Windows 10: How extend range of wi-fi

I'd like to know what the options are to extend my wi-fi signal range. I have extra routers if that help and I'm hoping to not spend a lot of money. Thank you.

:)

 

PC Mobile Hotspot option not showing up

Hi Tobiasmusic,

the mobile hotspot option is available if a Wi-Fi network card is installed on your computer.
Bluetooth uses a different protocol that is not compatible for the mobile hotspot.

If the wi-fi signal is very weak at the desktop PC, you need a wi-fi / range extender repeater or a pair of wi-fi powerlines

 

wi-fi extender

I have installed a Wi-Fi range extender in my wirless network, but now the password won't work. Any idea where to find the settings? it's a Linksys ac1200 max

 

You’ll need to get a Wi-Fi Repeater for your home. They aren’t super expensive, but if you don’t want to pay for another piece of hardware, you can actually turn an old wireless router into an extender with the aforementioned DD-WRT firmware.

 

Please explain what I have to do to use the DD-WRT method? That would be the least expensive to me and I have extra routers.

 

you can piggyback the routers...

download How To Share an Internet Connection.pdf and go to page 5 and follow
How to Configure an Additional Internet Access Point / Router

since you already have extra router - it is just a matter of running cat 5/6 cable to extend range

 

You can setup your extra router as a repeater. Most manufacturers have that option.

 

Best option is to connect two routers with an ethernet cable, and make second router as a wifi access point.

Very easy - 2nd router is configured to have lan ip in same subnet as main router (First three ip figures are same, only fourth is different). Also second router has dhcp turned off. Wifi ssid and password may be same but channel number should be differrnt to main router (1, 6 or 11 only).

You can use second router as a wifi extender but performance drops rapidly with distance.

Another solution is home plugs.

PS no need to mess aroud with ddwrt for years!

 

Indoor, just get a set of the Mesh style 3 unit Hockey Pucks that Engenius and other companies are selling, or get a unit like the Engenius EAP-1750H Access Point like I have. If you need outdoor coverage, they make units that are for outside environment.

This is one of the reasons to build out a network with separate units, instead of a All-In-One and having to spend more on swapping out the AIO when you want more.

 

You turn off DHCP, set it for the device IP being say 192.168.2.1, if your current device uses say 192.168.1.x. Then you connect LAN port from main to the LAN port of the device you want to use for wifi. Only issue is that it comes with some headaches to setting it up first, because you have to have the Gateway not on the LAN and set a Static IP on the computer that you are using to set up the old gateway as an Access Point.

 

You mean set it to 196.168.1.2 (not 2.1). 3rd figure is subnet, and fourth is device number on that subnet.

Also, you do not have to set up a static ip on pc initially unless router has had dhcp turned off previously.

Turn of wifi

Connect pc to router via ethernet cable

Enter IP address of router.

In future, if you need to connect to router, once it is in same subnet and connected to lan, you can simply connect to it over the lan.

The only time you may need to set a static ip on pc is if your main router ip changes to a different subnet e.g a new iso and router.

Then as second router will not be in same subnet and no DHCP, then you will not be able to connect. However, even then it is simpler just to reset second router to default and DHCP will be back on.

 

How does <$10 sound for not a lot of money? coaxifi.com has a number of WiFi over coax kits that would let you detach an antenna from one of your spare routers and send a WiFi signal directly to whichever room(s) need it, via the cable outlets. I read about it on Review: Coaxifi WiFi over coax for better coverage: 5/5 stars and it works well with my TP-Link C2600. Actually, in terms of Mbps and signal strength (RSSI), it outperforms the router (over the air) at any distance 23/25 feet or more from the router. (I returned an eero mesh system after setting up Coaxifi because my house already has enough paperweights...)

 

Thank you all for the advice. I like the idea of the mesh - seems to be simpler (although I do have an extra router). Are these what are called repeaters? @cereberus: What are home plugs? You also said performance drops rapidly with distance. Which distance are you referring to? From the primary router, the secondary router - or the CAT in between the two routers? Also @bro67, what is AIO? Thank you!

 

Thank you - I'll look into this!!!!!!!!!!

 

If you use ethernet distance does not matter unless a huge distance.

If using a wif extender, it is like any device, further apart, weaker the signal.

Home plugs connect via normal plug sockets and info is transmitted via you home's electrical wiring to a receiver.