won't - we don't even get G let alone 5G so WiFi signals from a long way away isn't going to happen
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
Sounds like you need a few more covid jabs.
WouldBe
Dislicksick
you dearly, m-waaaah
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
izz
Increased Leisure Citizen
I managed this one on my own
By you or HV, or both?
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
It was a team effort
Well, OK, the Sonos was Izz but doing the "heavy lifting" of googling for the local computer shop and starting this thread . . . THAT WAS ME
Well, OK, the Sonos was Izz but doing the "heavy lifting" of googling for the local computer shop and starting this thread . . . THAT WAS ME
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
Why do you think she's had the cave built??
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
I seem to remember a history of witches around the ancient Isle of Avalon area.
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
In other news . . . I'm planning on having a bonfire next week, weather permitting
izz
Increased Leisure Citizen
hah de ha haaa
existentialist
Things Done
You can get a waterproof one for not much more than a regular one - eg 25 quid for 30 meters
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
If you don't want to run cable you want point to point WiFi. We use it a clients site and it's surprisingly good. Something like this...
www.broadbandbuyer.com
TP-Link CPE510 Pharos Outdoor 5Ghz 13dBi WiFi 4 Point-to-Point PtP Link Kit (300Mbps N)
High Voltage
In the top 97% of Urban's most interesting posters
In our case the WiFi over power works perfectly fine, thank goodnessIf you don't want to run cable you want point to point WiFi. We use it a clients site and it's surprisingly good. Something like this...
TP-Link CPE510 Pharos Outdoor 5Ghz 13dBi WiFi 4 Point-to-Point PtP Link Kit (300Mbps N)
eoin_k
Lawyer's fees, beetroot and music
So, I'm trying to improve the wifi connection in my bedroom/home office for meetings in a new job without reducing speed... it's all in a typical two-story London maisonette, but the router is at the opposite end on the other floor from the bedroom and the walls are thick, so video calls can be clunky.
Does this look like a sensible solution:
Does this look like a sensible solution:
gentlegreen
I hummus, therefore I am ...
I might tag this on here as possibly relevant ...
When Virgin game me a new modem/router, I stuck the old WIFI router I'd bought years before at the back of the house with the settings and firmware that had worked before and most things get an IP and work fine - but my WIFI camera and smart lightbulb just won't connect which is annoying because they're already on the edge of their range and I want to use them even further away.
With the smartbulb, for the install I also had to turn on mobile data ...
When Virgin game me a new modem/router, I stuck the old WIFI router I'd bought years before at the back of the house with the settings and firmware that had worked before and most things get an IP and work fine - but my WIFI camera and smart lightbulb just won't connect which is annoying because they're already on the edge of their range and I want to use them even further away.
With the smartbulb, for the install I also had to turn on mobile data ...
That will probably work but they still need to talk to each other with wifi, so if the walls are really thick you may have issues - but if you can currently get signal this is likely to make it better.
According to internet you can link them with Ethernet - which would be a good solution if you can run a wire.
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UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Do you own the property? Can you run cable. Without doubt the best solution is a router that doesn't do WiFi and a couple of WiFi access points connected by cable.
UnderOpenSky
baseline neural therapy
Have you checked 2.4 Vs 5 GHz? Does the old router have the same SSID and password?
souljacker
innit
I used to slag off power line adaptors but these days they are really very good. I'm going to use it to place an ap upstairs at the back of the house to add to the one downstairs to hopefully give me coverage in the bog and garden. Might be worth a try?
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