Boost internet signal?

Our modem is connected in a bedroom. When we are on the patio, we often don't have a signal strong enough to do what we need. Can you buy something to boost the signal without having to rewire the whole system?

Carol

There was a thread a year or so ago Carol, same problem, no real solution.....the signal doesn't like concrete and rebar.....line of site works best.

We have a telmex modem in a central location w/ a line-of-sight Telmex extender plugged in across the room (about 40 feet)....we are able to download in the next room up to 30 feet away...signal is passing through 12 inch concrete/rebar walls...the newer the computer, tablet and/or kindle, the better the transmission.

Do I buy an extender at the Telmex office? It would be worth a try.

Another alternative is to get a USB wireless adapter.
I too have some areas where the signal gets week. So, last time we were NOB I got some TP-link high gain USB adapters. It's like a small antenna that plugs into the USB on our laptops and it really helps increase signal strength.
The extender is also a good option.

I use better antenna but you have to have equipment with removable antenna and most of
the Telmex/Telecable stuff is internal antenna. The three Asus 9db wireless antenna I put
on my hub/switch attached to telmex box do help punch up the signal quite a bit and is simple.

Z

Thanks for the suggestions. I will see what I can find and post my results.

Jim W wrote:There was a thread a year or so ago Carol, same problem, no real solution.....the signal doesn't like concrete and rebar.....line of site works best.

http://www.insidelakeside.com/t7206-wireless-range

No, there were solutions. I do believe Bob has this all setup and working now.

tictoc wrote:

Jim W wrote:There was a thread a year or so ago Carol, same problem, no real solution.....the signal doesn't like concrete and rebar.....line of site works best.

http://www.insidelakeside.com/t7206-wireless-range

No, there were solutions. I do believe Bob has this all setup and working now.

I tried this tictoc, and it didn't work. Apparently the multi levels of my home and distance were a factor. We have the same problem with the VOIP telephones.....they work on lower level and outside on the upper veranda, but not in the living room, Kitchen, or master bedroom.  

Jim:

Would that be site or sight?

Jim W wrote:

tictoc wrote:

Jim W wrote:There was a thread a year or so ago Carol, same problem, no real solution.....the signal doesn't like concrete and rebar.....line of site works best.

http://www.insidelakeside.com/t7206-wireless-range

No, there were solutions. I do believe Bob has this all setup and working now.

I tried this tictoc, and it didn't work.   Apparently the multi levels of my home and distance were a factor.   We have the same problem with the VOIP telephones.....they work on lower level and outside on the upper veranda, but not in the living room, Kitchen, or master bedroom.  

Jim, I not sure what method did not work for you. Did you setup two wired WiFi devices (both having the same RFID)? One on the main floor and one above. From what little I understand about your setup, this should fix your issue. One thing to remember is that every situation is different so a different solution will apply. If you are having open air range problems or a blocked signal problem, you can usually solve it by putting a second device just past ( or if repeating, before) were signal is lost. Perhaps when you get back sob you could try something different from what you tried before. I'm confident that there is a solution to your issue. Just need to find it.

Thank You Tictoc, will do........I think I will check out solutions NOB, and bring the equipment back down. 

CanuckBob wrote:Jim, the only solution, as outlined in that thread, is to "hard wire" another wifi modem on the second floor of your house. I can show you how to do this when you get back.

Sorry, I thought we were talking about repeaters as well. Ether way hard wired is always my first recommendation and is almost always the best solution.

CanuckBob wrote:Jim, the only solution, as outlined in that thread, is to "hard wire" another wifi modem on the second floor of your house. I can show you how to do this when you get back.

   Thanks Bob......can I buy anything up here, or just deal with it when we return? Will we need another vonage unit for VOIP as well?

Thanks again, Jim W  

Vonage is VOIP. This problem will probably be resolved when we install the 2nd modem, as VOIP runs off DSL. Si or Nada?

Thanks again Bob, Feliz Navidad,

Jim n Deb

I have found that the Three Asus 9db external antennas do punch thru at least a 15 ft radius underneath my hub/router in the basement. It punches through two walls with 5 bars sideways. The Telmex unit wifi only shows two bars through two walls and  won't go to the basement at all. I would rather have to spend money on antenna rather than black boxes which don't always work. Used smart phone in basement for test. Laptop worked in all off basement with new antennas. It seems the smaller the wifi device the crappier the signal received and transmited so your mileage may vary.

Z

Jim W wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:Jim, the only solution, as outlined in that thread, is to "hard wire" another wifi modem on the second floor of your house. I can show you how to do this when you get back.

   Thanks Bob......can I buy anything up here, or just deal with it when we return?   Will we need another vonage unit for VOIP as well?

Thanks again,  Jim W  

Jim, how do you have your Vonage set up (Sorry I have never tested vonage)? If you can tell me how it is connected (cabled), I can tell you how to best set it up. As for routers, for convenience and functionality, I would recommend getting a Linksys NOB. Whatever you get be sure it has removable antennas. This way they can be upgraded if the need arises.

Tictoc, I just installed Vonage in Casa Grande, and eliminated my land line. Main reason ...Quest was charging 50 cents per minute for calls to Mexico, Vonage gives you 250 free minutes per month for calls to Mexico. We will bring our Vonage equipment to Lakeside in April.

I'm curious.  If those who have Verizon why not buy MIFI? I stick mine in my pocket when on the north 40. I even have unlimited data. I am sure I saw a thread saying V worked here. Was that just phone service and not Internet. Here I  have 4g, however depending on where I am going to it will go to 3g depending upon the location that V's services are in some places. You can't beat sticking 3 or 4g in your pocket in time of need.

Jim W wrote:Tictoc, I just installed Vonage in Casa Grande, and eliminated my land line.  Main reason ...Quest was charging 50 cents per minute for calls to Mexico, Vonage gives you 250 free minutes per month for calls to Mexico.   We will bring our Vonage equipment to Lakeside in April.    

Jim, as I said, I don't known how your Vonage equipment is wired. If you have a box that plugs into your Ethernet router and your phone plugs into that box as well, then all you need to do is wire the box into your existing phone wire (insted of just your phone) in your home and you can have all of your phone jacks working. If the Vonage is a wireless system then there may or may not be a solution for you.

I bought 5 Dlink powerline devices, cant get them to all synch but seems like an answer if they work.

Anybody know how to get them to work?

http://www.dlink.com/us/en/home-solutions/connect/powerline/dhp-500av-powerline-av-500-adapter

Intercasa wrote:I bought 5  Dlink powerline devices, cant get them to all synch but seems like an answer if they work.

Anybody know how to get them to work?

http://www.dlink.com/us/en/home-solutions/connect/powerline/dhp-500av-powerline-av-500-adapter

I think they all have to be on the same transformer as the signal will not go through a transformer but I doubt if this is the problem
as why would you be on two different transformers on one property.

Z