Reply to: Boosting wifi in a large house

[Hobosapien]

Gave up trying to use an old router. Tried two but neither worked properly or had all the right specs (WPA2 security and 11.n/ac wireless speed) to make it worthwhile due to them being too out of date. Also probably have security flaws since fixed in more recent offerings.

So have ordered a BT wifi extender. There are several models (610/750/1200) that are relatively small and plug straight into a power socket, have too far/too close/ideal positioning indicators for optimum placement for repeating the wifi signal, and come with an ethernet socket so I can also use it to free up a powerline adaptor for connecting devices without wifi. Seems to tick all boxes.

Hopefully easy to set up (manual suggest so), though I have WPS turned off on the router (known security weakness) so won't be as plug and play as it could be.

[BrilloPad]

At the moment we have gone with the tin foil solution. When twins are down for half term we will see how happy they are. If they are still not happy then I will try the extender.

Tin foil did not help much. I just bought a netgear wifi extender from maplin. Works like a dream.

Many thanks to all with their suggestions.

[Support Monkey]

I used one of these in the office in my old house ,the office was a new extension on the side so the signal was poor getting through what wa the outside wall to the new room, never had a problem, wired 3 devices in my office straight into the back and never lost connection and it extended the wifi to that side of the house

there are probably newer versions now but this one worked for me

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-WN2...+wifi+extender

[Hobosapien]

That's an idea, I must see if mine reaches right to the bottom of the garden where my little pond is, though probably plenty of frog's porn in it already.

While there would be some satisfaction in re-using some old kit instead of having to buy yet more, I am so tempted to buy an outdoor wireless access point (prices seem to start under £50 and typical includes a power over ethernet capability so no separate power supply needed), to cover not only the garden but also across the road for the village pub beer garden, which currently doesn't have any wifi available.

Only a couple of walls would be in the way and the range of the kit (some quoted in the kilometres) seems adequate.

Could sell access to the locals and the ramblers that stop off on their way to traipsing across dartmoor, as a nice little earner.

[ChimpMaster]

I use BT powerline extenders that have wifi repeaters built in. Work fine.

I think the new Sky Q boxes act as wifi boosters too, so could be an option if you have Sky.

[xoggoth]

After sitting in the garden yesterday and wishing the wifi reached to the other end

That's an idea, I must see if mine reaches right to the bottom of the garden where my little pond is, though probably plenty of frog's porn in it already.

[Hobosapien]

After sitting in the garden yesterday and wishing the wifi reached to the other end, this thread has inspired me to dig out an old router and give it a try.

As soon as the clouds go that is. More like rain than shine today.

[xoggoth]

Huawei WS320 extenders are good. My router is at front of house but can use my tablet in the greenhouse about 80ft down back garden.

[BrilloPad]

At the moment we have gone with the tin foil solution. When twins are down for half term we will see how happy they are. If they are still not happy then I will try the extender.

[unemployed]

we use a wifi extender in the east and west wings.

it got bloody tiring having to drive the golf cart 300ft to the other side of the house

[vetran]

An advantage of having three separate wifi's is that you can change the password on the one the kids like to use in their rooms if you need to sanction them for something.

get a decent router and sanction them via that

https://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.ph...s_Restrictions

Then Miss V1 gets a ban but Miss V2 doesn't.

[WTFH]

Don't forget that when you set up the new wifi to give it a good name...
These are some brilliant names for your wifi if you want to annoy your neightbours | The Poke

[jonnieboy]

If the house has telephone sockets which you aren't using because you have DECT etc, you can fit ethernet sockets to the telephone wiring. Whilst telephone cable doesn't meet the ethernet standard for short runs you can get away with it - and 100mbps only needs two pairs, so can be done over 4-core telephone cable.

This way you can fit a hard-wired access point without using Powerline if you have problems with Powerline.

[naywansteepanuf]

Should add I haven't installed it 'properly' yet it's just chucked ont top ot wardrobe

[naywansteepanuf]

Ubiquiti

I used to have an old netgear WAP in the upstairs spare room of my house (<1800 farmhouse/barn conversion) - this WAP packed in recently and was on the lookout for some kind of repeater thingimywatsit to replace it - after some browsing I came across this

Ubiquiti Networks UAP-LR AP Long Range Router

Read reviews on Amazon. Well I can say it works fantastic even reaching 'through' into the kitchen through 20"+ stone walls some of which are lined with foil backed insulation.

Sat outside in the yard signal from the Ubiquiti is excellent - definitely worth the money.

I should add that living in the middle of nowhere general internet speed over rural wireless connection is pretty crap to start with (but the view is nice and my dog is happy)