Re-broadcasting Wifi - Advice required please - Moved from Lounge.

[chasroberts]

In summer during the day I can connect reasonably well to my office wifi signal about 100mts away. This is broadcast using a standard, I believe, Belkin wifi. When the office closes, though, they have metal window shutters which effectively block the signal when I need it most - evenings.

My idea is to fix some sort of re-broadcasting system to the outside of the office, fed from inside, in order to receive the signal when the office is closed and a good external aerial/booster for the boat. Any advice on what sort of kit I need would be greatly appreciated.

As always, my thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Chas

 

[Twister_Ken]

Do a search for wifi extenders. Not sure you'd find one that's weatherproof, though.

 

[JumbleDuck]

My idea is to fix some sort of re-broadcasting system to the outside of the office, fed from inside, in order to receive the signal when the office is closed and a good external aerial/booster for the boat. Any advice on what sort of kit I need would be greatly appreciated.

One possibility, as Twister Ken suggests, is to use a wifi range extender. That's basically a device which connects to one wireless network and then offers connections on a another related one.

Another idea might be to use a wifi access point, which is more or less the same but connects to the existing network via a wired connection rather than a wireless one. That might be better if you have access to a live ethernet port inside the building, since you'll need to get power outside anyway.

Often the same devices will work both ways - here's one like that from Maplin, for thirty quid: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/maplin-300mbps-universal-wi-fi-range-extender-a24lf

One final idea. You might be able to put the whatever-it-is inside the building and use a remote aerial at the end of some coax outside.

 

[PetiteFleur]

I have a wifi extender in the house which works well for the extension but won't reach the barn which is only 25 metres from the house which is a pita for my wife who uses it as studio. It certainly won't do the claimed 100metres!