Some concepts for Wi-Fi coverage outside buildings.
Some concepts for Wi-Fi coverage outside buildings.
Afternoon everyone! My father-in-law resides across from our bedroom window, his house being about 22 meters away—essentially just the front living room. In my area, we have a single broadband provider, and we enjoy solid Wi-Fi. He’s planning to retire soon, which means his current package will drop by around £50 each month now and then. My phone connects to his network when I’m nearby, but if I’m at his house it’s only a weak signal and very slow. I’m trying to find solutions—maybe a Wi-Fi booster would help. I can’t run cables, which is frustrating. We’re in the UK, so I’m considering placing a booster between the main router and the spot where he’s located. That might not be effective unless we capture a stronger signal about 25 meters away and reroute it around his home. The setup should cost less than £100, ideally under £1100 to save him money. I have three channels—two at 5GHz and one at 2.4GHz. That gives me flexibility: I can expand guest Wi-Fi or let him use the 2.4GHz band since we only have three devices there. It would also be helpful to have a separate SSID so he knows which network to connect to. He has a 4K TV and Sky Q, so he doesn’t need ultra-fast speeds. I’m open to any ideas!
For any wireless connection, visibility is key. The best solution is adding a booster inside a window—ideally in the original structure—or installing it on the building's roof. Updated June 7, 2022 by An0maly_76 Revised
It’s a bit awkward, but you could employ three wireless adapters. The first would link to your network through Ethernet and sit outside your home, facing the side of your father-in-law’s residence. It would transmit on 2.4Ghz for optimal coverage, using a distinct SSID separate from your regular Wi-Fi. The second would be positioned at his house to pick up the signal from the first. It would connect via Ethernet to a third wireless adapter inside his home. That third device would generate the local Wi-Fi network your father-in-law would normally use. As described, set it up with its own unique SSID, which he would recognize.
I wouldn't suggest a clunky fix. I implemented this for years when dedicated point-to-point gear wasn't cheap, but with the rise of WiFi, interference outside made it unreliable. Now I rely on a few Ubiquiti Litebeams, which have performed consistently despite weak signal and thick walls blocking the line. I can still achieve 80Mbit, and proper setup could push it to 400Mbit. Invest more for a Gigabit connection should be straightforward.
Over the years I experimented with bridges and mesh networks aiming for something similar, so I decided to purchase these units. They support distances up to around 15km. For typical outdoor setups they deliver speeds over 800mbps and cost under £60 each. The CPE710 model is available at a reasonable price and has a sleeker design compared to the CPE510, though the price difference isn’t significant. When placing them, both require pole mounting—airline poles are affordable and can be secured to walls if needed. If you install one on a roof, ensure the cable is shielded with metal connectors to keep it grounded.