Avatar of sunhux
sunhux
 asked on

Wifi range extender for iPad & Android phones

Currently in my home, due to a thick concrete wall, the corner when my bed
& reading desk is located can't reach the broadband Wifi even if I connect
a Vonets VAR11N repeater below to the Telco's Wifi router:
  https://www.amazon.com/VAR11N-300-Multi-Functional-Wireless-Portable-Repeater/dp/B01199OGK0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1537179880&sr=1-1&keywords=Vonets+VAR11N&dpID=41v4vdqpDGL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I then used a USB Wifi dongle plus a 6m USB extender cable to connect to
my laptop with dongle bypassing the thick concrete wall (with direct line-of
-sight to the router) & could now consistently get the Wifi signal:
  https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-RangeMax-Wireless-N-Adapter-WNDA3100/dp/B004ZY7THY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1537179557&sr=8-7&keywords=netgear+rangemax

Q1:
However, for my iPad & my Android phone (which sometimes I read on the
bed), is there something equivalent to the Netgear dongle that I could use
with a USB extender cable?  Ideally one solution for both iPad & Android
instead having to buy separate solutions.

Q2:
I ever seen a metal sticker which claims that once pasted onto the phone
will enhance the range of mobile phones' but lost that article : does this
work & can share an eBay/Amazon link to purchase?
iOSiPadWireless NetworkingAndroid

Avatar of undefined
Last Comment
masnrock

8/22/2022 - Mon
John

I then used …..  a 6m USB extender cable to connect to....  my laptop with dongle bypassing the thick concrete wall

Is this an Ethernet cable to your Wi-Fi router?  

You can put a Ubiquiti UAP-AC-Lite Dual Radio Access point at the end of the cable. It comes with a POE device (or may come separately now) that goes at your Wi-Fi router and allows the Ubiquiti device to service the areas beyond the concrete wall.

I have one here and it works great. Gives me W-Fi on the second floor of my home.
sunhux

ASKER
It's not an ethernet/LAN cable, just a usb female to male cable.  Distance from my bed to the wifi router is 20m.   Ubiquity solution is quite costly
sunhux

ASKER
My wifi router has LAN RJ45 ports.  Perhaps I can run a LAN cable to my room with device below connected?
A bit messy

https://www.amazon.com/Extender-Wireless-Repeater-Security-Supporting/dp/B079DP33R8/ref=sr_1_29?ie=UTF8&qid=1537188185&sr=8-29&keywords=android+wifi+extender
All of life is about relationships, and EE has made a viirtual community a real community. It lifts everyone's boat
William Peck
John

If you can get the LAN cable to your room, that is half the battle.

Ubiquiti Access Points are the same / less expensive as wireless routers.
sunhux

ASKER
Think ubiq costs USD30 n above?

Well if I run a LAN cable to the room, my original Vonets solution we'd have worked n costs less than Meross or Ubiq devices
John

You can use your original solution. I like the access points because they allow any device to work. But if your solution above suffices for you, then use it.

Certainly running a LAN cable facilitates solutions.
⚡ FREE TRIAL OFFER
Try out a week of full access for free.
Find out why thousands trust the EE community with their toughest problems.
sunhux

ASKER
My wifi router has been there almost 5 yrs.  comes bundled w my Telco's broadband
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
masnrock

THIS SOLUTION ONLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
View this solution by signing up for a free trial.
Members can start a 7-Day free trial and enjoy unlimited access to the platform.
See Pricing Options
Start Free Trial
GET A PERSONALIZED SOLUTION
Ask your own question & get feedback from real experts
Find out why thousands trust the EE community with their toughest problems.
sunhux

ASKER
Guess HomePlug is to connect network via power lines:
how do I verify if it works in my country Singapore prior to purchasing it?

It sounds neat : there's a power point next to my bed as well as next to
the Wifi router
John

You should go to the vendor website and ask that question. Seems unlikely someone from Singapore would be an EE member with that device.
Your help has saved me hundreds of hours of internet surfing.
fblack61
sunhux

ASKER
https://www.lazada.sg/products/aztech-homeplug-av-500mbps-ethernet-adapter-hl117e-i227141952-s347117729.html?spm=a2o42.searchlist.list.2.e902c763SLrFDg&search=1

The above uses UK plug: seems likely it could be used.  Do we get a pair (ie 2pcs) of it
ie 1 pc at the wifi router & another 1 pc at the user end?
masnrock

HomePlug is a standard, not a device. There are a lot of HomePlug-certified devices out there.

Here's a link that may help you find and identify products available in Singapore: http://www.homeplug.org/products/products/

Do we get a pair (ie 2pcs) of it
ie 1 pc at the wifi router & another 1 pc at the user end?
That is correct. Some makers have kits that come with the pair.
sunhux

ASKER
I keyed in Aztech into link below as well as one of Aztech's product but nothing is returned:
http://www.homeplug.org/products/products/


https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/internet-bandwidth-networking-clinic-4/need-advise-homeplug-powerline-ethernet-5629485.html
Link above has a discussion in my home country in 2017: if I can get 50Mbits/sec, I'm
happy as I'm not using it to play games;  possibly some youtube videos (which is streamed
so it won't get laggy) on the iPad.

Above link recommends AV2: is this essential for watching youtube?
⚡ FREE TRIAL OFFER
Try out a week of full access for free.
Find out why thousands trust the EE community with their toughest problems.
John

I don't think it is essential, but if the price is OK, get the higher speed unit.  You will be happier over time.
masnrock

Above link recommends AV2: is this essential for watching youtube?
Honestly, probably not. However, when I decided to make use of it, I went ahead and ordered an AV2 kit because I just didn't want to take chances, and also be able to keep using it in the long run (bought a Netgear kit for a relative who likes to watch things on Youtube and Netflix).