Joined Mar 2005
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Forum Thread
Condo has free wifi but it is too weak in my unit. How can I boost it or connect my own router to it?
December 3, 2012 at
06:26 PM
My condominium has a very good (50mb) connection & free wifi for residents. But in my unit the connection appears but most of the time I cannot connect. I can in the hallway but want to step into my door I no longer can, I am assuming it is because of obstruction.
I am trying to figure out the best way to either enhance the signal so I can connect my devices to it locally or a way to capture that wifi signal and re-broadcast it with my own wireless router?
I am trying to figure out the best way to either enhance the signal so I can connect my devices to it locally or a way to capture that wifi signal and re-broadcast it with my own wireless router?
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I managed to improve throughput on some devices:
http://www.freeantenna
or
http://rvroadtrip.us/library/wifi_booster.ph
bigger size like 8 x 11 : http://www.aegisarts.c
it takes 10 min to build and you can test signal gain using this tool : inSSIDer
Different devices and wifi adapters have different antenna and amplifier designs that do result in performance differences. So a router/repeater may pick up a strong enough signal to work.
Start by trying different devices (if needed invite a friend or two and their electronics) in different parts of the apt to see where you get the best performance and how much difference there is between different wifi adapters.
Then grab a copy of netstumbler [stumbler.net] and survey the wifi ap's in your immediate area, identify what channel the strongest free condo wifi is on and if any close neighbors are using the same channel (note any on the same channel with strong signal strength). Try to talk these neighbors into changing the channel their ap is using.
Try something like one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...683316403
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pro...683316806
something like this
http://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Wi...i+antennas
this will do it for sure
http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Wirel...i+anten
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definitely dont do any banking or other sensitive online activity w/o a VPN!
definitely dont do any banking or other sensitive online activity w/o a VPN!
I was hoping there would be a router that could capture the signal and output it again locally. Looks like the best thing to do would be to get the extender as mentioned, and then make my router a repeater?
I was hoping there would be a router that could capture the signal and output it again locally. Looks like the best thing to do would be to get the extender as mentioned, and then make my router a repeater?
do you know where the router with wifi is (in your building)?
Are there any outlets accessible to you in the hallway? Do you have interior or exterior hall ways? Can you get decent reception near any of your windows?