Extend WiFi Range at the Laptop?

[clarkflower]

I share wireless with the girl next door off her router and we split the cost.

I am moving downstairs and across the small courtyard. My laptop works down there until I shut the door.

Is there/can anyone recommend an antenna that will plug into my laptop that may help?
Is there one with a wire that I could put through the wall only drilling a tiny hole?

Thanks

 

[Andy636]

Buy another wireless router and set it as a repeater at your place.

Nothing can be done with the laptop unless you are willing to accept a ghetto setup.

 

[tmorris1]

That is about the only option.

 

[clarkflower]

Thanks. I saw this on ebay and wondered if it would do anything.600 Mbps Dual Band 2.4/5Ghz Wireless USB WiFi Network Adapter w/Antenna 802.11AC https://www.ebay.com/itm/600-Mbps-Dual-B...C-/401149799068

 

[JMJNet]

Originally Posted By: clarkflower
Thanks. I saw this on ebay and wondered if it would do anything.600 Mbps Dual Band 2.4/5Ghz Wireless USB WiFi Network Adapter w/Antenna 802.11AC https://www.ebay.com/itm/600-Mbps-Dual-B...C-/401149799068


You can try and see if it works.

There is no way we would know because of the different conditions like wall, etc.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: clarkflower
Thanks. I saw this on ebay and wondered if it would do anything.600 Mbps Dual Band 2.4/5Ghz Wireless USB WiFi Network Adapter w/Antenna 802.11AC https://www.ebay.com/itm/600-Mbps-Dual-B...C-/401149799068


The odds of that working are next to zero. The screen on your laptop is the antenna, which is generally "as good as it gets" for WiFi reception. Your best bet is to wire in an access point closer to where you reside, if possible, and connect to that.

 

[Andy636]

Originally Posted By: clarkflower
Thanks. I saw this on ebay and wondered if it would do anything.600 Mbps Dual Band 2.4/5Ghz Wireless USB WiFi Network Adapter w/Antenna 802.11AC https://www.ebay.com/itm/600-Mbps-Dual-B...C-/401149799068

Don't kid yourself with that dongle, for the same price you can get a preowned Linksys WRT54GL.

This babies are still rocking after 10 years...they are bullet proof

 

[ENGINEER60]

All you need is a Alfa 1 watt usb network adapter.
The included antenna will likely work well enough if placed in a window or you can buy a small panel antenna and get longer distances.
I used one for years to get wifi from a mile away

 

[clarkflower]

Thanks
Is it one of these?
https://www.amazon.com/Alfa-AWUSO36NH-Wireless-Long-Rang-Network/dp/B0035APGP6
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alfa-AWUS036NEH-802-11n-WIRELESS-N-USB-adapter-1w-Wi-Fi-/130453985803

 

[Andrew1972]

Relocate the router in her apartment if possible closer to yours. Everything else proposed not going to work as laptops have strong antennas.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: madRiver
Relocate the router in her apartment if possible closer to yours. Everything else proposed not going to work as laptops have strong antennas.


See my suggestion above.

 

[clarkflower]

She has it by the door. I'm gonna try this... https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alfa-AWUS036NH-5-dBi-OMNI-7-dBi-DIRECTIONAL-Antenna-Long-Range-Wi-Fi-Adapter/183273097449?epid=141414348&hash=item2aabed88e9:g:6M0AAOSwqDhbIcW1#rwid

 

[PandaBear]

Repeater with a parabola dish as a reflector. Also buy the strongest dB wifi router / repeater you can get.

 

[eljefino]

Good reception is better than strong reception, as that brings interference. Get a utility like netstumbler so you can find the best location for your laptop. This would also be the best place for your bridge, repeater, or laptop set up as a proxy server. Stuff like foil insulation in the walls or temperature treated windows cut RF.

 

[mk378]

This is probably more than you need. But I would recommend a directional antenna since you know where the signal is coming from. An omni antenna will pick up signals from the neighbors beside and behind you, which is just noise and will reduce your speed. Smaller parabolics are made. The 24 dB here is more than 3 feet wide, though it can of course be used indoors if you have space.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TP-Link-2-4GHz-24dBi-Directional-Grid-Parabolic-Antenna-TL-ANT2424B-NEW-IN-BOX/263700248676?hash=item3d65c27864:g:-9kAAOSw0LhbAMZG

I have a couple of these. They definitely have better RF performance than the typical laptop. Also (with some persuasion) the V3 can run OpenWrt, which opens up a lot of options.
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-N300-Wi-F...&dpSrc=srch

 

[pkunk]

If your new location shares the same electric service, this should do the trick . It works perfectly for me from my house to my shop, but you'll need another router for wifi or just plug into the slave.
https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Powerlin...-406E&psc=1

 

[ENGINEER60]

Yep, that be the one

 

[clarkflower]

Thanks!! I spoke to a guy at Roland’s who sells it and he said the one you recommended was very good but as wanted to have my computer 10 feet from the antenna, he thought this with a 15 foot cable attached might be a bit stronger and more cost-effective option for what I wanted to do. It works on the closet shelf “looking” at her apartment..

Thanks for getting me there
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Super-Long-Range-...er=1&_rdt=1