Pick yourself up a WiFi range extender to get connected in the upstairs toilet or while sitting in the pool cooling off.
EDIMAX 150MBPS Range Extender $23
ZyXEL 300MBPS Range Extender $29
TP-Link 300MBPS Range Extender $32 Was $40
Netgear 300MBPS Range Extender $49
All of the above are cheaper than anywhere I've seen and are pretty damn cheap to get WiFi in that dead spot.
Seen the TP-Link model in the MSY Deals of the weekend: edm.msy.com.au/19022015/online/html.html
Cheers
Totally agree. I have used two different TP Link REs.
Very flakey. Wifi connection degrades soon after each full reset.
Avoid.
Dont forget that wireless range extenders often halve your throughput so they are not ideal for all situations. A better option, although more expensive, is a EOP setup with a wireless AP on the other end of the house. I just upgraded my "wifi range" this way. I already had some Netcomm wired EOP boxes, but got a D-link EOP wireless access point and they b8th play together nicely. End result is much faster internet over better range with the EOP setup.
What's EOP?
Ethernet over power - or Powerline Networking.
Oh OK…I.am looking at getting one myself…do u think there is any difference between ones selling for 50 or ones selling for 100
Possibly. If you go the EOP route (which is the better option for speed), then you need both a wired EOP (Powerline) unit near your router (Ethernet cable runs from your modem/router) into the Powerline unit, and then the Powerline wireless access point at the other end of the house or where you want to boost your range. Both Powerline units plug into any electrical outlet, so you need a power point as well on both ends.
There are different units capable of different speeds, yes. Usually the more expensive ones cost more. There are two main speed standards (300Mbps and 500Mbps). You never really get anywhere close to those speeds, but obviously, a 500Mbps device has the potential for faster speeds than the 300Mbps. Not a tech expert on this, but those speed standards may not be the same as those quoted for internet connections… I.e. I have a 100Mbps Telstra Cable connection, so if you think about it, those 300Mbps devices should be plenty to handle my 100Mbps incoming speed from the cable, but again, I don't think those quoted speeds use the same standards as I do get faster speed using a 500 over a 300 extender (have had both).
If you don't already have any Powerline (EOP) devices, then you have to buy a 2-piece set like this: http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/netcomm-wirel…
If you already have the wired EOP device on the end near the modem/router then you can just buy the wireless access point component as the "extender" although that's not really the right terminology. Something like this: http://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/d-link-powerl…
Note that you can mix and match different brands. I have the NetComm wired powerline kit, but purchased and used the D-Link wireless "extender", and they both work together great. As long as both units conform to the "HomePlug AV" standard, you can mix and match brands (if you need to).
But, you will be needing to spend at least $125+ on current prices if you you don't have any wired Powerline devices already. Hope that helps!
thanks for the great explanation.
One more question: Do they need to go directly the power socket in the wall or is it ok to connect through powerboard.
Also, will this do the work:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TP-Link-TL-PA411KIT-500Mbs-Mini-P…
You can put them on a powerboard but it generally is not recommended. I think if they go through a powerboard with other connected devices, there is a chance the speed will be reduced. I think that is the concern. Some even advice that if you have a double-outlet power point, that you try not to have anything connected to the other point next to it. Obviously this can cause some issues for some people, or they would not say it.
Re the TP-Link set you linked to. This is a wired Powerline kit only. This means you have to connect your computer on the other end to an Ethernet cable. That set wont work to provide a wireless access point, so tablets/phones or any other wifi devices without an Ethernet port will not be able to be used with that kit.
You would need something like this one: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TP-Link-TL-WPA4220KIT-AV500-EOP-P…
it has the wifi transmitter option on the other end… And note also that it also does Ethernet cable too as well as wifi. hence why it costs more than the first. If you don't have any free powerpoints, you will need to get a kit with AC passthrough (like the NetComm kits) however, the AC Passthrough on the wireless AP enabled kits only seems to be on the Router-end box of the kit, i.e. like this one - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NETCOMM-NP508-POWERLINE-500MBPS-T…
But with the one i linked to…cant i attach a router to the adapter at the other end and create a wireless access point? I have got couple of spare routers which can come into use.
Interesting question. I don't know to be honest.
[EDIT] This forum post suggests its possible though > http://community.linksys.com/t5/Wired-Adapters/Connecting-Wi…
This might be a noob question… can this device be used to boost/improve the range or 'reception' of a free wifi nearby?
No, I believe you need access to the host router to "pair" up the devices correctly before they will work.
My inlaws just moved into an old turn of the century house with cement interior walls.
They just got the phone put in with ADSL2 and the wifi reaches half way through the house.
Would an extender like this be the best 'budget' option for extending their wifi down the the front of the house?
House has old wiring.
Thanks everyone.
rattle, what surat suggests above is what you need. A range extender is not ideal for that situation, you want the Powerline kit as linked above (or a number of other brands that do similar things).
rang extender is not a reliable technology regardless the brand
True. The Powerline (EOP) kits are a much better option. They are called "Range Extenders" but in the EOP cases, that is not a very good term. Its more like an access point, where the Access point is getting a much stronger "wired" connection feed from the main modem/router via your electrical cabling.
Where as a wireless range extender that simply receives your existing "wireless" signal can only re-transmit the signal it receives. If its located too far from the source wireless router feed, then it is just re-transmitting that already weak signal. So, if you use these, you kind of have to place the wireless range extender in an area that receives a pretty strong signal from your wireless router already, and usually this means closer to the source router to begin with. Hence, the range that can be effective in is much less than a Powerline EOP Wireless Access Point setup.
That is my understanding anyway. Happy to be educated by someone more savvy on this.
Just saying, EOP only tend for very small site. For long distant point to point wifi bridging is the only choice.
Of course. Powerline only good for the area/location the cabling runs for the circuits (connected to the same switch/distro board).
I've got the tp link range extender, going through a love hate relationship with it atm, wouldn't recommend buying it try the netgear imo, some days it works fine other days loses connection a lot & have to plug it into computer to reset it all, there tech support line is hopeless barely English speaking, bit old now that model, if your willing to pay a bit more would look for a different brand/newer model..