Enhancing WiFi reception?

[lman]

I used the item listed below to get internet in my barn about 1/4 mile from my house. I had to connect an old wifi router to it and now I have wifi in and near my barn. You just point the Nanostation at the signal source and it will boost it to obtain usable internet.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DCNRTAG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[TractorGuy]

Do you have power at the garage? If so try getting a GL-AR300EXT router to log in to your neighbor. Then log your stuff into the router. I use one at home on my weak cell internet. Signed goes out 500 ft from router.

Make sure you get the one with external antennas. It's made both with internal or external.

 

[plowhog]

People are mixing terms. Many of the devices mentioned above (Wilson 3G, etc.) are for cell service to amplify their signal. They will not help at all for the type of 'WiFi' you seem to be asking about.

That is correct. It was unclear to me at first if the priority was voice or data. The Wilson amplifier would work for voice, independent of the neighbor, using over the air cell signals *if* the receiving phone has at least one bar to start with. But he specified data is the priority.

Are you able to try a desktop computer instead of a laptop? I ask this as I use several HP all-in-one computers and their wireless access receive capability is very good. I believe its because they put a better antenna inside due to the larger frame. This also explains why your laptop works better than your mobile-- antenna size. That is at least something to try that would not involve the neighbor. Also, there are USB network connections devices that include maybe 10 feet of cable and an external antenna. I've never used one but at under $50 those might be something to try. You could buy one of these, disable your internal laptop wifi, plug in the USB ethernet device (with external antenna) and try it instead. If you have a Fry's electronics nearby they probably have those.

Probably a sure winner is if you can add at least one more device to your neighbor system. If you could add an external outside "Access Point" (similar to a router but internally different), to the neighbor system, placed in an area with clear line of sight to you, that likely would solve your issue. Those are available for under $100 and it would need to plug in to his network via an Ethernet cable. This would likely make a huge difference as you would no longer be blocked by the walls of his structure, and any interference going on inside those walls (electric devices, ovens, etc.)

As stated above, the Nanostation products are excellent. I have no Ethernet cabling outside my ranch residence, so I use the Nanostation M5 from house to barn. Pointed at each other, I get excellent throughput so when in the barn, it seems like I am directly connected to the router. The throughput is so good I can even run video over it.

A Nanostation M5 would also require installation at the neighbor property, pointing at you. Unlike the Access Point, your laptop would not directly receive the signal-- a second Nanostation at your property would do that. You could then plug in your laptop to that Nanostation, or plug your own Access Point into it. I don't remember if the Nanostation offers broadcast wifi (such as to your laptop) or not. I only use my Nanostation point-to-point as a wireless bridge, then I plug Ethernet into each side of it.

Good luck with your investigation. These are always tricky to work out and usually require some tinkering before you get it right.

 

[plowhog]

try getting a GL-AR300EXT router to log in to your neighbor. Then log your stuff into the router.

I was not familiar with this device but I looked it up. First thing, I don't think you are using it as a router. It's recommended not to use a router device, behind another router device. The router at the neighbor is the only one that should be in this Ethernet segment.

This device looks very much like another product I have used called the PepWave from the 3gstore.com. The pepwave is also another option-- although the antenna is not very large. It captures a wifi signal then outputs via a wired Ethernet connection. I have only used one inside my home when I needed wired Internet service to my DVR and I had no internet cable in that area.

Finally, the device you recommend can alternately be configured as a cell phone booster, which is how I think you are using it. But in this application I think he wants internet data, and has no data plan on his phone .....

 

[TractorGuy]

I was not familiar with this device but I looked it up. First thing, I don't think you are using it as a router. It's recommended not to use a router device, behind another router device. The router at the neighbor is the only one that should be in this Ethernet segment.

This device looks very much like another product I have used called the PepWave from the 3gstore.com. The pepwave is also another option-- although the antenna is not very large. It captures a wifi signal then outputs via a wired Ethernet connection. I have only used one inside my home when I needed wired Internet service to my DVR and I had no internet cable in that area.

Finally, the device you recommend can alternately be configured as a cell phone booster, which is how I think you are using it. But in this application I think he wants internet data, and has no data plan on his phone .....

Says it's a router. GL-AR300EXT link. It will connect by wire or wireless. It only has one wired out connection but the wireless works good enough you don't need it unless you require a wired connection for something. I have to plug my security cameras in by wire to initialize them before they will work wireless.

It requires a cell phone charger for power that is not included.

I originally chose it as a way to increase the distance on my wifi while over riding the 5 connection limit I had on a Mobley. The Mobley only saw 1 connection being the little travel router and I log everything on my network into the router. As a perk the router signal carries out 500 feet as I tested it. I now have it logged into a ZTE Velocity Mobile Hotspot device.

I have a set of wifi security cameras out in my field logged into it and it works great.

 

[plowhog]

Says it's a router.

Yes, that is the name of it. But it also has a configurable Wifi repeater mode, so it can be set to act as an access point/repeater. Did you do any configuration on it when installing?

I'm not familiar with Mobley equipment, but if your Mobley equipment is only seeing one connection, that might be how a "router behind a router" could work. I suspect you are either in wifi repeater mode, or the Mobley isn't doing any routing since there is only one device attached. I would guess if you add more things at the Mobley side, having a "router behind a router" could become an issue unless you changed your device as a wifi repeater. It's like having two people directing the same traffic but who don't know what the other one is doing.

Anyway, it is an interesting little device and it could be something (in wifi repeater mode) that could work for Ultrarunner. Thanks for sharing it!

 

[SirMaxwell]

As you will notice, you are getting lots of suggestions, but yet to clarify what you really want to do, or can do. Comes to mind, perhaps you should download a free (or pay if you wish) HeatMap Tool (or APP if you prefer that word). You can get a version for your laptop that will show you all the WiFi in the area, strength, and with a site mapper (heat map) do a quick little site survey of your own and see whats what.

Bottom Line, you may need just an external antenna, maybe a simple WiFi booster at/near neighbor or maybe near you, perhaps an External A/P at neighbor, perhaps a Bridge (device at Neighbor and Device on your side). Remember, any improvement you make on the neighbors side, will be good for him as well. Win-Win.

Grab and app, do a Map, see what you got, oh also the Manufacturer and Model of the existing device.

This assumes all you really want is to attach to your neighbors WiFi, a stronger WiFi signal.

 

[k0ua]

How about something as simple as a passive repeater if it is a next door neighbor. One nice yagi near and pointing toward the wi-fi router of the neighbor. some coax between the houses, and a nice yagi inside your house. No electronics, just two beam antennas and some coax. Yagis for 2.4ghz are very small.

 

[TractorGuy]

Yes, that is the name of it. But it also has a configurable Wifi repeater mode, so it can be set to act as an access point/repeater. Did you do any configuration on it when installing?

I'm not familiar with Mobley equipment, but if your Mobley equipment is only seeing one connection, that might be how a "router behind a router" could work. I suspect you are either in wifi repeater mode, or the Mobley isn't doing any routing since there is only one device attached. I would guess if you add more things at the Mobley side, having a "router behind a router" could become an issue unless you changed your device as a wifi repeater. It's like having two people directing the same traffic but who don't know what the other one is doing.

Anyway, it is an interesting little device and it could be something (in wifi repeater mode) that could work for Ultrarunner. Thanks for sharing it!

The wifi source is of no concern.

Not much setup involved. You log into the router via the ip address and default password provided. Go into the WAN settings and wait for it to recognize an existing wifi connection. Select that connection and enter the password for it. Just like connecting any wireless device to any wifi connection. Then you can use or change the router password and connect to it from any wireless capable device. The source wifi connection just sees it as a connected device. What that device does with the throughput is of no concern. Like any router it divides bandwidth. I can stream video at two devices. If one device is streaming I may experience slower loading web pages at the PC or laptop but it still works okay.

 

[ultrarunner]

I will need to re-read as there are many good suggestions.

I'm afraid if I modify or add anything at the source (Neighbor) that I will be involved anytime should something happen...

Right now I can use my laptop perfectly on his property like his driveway... and this is why he gave me the password.

My laptop gets real shaky when I go inside my barn and the connection drops out all the time and I can only get it with the barn doors open... or near the one window.

My thought is to see if a simple inexpensive device to enhance the signal emanating from my neighbor on my end so it would be strong enough so I could use the lap top at my property reliably...

There is always the option for me to subscribe to my own service but so far I only need 10-15 minutes in a week and basically frugal when it comes to recurring expense...

I do have power and there is a Fry's store that I visit... I bought my laptop at Fry's...