Best Wi Fi extender

[riverliver]

Hi All

I've seen various threads on this but not exactly on my issue.

My boat is moored very close to the house. The house Wi fi signal extends the length of the garden but to reach the boat its about 3 metres short. So if I plug in a Wi Fi extender will that boost the signal the necessary distance?

I am thinking of having monitors/switches on the boat which can be monitored on Wi Fi from the house without having batteries on the boat switched on or other power that end. Hopefully that makes sense.

So in my simple thinking an extender plugged in to the nearest house socket to the boat boosts the house signal (standard domestic Sky broadband) the necessary distance.

If this makes sense what would be the recommended (cheapest) solution?


cheers

 

[Refueler]

Do you have mains power to the boat ?

I have extenders set up for my large grounds - two types.

First uses the mains electric cabling - as long as its on same 'phase' line .... basically the router has cable from it plugged into a base unit - which is plugged into a wall socket. A pickup unit is then plugged into any socket on that same phase anywhere you need ... that unit then becomes a wi-fi connection point. With this - if your power to boat is on same line as the unit connected to router - the distance is of no consequence..... you would plug in second unit on the boat ... I use TP-Link AV600 system ... but I am sure a newer model is out now.

My second is line of sight by wireless connection. Because my garage / workshop is on a different breaker / phase line - I have a pick-up unit which connects to wifi either by cable to router or same as your PC wirelessly. It then radiates via line of sight a signal to be picked up by a second unit which then radiates out as a wi-fi connection point.
There are many models out there for this ... but they rely on clean line of sight.

Here's a short selection :

https://www.top10wifiboosters.com/l...ygeO-kJA_Hc1xQeBXDteixWDoAZ6kXMMaAouUEALw_wcB

And here's a short on the two techs :

WiFi Extenders vs Powerline Adapters: Which is the Best for You? - Practically Networked

I picked TP-Link system because you can add further units to cover difficult situations .... with mine I can have i main + 7 pickup units ... this can bridge different mains cables if needed by having two units - one in each cable system - but units connected by ethernet cable ....

How to add an extra powerline adapter to the existing powerline network with pair button | TP-Link

 

[wonkywinch]

I use a TP Link Outdoor WAP - EAP110. I feed it directly from my router/switch and inject the power with the supplied adaptor, only one (CAT5 network) cable to run from the router location to the outside wall. Squirts wifi down to the end of my garden with ease. As I live in a Celotex box, not much RF escapes outside from the indoor WAPs.

300Mbps Wireless N Outdoor Access Point

 

[KevinV]

I use a TP Link Outdoor WAP - EAP110. I feed it directly from my router/switch and inject the power with the supplied adaptor, only one (CAT5 network) cable to run from the router location to the outside wall. Squirts wifi down to the end of my garden with ease. As I live in a Celotex box, not much RF escapes outside from the indoor WAPs.

300Mbps Wireless N Outdoor Access Point

Same idea here with a more involved network, but I use Ubiqiti bits.

Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M UniFi Mesh Outdoor WiFi 5 PoE Access Point (1.2Gbps AC)

 

[alan_d]

I don't know if anyone else has had this problem, but our home TP-link mains-carried extender system stopped working properly when we exchanged the MCBs in the consumer unit for RCBOs (because of nuisance RCD trips). I assumed that this was because the signal was escaping to earth somehow. We now have a mesh system which works well.

Glossary for the uninitiated:
TP-link - proprietary name for a system which distributes the WiFi signal via the mains power circuits.
MCB - miniature circuit breaker
RCBO - residual current breaker with over-current protection
RCD - residual current device
Mesh - a group of two or more wirelessly-connected WiFi transmitters which work together to cover an extended area.

 

[wonkywinch]

Glossary for the uninitiated:
TP-link - proprietary name for a system which distributes the WiFi signal via the mains power circuits.

A minor correction, TP Link are a manufacturer of network products but not a proprietory name in the same way "Hoover" is for a vacuum cleaner. The product that connects via mains cabling is called a "powerline adaptor".

 

[riverliver]

Many thanks for the posts esp. RF with the v. helpful articles.
No power on the boat apart from (planned) battery powered wi fi switches/monitors.
I like WW's solution but the electrical point is too exposed to light fingered passersby but I have tucked that away for the rear garden as a great solution.

I have TP adapters in the house but they connect to TV and alarm via cable so I wasn't sure if they worked for my need - extending the house Wi Fi by 3M or so.
However seems a Wi Fi extender is the way to go.

Thanks again for your help

 

[riverliver]

PS

when searching I came across a cheap solution called Ultraxtend but the reviews were terrible so caveat emptor

 

[Refueler]

A minor correction, TP Link are a manufacturer of network products but not a proprietory name in the same way "Hoover" is for a vacuum cleaner. The product that connects via mains cabling is called a "powerline adaptor".

They also produce Wireless Extenders ..... such as the AC750 I have broadcasting from my house to my workshop (which is on a different mains circuit and Powerline does not bridge).

 

[Refueler]

Many thanks for the posts esp. RF with the v. helpful articles.
No power on the boat apart from (planned) battery powered wi fi switches/monitors.
I like WW's solution but the electrical point is too exposed to light fingered passersby but I have tucked that away for the rear garden as a great solution.

I have TP adapters in the house but they connect to TV and alarm via cable so I wasn't sure if they worked for my need - extending the house Wi Fi by 3M or so.
However seems a Wi Fi extender is the way to go.

Thanks again for your help

There may be a 12v or battery powered unit out there ... power demand cannot be high ...