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Best device to improve wireless internet connection for devices far away from router

Hi,

I am trying to help our local parish with their IT equipment.

They have a Windows 10 Pro laptop in one room beside where their router is located, an empty room beside that and a room beside the empty room which has a Windows 10 Pro PC and HP Multifunction printer in it.

All devices are connected to the internet wirelessly through the one router.

As the walls are quite thick, the PC and printer have a harder time connecting wirelessly to the router.

What would be the best device to put in the middle of these devices to connect them better wirelessly over the internet.

Thanks,
Robbie

masnrock

If you already have wiring to the areas of the building with weaker signal, you could install an AP there. Alternatively, you could use powerline networking devices to take the connection close to those areas of the building, then install an AP there. Another solution would be making use of MoCA (which would make use of the coaxial cable in the parish)

Worse case scenario, you may have to run cabling.

David Favor

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/29145328/802-11s-protocols.html covers a recent topic about 802.11s mesh networks.

https://www.amazon.com/Google-WiFi-system-3-Pack-replacement/dp/B01MAW2294 provides one solution. You can add additional repeater units to extend a mesh network.

Generally mesh networks tend to be a bit easier to get setup, than running long haul cable or Powerline Ethernet.

John

Powerline connections can work. Better (I think) to get a contractor to install Ethernet between the room with the router and the room with the equipment.

Once that is done, you can use wireless in the equipment room and possibly beyond. We installed Ethernet to most areas in our church and then added wireless to the remaining areas.

dbrunton

I'll second John's comment. Ethernet to the room with the equipment and then wireless there.

Or even possibly you can ethernet the MFP and the Windows 10 machine without using wireless.

IP4IT Staff

ASKER

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback.

What would you recommend as a good quality Access point?

Thanks,
Robbie

masnrock

General case, Ubiquiti is a good option. Great feature set at a reasonable cost.
When you have a deployment with the type of walls you're dealing with, Ruckus is a much better choice.

IP4IT Staff

ASKER

Hi,

There is no internal wiring in this building.

We are actually looking for something to boost the WiFi signal for the PC and printer device.

Is there any good quality devices that require no wiring and act as a WiFi booster or repeater as such?

Thanks,
Robbie

masnrock

Try the powerline solution first. That leverages the building's electrical wiring. The thick walls are going to be an issue with just about any wireless solution (including mesh), so cabling is actually the best option so that you can deploy access points.

John

A Wi-Fi Booster in the facility you describe will not likely work very well.

Try powerline as an experiment.

Otherwise run Ethernet (Contractor needed) and use access points like Ubiquiti

IP4IT Staff

ASKER

Hi,

Which powerline device would you recommend?

I am looking for one at cost of around €100 which is good quality.

Looking for one which just plugs in with no cables needed.

Thanks,
Robbie

John

Any high quality manufacturer with matching devices (one for each end) will do

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masnrock

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Scott Fell

I personally like the https://www.ui.com/unifi/unifi-ap/. However, i recently used Google mesh https://store.google.com/us/product/google_wifi_learn?hl=en-US and it was very easy to set up. It set up very fast just about on it's own and you can manage it from an app on your phone even when you are away. For the price, It is worth looking into. The price of 3 is the same as one Ubiquiti AP.