leighh

Q: What is a good WiFi Booster?

My wife and I do a lot of traveling in a travel trailer. Most RV Parks offer free WiFi connections but the signals are too weak. We are interested in buying a WiFi booster to use with my MacBook Pro (late 2009) and my iPad 2.

 

Dose any one have experience with WiFi boosters and can offer some suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance for your help and support.

 

Leighh

Posted on Feb 15, 2012 6:39 PM

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Q: What is a good WiFi Booster?

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  • by ds store,Helpful

    ds store ds store Feb 15, 2012 7:34 PM in response to leighh
    Level 7 (30,400 points)
    Feb 15, 2012 7:34 PM in response to leighh
  • by leighh,

    leighh leighh Feb 15, 2012 9:21 PM in response to ds store
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 15, 2012 9:21 PM in response to ds store

    ds store,

     

    I am not sure this is what I need. I need to receive a stronger wifi connection in a campground or rv park that will increase the free wifi signal connection so I can log onto their wifi network.

     

    Thanks for your response.

  • by X423424X,Helpful

    X423424X X423424X Feb 15, 2012 9:36 PM in response to leighh
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Feb 15, 2012 9:36 PM in response to leighh

    Take a look at the Hawking site.  They make a lot of wifi-related devices that may suite your needs.

     

    Some other possible sites to look around on.

     

    LinkSys (Cisco)

    NetGear

  • by Courcoul,

    Courcoul Feb 16, 2012 12:24 AM in response to leighh
    Level 6 (14,193 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 12:24 AM in response to leighh

    The reach of the WiFi coverage on an unaltered MBP is limited by transmitter power and the internal antennas. Something which isn't helped by the fact that the case is metallic. Your best bet would be taking the whole WiFi infrastructure out of the computer by using an external USB WiFi transceiver like those suggested from Linksys/Cisco or NetGear. They will come with an optimized antenna and can be better placed for improved reception without getting you in a cramp.

  • by wjosten,

    wjosten wjosten Feb 16, 2012 1:26 AM in response to leighh
    Level 10 (94,634 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 16, 2012 1:26 AM in response to leighh

    Actually, your best bet is to get an Airport Express, and "Extend" the network. Read more here:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259

  • by leighh,

    leighh leighh Feb 16, 2012 7:33 AM in response to leighh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 7:33 AM in response to leighh

    Thanks for all of your responses.

     

    While in my travel trailer at an RV Park sometimes I am not able to connect to the RV Park's WiFi connection.

     

    I am looking for a way to boost the RV Park's signal so I can pick it up from inside by travel trailer and connect to my MacBook Pro (late 2009) and on my iPad 2.

  • by sig,

    sig sig Feb 16, 2012 10:18 AM in response to leighh
    Level 8 (35,798 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 16, 2012 10:18 AM in response to leighh

    "While in my travel trailer at an RV Park sometimes I am not able to connect to the RV Park's WiFi connection."

     

    Then you can't boost their signal. You can try to increase the MBP's receptivity as X423424X suggested.

  • by X423424X,

    X423424X X423424X Feb 16, 2012 10:26 AM in response to leighh
    Level 6 (14,237 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 10:26 AM in response to leighh

    So you need an external antenna and there were suggestions above on where to start looking.

  • by ds store,Solvedanswer

    ds store ds store Feb 16, 2012 10:54 AM in response to leighh
    Level 7 (30,400 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 10:54 AM in response to leighh

    leighh wrote:

     

    I am not sure this is what I need. I need to receive a stronger wifi connection in a campground or rv park that will increase the free wifi signal connection so I can log onto their wifi network.

     

     

    Wifi can only travel so far and then it starts tapering off in signal strength and other factors of interference, metal structures, the environment etc. start reducing your signal.

     

    You can get better reception in some cases with extra devices on your end, but the real cure is and or all of:

     

    1: move your computer closer to the source of the signal

     

    2: extend the signal source so it's closer to you (OpenMesh)

     

    3: boost the source power to extend it's range (Wifi booster)

     

    4: reduce interference (outside attenna)

     

     

    Basically your at the mercy of the trailer park. Some can't handle a lot of people on the network at the same time, so they only allow wifi access at the main station to reduce the users.

     

    Now it's good if your at a top of the line park with powerful fast connections and Openmesh strung through the park giving a awesome signal that you can watch Netflix 24/7, but that's unlikely traveling.

     

    Your likely going to get dial up like speeds at the main station in rutal locations.

     

     

    If you really want something better, you need to get a laptop connect USB from your local cell phone carrier, then you can get the Internet just about anywhere.

     

    See this video

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X0wo6dIsMU

  • by leighh,

    leighh leighh Feb 16, 2012 6:30 PM in response to leighh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 16, 2012 6:30 PM in response to leighh

    Many thanks for all of your responses. I have lots of information from your comments.

     

    Thanks again!

  • by appleadvice,

    appleadvice appleadvice Apr 23, 2012 2:31 PM in response to leighh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2012 2:31 PM in response to leighh

    Hey lieghh you could try this.  It attaches to you mac via usb so you can carry it with you anywhere.  It extends the wifi signal up to 5 times, so you will get a much better signal and may even pick up more networks.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Apr 23, 2012 2:51 PM in response to Courcoul
    Level 9 (51,412 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 23, 2012 2:51 PM in response to Courcoul

    Courcoul wrote:

     

    The reach of the WiFi coverage on an unaltered MBP is limited by transmitter power

    Transmitter power is the same with all RF Routers, because the FCC regulates it, the receiving antennas, the distance from the source and the terrain (open field versus crowded office spaces) make the difference.

     

    You can not legally transmit more than 1w (in the USA) so the area to look at for improved reception is .......

     

    Location-Location-Location.

  • by leighh,

    leighh leighh Apr 23, 2012 5:59 PM in response to appleadvice
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2012 5:59 PM in response to appleadvice

    Yep! This looks like what I need. Many Thanks!!!

  • by leighh,

    leighh leighh Apr 23, 2012 6:01 PM in response to X423424X
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2012 6:01 PM in response to X423424X

    Thanks! I will look into the suggestions.

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