Wi-Fi Booster

[brainiac]

I have a friend who's stuck at home with her husband and three teenage/older children, all vying for physical space and wi-fi use. I suggested to her that with some warmer weather on the way at least one of them could set up their laptop in the back garden. Does anyone know of or use an inexpensive wi-fi booster, say, to plug in near the back door, that would enable them to do this?

[Denton]

In my experience none of them work.

[woofgang]

Are you sure one is needed? My wifi works all over my garden

[Gizmonster]

//// Are you sure one is needed? My wifi works all over my garden ////
..... that depends where your router is and the layout of your house.

//// In my experience none of them work. ////
We've got one that solved our problems.

Our router is in our front room and in order for the signal to get to the back garden, it has to go through 4 walls. By the time it gets to the outside world, it's a VERY weak signal, sometimes there's no signal at all.

This is the exact same range extender that I bought from Currys:

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/networking/wifi-range-extenders/tp-link-re305-wifi-range-extender-ac-1200-dual-band-10172715-pdt.html

This plugs into a socket in the conservatory and we can now get a good signal out in the garden - I can personally vouch for this .... now where's my commission Curry's??

[ladybirder]

I don't take mine in the garden as I can't see the screen when the sun's shining whichever way round I sit:-(

[brainiac]

Many thanks, Giz, I've emailed her the link. Think it'll make a big difference - they're driving each other nuts!

[Gizmonster]

I'm fairly sure that some boosters need to be plugged into a plug socket that is on the same ring as the router, as the signal is sent down the wiring.
This one doesn't work like that - you can plug it into any plug socket, as long as it's within range of the router, it'll pick the signal up, amplify it and send it on.

[Gizmonster]

Just to go slightly off topic - how weird is this .... I've just had an email (junk) for, "ultra WiFi pro booster" .... what are the odds ????

[sanmac]

What's even stranger is that while reading this thread, I now have an ad from the "Wifi Blast Shop' on my screen...They know what we're doing, folks!:)

[calmck]

Someone on here recommended TP Link. I got one and it is very good but does need to be on the same electrical circuit as the router

[Denton]

Never knew that about the booster,gizmonster,will give it a try.

[Gizmonster]

//// Someone on here recommended TP Link. I got one and it is very good but does need to be on the same electrical circuit as the router ////

..... mine doesn't - read my post above.
My conservatory and front room plugs are on different rings, so I checked before I bought mine to make sure that it wasn't a prerequisite for them to be on the same ring.

[barry1010]

There are two types of wifi booster. The one Gizmonster has linked to works on its one - you only need one. Some have 'pass through' so you can plug something else in to it so you do not lose a plug socket. Simply put, it picks up the signal and resends it so the wifi has a wider range. It is simple and effective. I use it myself.

The other is a powerline. You need at least two, the router plugs in to one and the other picks up the signal through the electric cable. The other can be plugged in to any plug socket on the same circuit and you can (usually) connect by wifi or by an ethernet cable.

[barry1010]

This is a powerline
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing-accessories/networking/powerline/321_3076_30123_xx_xx/xx-criteria.html

[TonyV]

Sanmac Always get adds appearing relevant to the topic being discussed. It's the only way and reason the site remains free.