wifi extender...

[ericlp]

OK... here is the deal...

My mom, can get free wifi (with permission) from a pizza joint across the street.

But, she has to sit next to a window with her ipad... And the signal sometimes will drop when a car drives by.

Solution yeah, so easy... Use a router as a repeater. Unscrew an antenna and use a large external with good DB gain.

OK, well, I'm in Hawaii and my Mom is in Oregon...

So the GOAL would be...

Buy something cheap, like this....

https://www.amazon.com/300Mbps-Exte..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=4GWPYC74731YNWZC7Z5W

Tell my mom to plug in this device outside where it's obviously going to get a good signal and mount it up on the deck cover support beams. Zip tie it...

Then get on her Ipad... (I'm making this up as I go along) fire up chrome, and entire 192.168.x.x to connect to the repeater...

Go thought the menu

> change admin password

>hopefully find some place to scan for wifi signals...
> select the ssid from the pizza shop
> enter in the pass key for the pizza shop

Done!

Log back into whatever repeater SSID is and internet access...

But..... Sadly, like I said, I am not around to help her configure the device.

So... The goal would be...

Something Cheap...Easy setup... And works great for having having large antenna to get a better signal and broadcast a signal so my Mom isn't stuck next to a window without dropping the signal when cars pass by.

Anyone do anything like this? OR recommend a good unit?

Why not just get comcast for 39 a month? or 49 a month without a contract? Good question. This is a relatives house, and my mom is only at this house for a few weeks maybe months at a time to visit her sister that is in a nursing home. So... She is only there part time since she flys back to hawaii, or her friends pick her up.... It isn't worth it to get internet 49 a month plus another 13 bucks for a rental fee. She isn't a heavy internet user. She is pretty happy just to sit next to a window, but... I'd like to get her better coverage in her home. I hate comcast, I could see it if she was living there.

So... I was hoping that there would be a device with removable antenna to run a say 5 meter wire to plug in external antenna outside, then plug it back into the device inside the house. Maybe when I get back there and if she is still there, I could rig up a tupperware type deal for outdoor mounting.

Thanks for any replies!

 

[Genx87]

Cheaper\easier option is have her get onto an unlimited plan through her cell company and use her phone as a hot spot.

 

[JackMDS]

Any Additional device would need.

Quote:" change admin password
hopefully find some place to scan for wifi signals...
select the ssid from the pizza shop
enter in the pass key for the pizza shop".

So... Obtain through the phone basic info from the iPad when connect to "Pizzagate".

Order (to Hawaii) the Amazon Gizmo.

Configure it with the info from the iPad. I.e. configure to Pizza subnet, put in SSID and password.

Send the device (UPS/Fedex etc.) to you mom.

Instruct them to put the Device close to the Top of the "Miracle Window".
Placing it so that the Antenna will be on the glass level so it would not be obstruct by the wall. (can be attached on the Window with stick on Velcro).

It might be that few small would need to follow through phone to finish the settings.

If it works than it is a one time sub $50 solution,

 

[VirtualLarry]

I don't know what to tell you, other than they make "high-power" (1W EIRP) 2.4Ghz N300 USB adapters with a decently-long USB 2.0 cord on them. You could put one of those adapters against the window, with some tape or velcro or something, and then plug the USB cord across the room into your (Mom's) laptop.

That might be easier than using a repeater.

But I've gone the repeater route too, when I was on vacation, and needed to borrow some internet (with permission) from the family down the street.

At the present time, I would recommend, an Asus RT-N12/D1, N300 router with twin 5dbi factory antennas (removable), and and easy-to-set-up explicit "Repeater mode" that can be chosen from the web-based router initial setup. (Those have been as low as $20 retail or $10 AR.)

Or one of its bigger brothers, like the AC66U or AC1750 (same H/W platform), which can be picked up refurb for $50 or so (there's on FS/FT forum here for $50 currently), which I believe also has the "Repeater Mode" functionality.

Edit: Sorry, missed that the device was an iPad. Those don't have Host USB ports on them, do they? (My Microcenter Win8.1 tablets did.)

 

[mxnerd]

https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-NanoStation-locoM2-2-4GHz-Outdoor/dp/B00DCNRTAG

Don't know if there is any remote control app for iPad that's usable.

 

[ericlp]

I looked at bear and alpha solutions but they only have USB out, she doesn't have a laptop. Thanks for all your replies. I guess that's the best solution. She has a cellphone that she likes and isn't interested in the data portion of it. She's old, hence the ipad.... yeah, I know, but... she won't change her ways, even tho she could be getting unlimited data for the same price she pays now. Sigh. I'm ordering a lightweight extension cord so she can place the unit on the covered front porch. It will get a pretty good signal outside. Maybe it will work, maybe not. I'll let you know how it goes!