Wifi repeater for hotspot

RandomQ

Hi

There is a wifi hotspot nearby where I work, when I go to one end of office I can log into it but further in I am just too far and can only get 1 bar.

I was wondering if there is a way I can just pass on and repeat the same signal if I put a repeater in, but with no admin to the people that are sending it?

Essentially I just want it to connect via wifi and repeat the signal.

Is this possible?

What device and model would you recommend.

Cheap is good!

Cheers

System

Wifi extender is what you want. TP Link are as good as any.

Gloomendoom

Have you tried a high gain wifi adapter?

I've had good results with one of these...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-WN822N-Wireless-Adapter-Version/dp/B00416Q5KI

and one of these...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-WN722N-Mbps-Wireless-Adapter/dp/B002SZEOLG/ref=pd_sim_147_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=F5FF9Z7JPFE4YBY8QJTP

were

Tarambor wrote: »

Wifi extender is what you want. TP Link are as good as any.

Are you sure an extender will work? Wont you either need to use wps, or need the router wpa key, otherwise it will not connect?

System

were wrote: »

Are you sure an extender will work? Wont you either need to use wps, or need the router wpa key, otherwise it will not connect?

If it supports repeater mode it literally just re-transmits the signals it picks up. It doesn't try to do any connection to the router you're trying to access, it just rebroadcasts its signal then re-broadcasts your laptops response. You need the MAC address of the access point you're repeating, mostly because of the way wifi security works, but that's trivial to get. Hell on my Mac connected to the wifi network I want to I just hold the Alt key down, click on the wifi icon in the system tray and it'll tell me the MAC address of the wifi connection I'm connected to.

RandomQ

So are you saying that I need a REPEATER?

My concern is that some sort of login is required

The networks we want to repeat are O2 and Fon

Gloomendoom

RandomQ wrote: »

So are you saying that I need a REPEATER?

My concern is that some sort of login is required

The networks we want to repeat are O2 and Fon

Why don't you try the solution I suggested?

Or is it too easy?

were

Think you need a special type of Repeater, hopefully Tarambor will come back to you with a make and model. Personally would try a wifi adapter with a larger antenna as already recommended. Unless you have a nu-mimo repeater (or similar multichannel), you will loose 50% of the bandwidth, as the router can't talk and listen at the same time.

Another way that should work, would be to set up a PC there by the window and then put on a second wifi (or nic) as an exit point and use proxy software like Analogx. This will easier to log in with multiple ssid. The pc will log on to the network and share the connection (just dont close the hotspot main login page) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMJ8IYm3qnc

Here is how to set up a TP link. Step 2 is to change the admin p/w, but it does say "Set the PSK Password to match with the Root AP."
https://www.sysnative.com/forums/networking-tutorials/5440-how-setup-wireless-repeater.html
Another tp link where you have to give the wpa key https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGjCJhGaxy0

RandomQ

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Why don't you try the solution I suggested?

Or is it too easy?

Yes it was easy and obvious, we already tried that on one device; sadly it did not work it was a waste of money.

What we want to do is repeat the signal so that several computers can use it for public wifi via their existing wifi adapters, they are all at least Wireless N or AC.

I have seen devices that will rebroadcast and existing secured network, some form a wireless bridge and retransmit using a different SSID, but ideally we would simply retransmit the existing O2 and Fon public wifi. We do not want to have to login.

Thanks for your help.

RandomQ

were wrote: »

Think you need a special type of Repeater, hopefully Tarambor will come back to you with a make and model. Personally would try a wifi adapter with a larger antenna as already recommended. Unless you have a nu-mimo repeater (or similar multichannel), you will loose 50% of the bandwidth, as the router can't talk and listen at the same time.

Another way that should work, would be to set up a PC there by the window and then put on a second wifi (or nic) as an exit point and use proxy software like Analogx. This will easier to log in with multiple ssid. The pc will log on to the network and share the connection (just dont close the hotspot main login page) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMJ8IYm3qnc

Here is how to set up a TP link. Step 2 is to change the admin p/w, but it does say "Set the PSK Password to match with the Root AP."
https://www.sysnative.com/forums/networking-tutorials/5440-how-setup-wireless-repeater.html
Another tp link where you have to give the wpa key https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGjCJhGaxy0

Thanks Were

The sysnative looks hopeful with the TP link they use, I am just hoping to find someone who has actually tried this and got it working so I do not waste money on something that does not work.
.
If anyone has one of these and is willing to try it I would be grateful.

I have one router that can be a wireless bridge but as far as I can see it requires security, the TP link at least has the option of no security, which is a start.

Gloomendoom

I have a system that will pick up a Fon signal from well over a mile away. Perhaps a bit OTT for the OP's needs though, and not wireless N or AC. It uses one of these...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002EIF2OK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Feeding one of these...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002XKFIEI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That in turn feeds a TP-Link mini travel router (it could be any router).