Making wi-fi from router stretch a bit further

Murmansk

My friend has her broadband router in the centre of her flat and needs the wi-fi from it to stretch a bit further as she occasionally has trouble with her connection to the TV.

In the first instance it needs to be simple so no mesh networks etc and I'm wondering if simply raising the router by a foot or so is worth a try - and is having the cordless phone base near the router likely to not be helping?

victor2

Often the ISP supplied router has pretty poor WiFi. You could try buying a new router and connecting it by cable to the existing hub, switching off the current WiFi and using the new router's WiFi instead. No need for Mesh, just a better router. I did that with my Virgin hub and an Asus router - it transformed my WiFi to reach places Virgin couldn't!

If you buy from somewhere like Amazon, you can return it FOC (if you unpack carefully!) if it doesn't do the job, and get a full refund.

flaneurs_lobster

Getting the router higher than the soft furnishings might well help. Doubt if there is any direct interference between a cordless phone base and the router but moving it away from any electrical equipment can help.

J_B

Maybe install InSSider (from meta geek) as it analyses your WiFi and may recommend a different 'channels' perhaps

Neil49

A cheap and cheerful option is to use an aluminum foil tray angled appropriately to reflect the signal towards the tv. 

Rodders53

Ethernet cables from router to non-portable devices is the best way.  Powerline adapters can work for some (esp. if on the same ring main).

brewerdave

Got my main TV/Sky box attached to router via a pair of cheap TP-Link powerline adapters, the ones with a 3 pin pass through so that I don't waste a power socket; think they were ~ £33 from Amazon a couple of years ago.

Murmansk

Thanks everyone for those replies - I especially like the idea of a foil tray acting as a reflector - not sure she'd fancy that

alanwsg

Murmansk said:

Thanks everyone for those replies - I especially like the idea of a foil tray acting as a reflector - not sure she'd fancy that

You can make your own with tin foil, I've actually done this and it really does work.
Here's some instructions...
https://freeantennas.com/projects/template2/

victor2

Murmansk said:

Thanks everyone for those replies - I especially like the idea of a foil tray acting as a reflector - not sure she'd fancy that

I tried it and it made absolutely no difference, but maybe I was doing it wrong!

debitcardmayhem

victor2 said:

Murmansk said:

Thanks everyone for those replies - I especially like the idea of a foil tray acting as a reflector - not sure she'd fancy that

I tried it and it made absolutely no difference, but maybe I was doing it wrong!

Did you take the turkey out first ? 🍗