[TriLUG] OT: Device for Improving WiFi Reception?

[Greg Brown]

We were just having this conversation at work.  Here are two solutions that
leap to mind:

1) USB wifi adapter with a higher gain antenna a la this thing:
http://www.adafruit.com/products/1030
As best I can tell this antenna has 5db of gain but I haven't been able to
verify that.  I've been using this exact model on a couple Raspberry Pi
devices with great success.

2) Buy two of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Airport-Express-A1084-54-Mbps-Wireless-G-Router-M9470LL-A-/111548755406?pt=COMP_EN_Routers&hash=item19f8d2edce


Set AP#1 in client mode that attaches to the existing network and splits
that out the back end via Ethernet.  Connect AP#2 (configured as as access
point) to AP#1 via Ethernet and you have created a layer 2 wireless bridge
with higher power radios.  This works very well.. I have used this setup at
the Outer Banks to connect to public networks on many occasions and it
works very well.  It would be temping to buy just one and set that up as a
repeater but don't do that - repeaters are awful and negatively impact
everyone that uses the wireless signal.

I hope that helps!

Greg

On Mon, Dec 15, 2014 at 12:06 PM, Scott Chilcote <scottchilcote at ncrrbiz.com>
wrote:
>
> Hello LUGgers,
>
> An elderly relative of ours has moved into an assisted living home which
> provides free wifi.  Unfortunately, her rooms are at the end of the
> hallway where the signal is weak.  The reception is poor enough that her
> computer's network connection frequently drops.
>
> The hardware is a recently purchased Dell windows desktop box.
>
> Can anyone recommend a way to improve the wifi reception on her computer
> that does not require modifying the network infrastructure at the
> facility?  That may be an option eventually, but at this point we're
> looking at easier approaches.
>
> One thought I had was to add a USB wifi network adapter with an external
> antenna plug, and look for a better antenna to attach to it.
>
> The folks that are doing this are not particularly hacker oriented, so
> solutions that involve aluminum foil or pringles cans may not go over
> well  ;-)
>
> Thanks for any ideas!
>
>    Scott C.
>
> --
> Scott Chilcote
> scottchilcote at ncrrbiz.com
> Cary, NC USA
>
> --
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