[Solved - but open to more suggestions] Increasing wifi signal to a laptop.

[OldGuy]

I have a laptop working in an office that is about a football field away from the main office.  The strength of the signal from the main office is about 1 bar.  I would like to get onto the office wifi to help with my work offsite.  Is there a device that I could put in my work office that would get the wifi office signal and repeat it (stronger) so my laptop can finally connect.

They use to have repeaters for tv (think they were called Rabbit, as a product name).  I'm wonder if anyone knows of a similar device for wifi.  Thank you.

[smileeb]

http://www.google.com/search?q=wifi+repeater&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=wifi+repeater&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=Mly&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvnsr&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=NzjHTse5C-Xo0QG9hOU0&ved=0CKkBEK0E&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=5a56cc6ff010279e&biw=1163&bih=618

[YouCanToo]

I have a laptop working in an office that is about a football field away from the main office.  The strength of the signal from the main office is about 1 bar.  I would like to get onto the office wifi to help with my work offsite.  Is there a device that I could put in my work office that would get the wifi office signal and repeat it (stronger) so my laptop can finally connect.

They use to have repeaters for tv (think they were called Rabbit, as a product name).  I'm wonder if anyone knows of a similar device for wifi.  Thank you.

The bad thing about repeaters is they will cut your through put by half. Another option would be change the antenna at the access point and at the receiver. Just need to make sure that by doing so you do not break the law for WIFI  transmission strength.  Perhaps you could use a directional antenna on the receiving end

[bicol_willem]

Maybe you can find something useful here:

http://www.focus.com/briefs/10-tips-increase-wireless-range/

[YouCanToo]

Maybe you can find something useful here:

http://www.focus.com/briefs/10-tips-increase-wireless-range/

Some good tips there. Especially watching out for rf interference from cordless phones and the microwave

[pupthai]

300 foot of cat5 connected to an AP at the other office - is it possible to run a cable as that is the best solution over distance like that and being in two different buildings also.

[erripe]

First time i see this, i almost collapse laughing but, the thing actually work. I also see an antenna made from a tin garbage can cover on the net.
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/cantennahowto.html

[OldGuy]

Wow, thanks the 300ft cat sound like the best suggestion.  I would like to add an antenna to the laptop, it's a Dell D620, but it's card and antenna is all internal.  So I have no idea how to do that, or the can thingie might be a good option as it's portable and directional.

I'm going to mark this solved, cause we have some good research here for others to review if they are having the same problem.  But feel free to drop in more ideas, as I'm sure there's a 1,000 ways to do it.

I think increasing the base antenna is a cheap test for my first try.  Thanks again!

[YouCanToo]

300 foot of cat5 connected to an AP at the other office - is it possible to run a cable as that is the best solution over distance like that and being in two different buildings also.

300 feet is about the max limit for a good quality cat 5 cable under perfect conditions, with no ElectroMagnetic Interference. Even if it works, at that distance, I would expect to see some dropped packets.  If you really need more distance than that then you should consider other options like range extenders (not cheap) or getting a "dry pair" from the telco and using a pair of csu/dsu units. (not cheap either)

[YouCanToo]

Wow, thanks the 300ft cat sound like the best suggestion.  I would like to add an antenna to the laptop, it's a Dell D620, but it's card and antenna is all internal.  So I have no idea how to do that, or the can thingie might be a good option as it's portable and directional.

I'm going to mark this solved, cause we have some good research here for others to review if they are having the same problem.  But feel free to drop in more ideas, as I'm sure there's a 1,000 ways to do it.

I think increasing the base antenna is a cheap test for my first try.  Thanks again!

OldGuy - 99% of all the laptops and notebooks are not made to use external antennas.  Here is a picture that I took of a wireless card with antennas that came out of a older Dell. As you can see the two small antennas at the top of the card. They are normally located inside the top cover on one side of the screen frame and at the bottom of the screen. These are not even a 2db antenna(s)



Once could always hack their machine and and build some sort of an antenna that uses a mmx connector that could lead from a external antenna to the connector on the wireless card itself. The antenna(s) connect using a mmx connector as seen at the top right corner of the wireless card in the above picture.  That certainly would NOT be my first choice.  You could also buy an pcmcia wireless card that would accept an external antenna, that is if your machine can take a pcmcia card. Here is another way, though no means a cheap one http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/wireless-marine-antenna.php   Another option would to be run a cable say halfway to where you need a signal and than use a wireless bridge like the WET11 or WET54G.  Anyway good luck with your little project and be sure to post your solution