WiFi is notoriously bad at traveling over distance and often requires extending or boosting a wireless signal to get better reception.
Extending an outdoor wireless signal with a WiFi range extender can be easily done with the right unit.
Every outdoor wireless environment will be different; some can have trees blocking a signal; other times, a street or alleyway requires a wireless bridge since no wires can be installed.
Some scenarios require transmitting a WiFi signal to a garage or a neighbor’s house.
Since there are so many different outdoor wireless scenarios here, we list our picks of options to help you get the most from your WiFi setup.
As always, be sure to read the reviews on Amazon or elsewhere to be sure a unit is a good fit for you.
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Our Picks for Best Outdoor WiFi Range Extenders
- TP-Link AC1200 EAP225-Outdoor
- Ubiquiti Nanostation NSM5
- Hawking Technology Wireless AC1750 Managed AP Pro
- TP-Link CPE210 Long Range Outdoor WiFi Transmitter
- ULNA CPE966 WiFi Bridge
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TP-Link makes many good wireless solutions, including the EAP225 Indoor / Outdoor Access Point.
It can be mounted outside high-up and, along with two large antennas, transmit and receive a signal which greatly extends the wireless range.
The back of the unit has a waterproof cover that an Ethernet line is run to from the router.
It is a PoE unit that receives power from the Ethernet line with a included PoE adapter.
PoE units have a wired Ethernet cable run from a router and send and receive WiFi signals after being set in a good location.
There are also units that are only wireless-only, but if an Ethernet cable can be run to the router, PoE units have the best performance.
The AC1200 unit works in both the 2.4Ghz and 5 GHz frequencies along with the new 802.11ac WiFi protocol.
Since it is a dual-band 802.11ac unit, it will fit into almost any network and be able to talk to both old and new devices.
The Ubiquiti Nanostation NSM5 is another PoE step-up that transmits in the 5Ghz range.
It can extend or boost a WiFi signal to great distances with two sets transmitting and receiving a wireless signal.
The NSM5 can also be set up in many other WiFi environments, including as a bridge, but its main use is to keep extending a signal by adding additional units.
The basic installation is setting two units in-between two buildings and running an Ethernet cable to each from a router.
The signal from one building to the other will transmit and receive extending an internet connection.
This would be a good setup for a detached building or garage that needs the internet extended.
For example, two units would be set up for a detached garage, one on the main house with internet and another at the garage.
The unit at the house would have an Ethernet cable run to the router that is connected to the internet.
The unit at the garage can also have a router with an Ethernet contention to the unit, which would receive the internet signal.
The two units would face each other over the distance and be set up to transmit and receive a wireless signal.
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Hawking Technology is a company that has many outdoor wireless solutions.
The Hawking HW17ACM is one such solution and is a dual-band range extender, so it works in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies.
It also uses the 802.11ac protocol making it a universal repeater able to fit into almost any WiFi network.
The 802.11ac protocol, also called Wireless-AC WiFi 6, has a much faster data transfer speed than the older Wireless-N protocol.
The Hawking HW17ACM is a high-end unit built for transmitting at big distances and is likely overkill for most home wireless setups.
The TP-Link CPE210 is a good outdoor WiFi solution that can be set up in many different modes.
It can work as an Access Point, Client, Repeater, AP Router, or AP Client Router.
The TP-Link CPE210 can work with one unit or two units to boost a WiFi signal even more.
For example, one unit can be set up outside and extend a WiFi signal.
Alternatively, two units can be set up as a wireless bridge greatly extending a WiFi signal to another building.
With the many modes it can be set up in, it can boost the wireless signal in a variety of scenarios that need the WiFi improved.
There is a 2.4GHz and 5GHz version that can be bought.
The ULNA WiFi Bridge is a good option for those looking to extend an internet signal wirelessly.
For example, if you have two buildings and want to extend an internet signal from one building to another this is a good option.
Both sides of the location will need a router since the ULNA is a Bridge, but it works very well with fast signals over a distance.
If you have a spare router to plug into the other side, the ULNA CPE966 is worth a look.
Summary
Setting up a WiFi range extender can be confusing sometimes. Most manufacturers try to make the setup as easy as possible, but some skills will still be needed.
If you have no background in setting up networks, be sure to read a basic wireless network setup article or watch a YouTube video to get the basics.
Also, be sure to know the type of router you have as your network interface to the internet.
Older routers only worked in the 2.4GHz frequency while new routers work as in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz band called dual-band.
5GHz frequencies don’t travel as far as 2.4GHz signals, but 5GHz is not a crowded environment as the older 2.4GHz range is.
Most devices transmit at 2.4GHz, which can cause problems in crowded areas since when two signals collide, the transmission must be resent slowing down the entire network.
For this reason, if your network is in an urban setting, then 5GHz frequency likely will be better.
If you live outside a city in a less congested WiFi area, then 2.4GHz is likely better.
Good Day
I own a Guest House business, I have two guest houses across the road from one another, I am currently using an ADSL line for internet which i provide to the guests free of charge, the Router is in the one guest house, I am looking for an extender/repeater which can send strong signal to the second guest house, the distance I plan to cover is about 350m to 500m, what is the best device to connect to my current router?
Hoping to hear from wireless hack soon
Kind Regards
Nadim
best chance is to use two 5Ghz units from tp link, once all is been setup it worked pretty well for me
Please try Althai super wifi, it may reach about 1k for Line of sight and 500 meters for non Line of sight.
I am trying to understand how these range extenders work and a lot of it is Greek to me. What I am simply looking for is a way to extend a strong signal to my barn (approx 150′ away.) I get one bar or no bars in the barn. Do these extenders need to be wired with network cables and/or power outlet? Where would I mount it outside?
thanks in advance.
Hi,looking for an external extender.Need something that will extend my wifi signal via satellite broadband from one house to another about 150mtrs away.
TRy to use Tenda AH302. it can connect wifi 300 mtrs away from the source..
Thanks for the insightful and well-organized list. It was a huge help.
I HAVE A PROBLEM.
I HAVE RECENTLY BOUGHT A DASH CAM SYSTEM FOR MY CAR SO I CAN WATCH MY CAR FROM DISTANCE OF
2 MILES. WHEN I BOUGHT THE BLACKVUE DR650S INCAR CAMERA’S I WAS TOLD THAT I COULD WATCH MY CAR ON A APP ON MY PHONE. BUT THAT’S NOT THE CASE AS THE WIFI SIGNAL ONLY REACH ABOUT 20 METERS.
THE DASH CAM IS A WIFI GPS CAMERA COMES WITH A APP YOU DOWNLOAD TO A IPHONE OR ANDROID PHONE.
ONLY WORKS 20 METERS FROM THE HOUSE WERE THE CAR IS PARKED.MY CAR IS PARKED AT MY MOMS HOUSE ON THE DRIVE WITCH IS ABOUT 2 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE I LIVE IN A BUILT UP AREA WITH TREES.
HAVE YOU GOT ANY IDEAS FOR ME TO CONNECT MY WIFI TO MY CAR OR MY MOMS WIFI AND THEN TO THE CAR ON THE DRIVE BELOW? IF THERE WASN’T ANY TREES IN THE WAY I COULD PROPERLY SEE MY MOMS HOUSE.
PLEASE HELP ME SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IF YOU CAN.
THANK YOU KIEREN
Hello, I live in Toronto, Canada and I am in need to connect two homes which is approximately about 800 meters apart. Where can I purchase such? Would the Source have it?
I bought the EAP225 outdoor. What deception…. It need always to be connected to the router to work. Only if you buy a second unit you can extend your wifi….. This need to be more clear. It alone dont repeat the signal if disconected from router….
HI,
please help me as i have internet connection at my home, my brother living away 300 meters there is very poor signal. so please suggest the solution ..
Thanks,
SATYA
looking to send signal across street to my rental house
Hi, I currently use the NETGEAR N300 Wi-Fi Range Extender, Essentials Edition (EX2700) indoors to extend my wifi signal and this easily is powered through plugging into an outlet. I want a similar device, but to extend my current wireless network outside to my patio which has 2 zones of wireless audio and 2 smart TV’s. Which outdoor product do you recommend that will plug into an outlet (not depend on POE) and enable me to extend my wireless network outside. Thanks
Did anyone ever respond to this? I have same question. I need an extender (not an access point) that doesn’t need to be plugged into PoE or router. I want it to pick up wireless signal and boost it.
Try Tenda AH302 for indoor or Wavlink AC600 for Outdoor
That Wavlink AC600 requires an Ethernet cable to run to it. So that’s not what you’re looking for.
I’ve had good success with the D-Link DAP-1520. Dual-band, good range. I use it for my front patio.
Small box, plug in the outdoor outlet, or inside out let near the window nearest your outdoor area.
Once it’s configured, you can plug it in when you’re out there, unplug it and dump it in a drawer when you’re not. It comes up about 15 secs after it’s plugged in, once it’s configured.
This is NOT WEATHERPROOF but who wants to sit outside in the rain.
TP-Link CPE510, in the FEATURES section it says: ” Instead of setting it up as just an access point, you can set it up as a client. This means that it will receive a signal wireless, and rebroadcast it in another direction. This means that you don’t have to wire it into your router, although you do need to place it in an area where you already have a strong wireless signal. “
Sam, this direction is great! a few more questions on top of this. On the TP Link site it says the CPE510 is end of life, is the CPE 210 comparable? Last question, can I daisy chain these together to get the wifi signal further?