1 edit | Wireless signal booster I wanted to ask if the wireless signal boosters are bidirectional and what is their way of working. Meaning is there input side where you connect the wireless device and output side where you connect the antenna or it doesn't matter?
Maybe sounds crazy, but I was on a idea to use one like a range extender. I got a router with sector antenna 300m away and I want to use my laptop, but the signal is weak. What would happen if I setup a booster with 2 antennas, one pointed to the router and the other to my laptop or whole booster close to it? |
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2 edits | If by booster you mean a WDS repeater... as you probably do:
These receive then retransmit each data frame from or to a client. The transmission is directed to a particular w-router that you define (by inputting its MAC address during WDS setup of the repeater and the w-router, i.e., pairing them).
The number of antennas matters not. The range extender/booster/WDS device has but one radio transceiver and, per 802.11, it cannot transmit and receive simultaneously.
Improving the antenna at the client is a quick fix.
Did you consider using an access point (connected by cat5 wire) rather than a WDS repeater? Sometimes its impractical to run wire to get an access point (AP) closer to the weak signal area- say, put one in the attic. |
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2 edits | Not WDS repeater... I mean a real signal booster like this one... Just set up with a coax cable and directional antenna on the balcony pointed at the router and the other side with the booster and this antenna inside at home. Well I have a point that I still haven't realized yet... The point is that I want to setup a Radius server and the WDS repeaters have only WPA-PSK but not WPA-EAP encryption. If the booster is amplifying the 2.4GHz signals it probably does it for all the 2.4GHZ spectrum. I don't care if it amplifies the other channels too, since I will be connecting to the router's specific one and the antennas are directional, so the noise from other routers would be minimal. I just want to use it as a "shortener" of the distance.  |
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 SoonerAlOld enough to know betterPremium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
kudos:5 | reply to ackovski
I have used this Wi-Fire device out to a 1000' with good success to link up to an old Linksys WRT54G wireless router.
»www.hfield.com/
My middle stepson is using it in this scenario...
»Re: Need to boost my laptop so it can get signal.
--
"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows – Desktop User Experience |
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| reply to ackovski
I know about USB devices. My point was using the laptop without additional things, just open and surf. I was wondering if the wifi booster can simulate a dynamic amplifier with 2 directional antennas in the middle. |
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1 edit | reply to ackovski
that NP562 connects by coax to the w-router's antenna port. So it increases the transmitting power of the w-router. However, the constraint in WiFi is the transmitting power of the client devices. So this kind of booster has to have a "low noise" amplifier (LNA) for the receive direction in order to be of real benefit.
The booster must connect directly by coax to the wrouter - the reason is that this kind of booster has to toggle (switch) amplifying directions packet (frame) by frame. It has to sense the presence of transmitted power from the w-router in order to toggle. If not connected directly, it cannot assuredly toggle.
There are many such booster/amplifiers on the market. The issue is cost: the LNA adds a lot of noise and can have no-added-benefit value unless the noise figure (spec) is very good. An LNA with a great noise figure is costly to manufacture.
Don't be fooled into thinking that a booming strong signal FROM the w-router/booster will solve the weak signal problem TO the w-router.
A high gain antenna is always preferred - and there's no noise figure issue. |
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| reply to ackovski
That is what I was asking...
You think that the signal would be too weak to trigger on the booster? Well... that would be a problem!
I know it may be weaker signal, but I think it would be the same because it is bi-directional and the radio signals at the both sides should be the same. The problem would be the strength.
What if I keep the laptop close in the same room and the signal is strong? I will try this after the weekend and post.
No worries! I need strong signal TO the router, and I surely won't change anything at the router side. I'm not that "smart"! 
That is why I want this booster at the laptop side. |
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| reply to ackovski
One option is a powerline wireless range extender, like from Netgear. I used one of those for my boss because he could not hardly get a signal between basement office (DSL wireless/modem/router) and 1st floor of ranch home.
Ethernet module plugs in at one end. Wireless module can plug in anywhere you need a strong signal. I set it in bridge mode with same SSID and security settings, but different channel, so he can roam without having to change anything (all as one LAN without IP change). |
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1 edit | reply to ackovski
I know about range extenders, but I want to set up a Radius server with WPA-EAP encryption. As far as I know there is no range extender that supports WPA-EAP encryption.
I need strengthening of the signal without retransmission of the data. Just pure "get and boost" of the radio wave in analog way. |
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1 edit | reply to ackovski
those "boosters" like you've shown are known as
Bi-directional Amplifiers (BDAs).
They won't work unless directly connected by coax to a w-router or access point
HAVE you considered using a better antenna? |
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| I can't... it's all about a laptop computer that has internal antenna.
I would rather consider some electronic circuit that would trigger on the booster. |
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| disable the internal WiFi.
Buy and use a USB WiFi adapter, on a long USB cable.
Place that more optimally. |
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