Are you having trouble with internet connectivity in your backyard? Do you feel like you can’t relax or get some work done through the summer outside your house because you have no internet access?
Let us give you some advice and common guidelines on how you can resolve this issue.
How to Extend WiFi Range Outside of Your Home
Knowing how to extend WiFi range outside is often necessary, especially if you live in a large house.
There can only be one main modem or router, which you can place at the center of your home. Still, there are ways to extend your network and increase its range using common ways, like WiFi extenders, a long Ethernet cable, and a Wireless Point-to-Point (PtP) connection.
Besides extending the range, they will also retain the speed and stability of the internet connection.
Invest in a WiFi extender
WiFi extenders should be the primary choice if you wish to extend the range of your WiFi. They are great for extending the reach of the WiFi signal inside large buildings and, even beyond them, to the outside.
You may also encounter these small devices by the name of WiFi repeaters, which shouldn’t cause you any confusion as they are practically the same thing.
These devices only require a free electrical socket to operate. Once plugged in, they connect to your WiFi network via the main router, amplifying and transmitting a boosted signal.
Setting up a WiFi extender device is simple since it must have an Ethernet port. You can connect your laptop through this port and access the configuration menu, from where you can connect the extender to your main router.
Something to note with extenders is that when you purchase one, ensure that it supports higher internet speeds. If its speed capability is lower than your internet provides, you will notice a significant speed loss. These devices only extend the range and do not boost your internet connection speed.
Use a long Ethernet cable
Using an Ethernet cable is probably the most affordable solution. Besides, a physical connection guarantees no crashes or loss of signal, and the internet speed will always be fast and stable.
Many people choose this variant, especially if they are renovating their homes. To be honest, it can be quite tiresome to set up and install a long cable around corners, door frames, and windows, and not a lot of people want the wire to be visible as it ruins the visual appeal.
Using an Ethernet cable outside also means you will have internet in only one place since you can’t afford to drag the wire around, can you? A sturdier wire is also required to avoid UV rays, rain, and snow damage, especially if the wire is not underground.
Consider a Point-to-Point (PtP) wireless extension
If you want a more dependable wireless extension solution, then WiFi PtP is probably your best bet. It is very similar to using a wireless extender, but with the advantage of not spreading the signal everywhere but concentrating and sending it to one specific device – the receiver.
This WiFi extension method is more costly and would require a certain amount of knowledge and skill to set up, so these are the important things to keep in mind.
The unit that extends and sends the signal should be located near the main network source, facing the receiving device on the outside. The other device will permanently be outside, and you should ensure that it is protected from various weather conditions. To achieve the best signal, ensure a clear line of sight between the devices, without any objects between them.
The greatest advantage of this method is that it provides coverage over greater distances, which is why it’s better than using a simple WiFi extender.
Read more: How to Extend WiFi to Another Building
Alternative Ways to Extend WiFi Range Outside
Try adjusting the router band
This method has proven useful for many people, and it costs nothing to try it.
You can access your router’s settings and adjust its band and channel, which may increase speed and range. New and modern routers can operate in dual-band mode, creating two separate wireless networks. One network operates at 2.4 GHz, while the other at 5 GHz.
2.4 GHz networks have a wider range, covering more area, even stretching outside your house. The only downside is that data transfer rates are slower when compared to the 5 GHz networks, which have higher data transfer rates but have narrow coverage.
So if you notice that your router is operating at the 5 GHz band, try to change its operation mode to 2.4 GHz and see if that extends the WiFi range to the outside. Even if it doesn’t work, you at least tried it.
Use an old router as an Access Point
Another idea of how to extend WiFi range outside that will cost you practically nothing is to convert an old router into an Access Point.
Access Points are something like WiFi extenders, but the devices used for this purpose are wireless routers instead of WiFi extenders like the ones we mentioned above.
An Access Point can either be established by connecting the old router with the main router via an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. After the setup, the old router takes the internet signal from the main router and amplifies it, increasing its range to where you need internet connectivity.
Setting up an old router to act as an Access Point requires a bit of skill, and it is a longer process, which is why we will not cover it in its entirety in this article. If you choose this method, then make sure to visit this link for detailed instructions on how to set up your old router into an Access Point and extend your WiFi outside.
Also read: How to Boost WiFi Signal
Conclusion
Now that we have given you some general guidelines on how to extend WiFi range outside, you should be able to know which one of them suits your specific needs and how to implement it on your own.