WiFi range extender. Am I wasting my time?

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Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

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Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
I was in a big box electronics store today, had to have a new router, plus I'm like a kid in the candy store there. So next to the routers are the range extenders for larger home use more or less, and so being the thinking man that I am, I grabbed one. Yes literally, I stole it. But the associate that I was questioning about it, when I explained that my boats orientation from the marina, (about 400 feet), and I get a very poor signal on my laptop, I kind of lost him there I think. Bearing in mind that the computer is about water level, I understand this perfectly. So I got the Netgear WN2000RPT model and intend to mount it somewhere high like near the top of the compression post. So did I just waste 70 dollars? (No, I didn't REALLY steal it). I haven't even taken it out of the box yet, I think I just like pi****g away money I guess..
But would it help my signal on the boat you think? I do know it is not one of those hot-rod models I've been hearing about that will transmit for miles, and would frankly have little use for one. I just want my computer to work on the boat while docked. Shoot, I can lift it up physically about two feet and it will work. But not on the table..

Did ANY of that make sense?
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
well, I'm thinking that it should work fine if you place it high enough.
I would have tried a 1'x1' piece of aluminum flashing acting like a mirror. Hang it over the laptop at a 45 degree angle aimed at the on-shore transmitter to reflect the signal down onto the laptop. Might prevent a tangle of wires to power the thing.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
I bought

An antenna, and supposedly a booster thingy. Being basically computer illiterate, what do I know. I put the little antenna on top of the coachroof, and plugged the gizmo up. Absolutely no difference.
 
C

Craerz

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Jun 2, 2013
6
Beneteau Idylle 11.50 Houston
I have been trying to solve the same problem (ie lack of wifi on the boat). In my case the kids ipods and ipad don't have a strong enough transmitter to reach the wifi tower in the marina.

Although I haven't pulled the trigger (I have a tough time spending money -I shouldn't have a boat!) I think the best solution is this Securifi wifi repeater/extender/router that sells on Amazon for $90. I am hopeful it will help transmission both directions AND if I ever get wifi enabled chartplotters and stuff, I can use the router option too.

Beyond that, it seems like highly rated extender/repeaters can be had for ~$40 (in case you're a frugal boat owner -is that an oxymoron?)
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,173
CC 30 South Florida
A Home 400' x 400' would equal a castle of 160,000 square feet. I don't think those extenders are designed for that size homes. I get the same attention span from the associates at Home Depot when I'm trying to adapt something for use in the boat that was designed and intended for a home. Check the specs, I think by larger homes they probably mean around 8,000 sq ft or a range of approximately 90 ft. If you have not opened the box I would suggest you return the item for a refund. If the unit can only transmit 90 ft it will not reach a wifi tower 400 ft away.
 
kenn

kenn

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Apr 18, 2009
1,271
CL Sandpiper 565 Toronto
Craerz said:
I have been trying to solve the same problem (ie lack of wifi on the boat). In my case the kids ipods and ipad don't have a strong enough transmitter to reach the wifi tower in the marina.

Although I haven't pulled the trigger (I have a tough time spending money -I shouldn't have a boat!) I think the best solution is this Securifi wifi repeater/extender/router that sells on Amazon for $90. I am hopeful it will help transmission both directions AND if I ever get wifi enabled chartplotters and stuff, I can use the router option too.

Beyond that, it seems like highly rated extender/repeaters can be had for ~$40 (in case you're a frugal boat owner -is that an oxymoron?)
Click to expand
That Securifi Almond thing looks cool, and so does the Netgear WN2000RPT, but neither will solve the primary problem you both have - pulling in a weak signal from a distant hotspot. For that you still need something that will mount outside to grab that weak signal.

The most popular unit I know of is the Ubiquiti Bullet and family. You can buy them from a number of places, but they are a pain for the average person to configure. Companies like Island Time and Bitstorm have taken Ubiquiti radios, made changes to their firmware, and packaged them for the average boater. They cost more, but they're a breeze to install and configure.
 
tricyclerob

tricyclerob

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Sep 17, 2012
74
Oday Mariner Middle River Md
I use one to get a signal from the house to my workshop. I think it was about $35 [at the time] and it works pretty well covering a distance of about 250'. I never tried it to see if it would work over a longer distance.
I do sometimes lose the signal in heavy rain, but usually just have to re-identify and it works again. I've used the same one for at least 5 years with no issues.
robj
 
Brian D

Brian D

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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Give it a try it might work. However, just a little theory on RF.

The farther you get away from the source the lower the amplitude of the signal. There is what we call a noise floor. That floor is the reference point for signal to noise ratio, or how big the signal is to the noise. Close to the source, the signal is large and the farther you get, the lower the signal becomes until it is in the noise and unusable.

If you add an "extender" you are extending both the signal and its noise, therefore adding to the already noise. So you might not be gaining anything except a higher noise level with the same low signal to noise ratio.

I believe in order for these things to be effective, they must be a certain distance from the source to ensure one has a good signal to noise to begin with. Then, it will boost that signal and its noise but still maintain a usable signal to noise.

Confusing, isn't it?

Now if you really want to get the wifi signal, get a directional antenna, or build one. Point it at the source and you may in fact increase your reception and transmission. I have seen many plans for wifi antennas using coffee cans and wifi external USB transceivers. Just google "wifi diy booster antenna" or words to that effect.
 
JoeWhite

JoeWhite

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Mar 6, 2008
1,341
Catalina 1999 C36 MKII #1787 Coyote Point Marina, CA.
Here is the one that I am using. You plug in to a USB port. I have tested and yes it increases the signal level for both receiving and transmitting.
Purchased from Fry,s electronics - I think it was about $ 50.00
www.ampedwireless.com
888 573-8830
Model UA600
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Chris, as you might imagine (and we know you imagine a LOT :)), this has been asked and answered so many times, but I guess you might have missed it. Chuck's Beach House posts here a lot and has a great discussion on his website, sorry I don't have the link, but he'll check in soon on this topic. www.panbo.com is also a great resource for this type of gear. Also: http://www.wavewifi.com/index.html
 
All U Get

All U Get

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Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Hi Chris,

I used this one as we traveled from Maine to Charleston last winter and got free WiFi at nearly all stops. There are a few that want a sign-in fee, like Annapolis, that we opted not to use. TP-Link TL-WN722N Wireless USB
Walmart and Amazon has them for less than $20.

All U Get
 
caguy

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
I don't know if it would solve your problem but in Catalina 2 Harbors when there last month I was able to pick up the restaurants wifi signal. It was weak but worked until the restaurant closed. I finally popped for Sprints WIFI Hotspot. They chrarge $30 for 2 meg and $50 for 16 meg. The signal was strong and I am supposedly able to run 5 units from it. There is no contract so you can buy it for just the month that you need it. Just another alternative.

BTW: Or you could buy your kids some books.;)
 
cb32863

cb32863

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Jun 29, 2010
1,287
Beneteau First 235 Lake Minnetonka, MN
From looking at the Netgear website in regards to the WN2000RPT, I am thinking your marina would need to have this unit installed and configured off of their existing WiFi network. Not sure it will work to boost your reception as it appears that it needs to pick up the WiFi signal from the router and then boost it.

FWIW
 
Bonzai

Bonzai

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Jun 23, 2009
250
Chris-Craft SailYacht 35 St. Simon's Island, Ga.
Got my Bullet antennae and netgear router from Bob Stewart at Islandtimepc.com . Works very well and my boat is docked about 800 yds from Marina. I get 5 bars all the time. The support from Bob is amazing. He is an avid boater who clearly understands the problems involved.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
Annapolis Wireless vends WiFi in a number of marinas about Anne Arundel county, they provide a list of tested range extenders, you can find the report here.

I have no experience with any of them. My solution was 3G, it works pretty much everywhere.
 
redhead78

redhead78

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Dec 30, 2009
680
jeanneau 38 gin fizz sloop Summer- Keyport Yacht Club, Raritan Bay, NJ, Winter Viking Marina Verplanck, NY
I may be way off as I have a dumb phone , but I believe a friend told me she powers 4 different devices with her I phone, a laptop, ipad,and a playstation?? Red
 
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