Device for Improving Wi-Fi Signal at Hotels?

[tmc1284]

I am looking to purchase a device that will improve the wi-fi singal strength on my laptop at hotels. I am not looking for an extender/repeater because those would have to be placed somewhere outside of my room in order to work. Is there a device that I can connect to my laptop that will improve my signal strength?

 

[bill001g]

Likely not. The antenna on most laptop tend to be fairly well engineered and being behind the screen tends to be optimum placement.

You only hope would be a device that has directional antenna. It depends how big a device you want to carry around even the smallest devices are at least half the size of most laptops.

What is strange is the cheapest devices are actually outdoor bridge. You can get directional antenna for wireless cards but they don't save any money.

You could look at something like unbiquti nanostation m2 or engenious ens200 are in the $50 range. Still this mean caring along another piece of equipment and it may not help in all situations.

 

[Onus]

An extender is plugged in inside your room, and ought to work.
Something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122483 ought to work for you. I have something like it, to improve the signal to my phone in some parts of the house.

 

[tmc1284]

Likely not. The antenna on most laptop tend to be fairly well engineered and being behind the screen tends to be optimum placement.

You only hope would be a device that has directional antenna. It depends how big a device you want to carry around even the smallest devices are at least half the size of most laptops.

What is strange is the cheapest devices are actually outdoor bridge. You can get directional antenna for wireless cards but they don't save any money.

You could look at something like unbiquti nanostation m2 or engenious ens200 are in the $50 range. Still this mean caring along another piece of equipment and it may not help in all situations.

I'm not concerned about the size of the device or the cost. I have an internet business so it is a necessity to have a strong signal. I'm looking for a device that will give me the best signal improvement which I can leave in my room.

I have found the following devices which I am interested in purchasing:

1. Alfa AWUS036NHV
http://www.amazon.com/Alfa-AWUS036NHV-802-11n-Wireless-N-Removable/dp/B00L2P3TRS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416341649&sr=8-1&keywords=AWUS036NHV&pebp=1416341660907

2. Alfa Long-Range Dual-Band AC1200
http://www.amazon.com/Alfa-Long-Range-Dual-Band-Removable-Connections/dp/B00MX57AO4/ref=pd_cp_pc_0

3. BearExtender
http://www.amazon.com/BearExtender-PC-Booster-Extender-Microsoft/dp/B006K5LBA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416342075&sr=8-1&keywords=BearExtender&pebp=1416342074280

4. NetGear AC1200
http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-AC1200-Power-700mW-Extender/dp/B00HQ883QW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416342234&sr=8-1&keywords=NETGEAR+AC1200&pebp=1416342236535

Is there a device that would give me a stronger signal than any of the above devices that I can leave in my hotel room?

Would a device that has a directional antenna such as this one work better than the above products?:
http://www.amazon.com/USB-Yagi-directional-Antenna-802-11n-2200mW/dp/B003LLS5JI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1416342349&sr=8-9&keywords=directional+antenna+wifi
If so, what specifications should I be looking for when deciding to purchase a directional antenna with the best improvement in signal?

 

[Onus]

I would not use a directional antenna unless you can be sure where the source is, and can mount it to face that source.

 

[bill001g]

I would be suspect of any device that claims it puts out more than 1000mw. It either lies or is illegal. Best to just avoid these rather than to find out what the fine print says.

Your laptop likely puts out close to the 1000mw legal limit anyway. You would have to dig to find the gain of the antenna and the radios.

A repeater is a stupid thing to even think about in your case. If you were to place the repeater in the room it too would get a poor signal just like your laptop and then attempt to repeat this garbage signal further degrading it. In cases where you can barely get a signal a repeater many times will actually make it completely unusable. The proper placement of a repeater is a area that it gets good signal that it can then repeat to the area that gets poor. In your case it would likely be outside your room and it needs power so you are even more limited.

A yaggi is just a form of antenna. It is no better or worse than panel antennas. It is all based on the gain of the antenna. That is a rather expensive device but it will likely work if you like it. If you really think cost and size doesn't matter you can try
http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Airmax-AirGrid-Antenna-AG-HP-2G20/dp/B0051GLIP4/

This is a HUGE antenna and about as large as you can legally get as far as output power goes.

I suspect you will not see a really large difference when you use them indoors. Most problems indoors are caused by the absorption of the walls and increasing the power many times just increases the amount of signal the walls eat.

 

[RealBeast]

^ What bill001g said. In most hotels the wireless speed is poor because their equipment is inadequate to handle all of the connections that are now used by guests. Those that have spent the money to upgrade tend to have faster speed and more reliable connections.

 

[tmc1284]

In the current hostel I am staying at the connection is good in the communal area about 15 meters from my room, but inside my room it is not as strong. So it does not have to do with the bandwidth being used by the guests; just the connection not being as strong because of the walls in my room. So I just need something that is stronger than my laptops wireless card to catch the signal better.

Is there something a little smaller than this that will work?:
http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Airmax-AirGrid-Antenna-AG-HP-2G20/dp/B0051GLIP4/

 

[bill001g]

Of course. Take you pick on either ubiquiti or engenius they both sell pretty small unit and huge long range stuff. I was mostly joking on that big dish when you said it didn't matter on cost or size. It does work very well outside I have a couple of them.

Now if you can get signal just outside your door you might get by with a cheat. If you can get a USB cable over the top of the door without totaly smashing the cable you might be able to use a small USB wireless nic. Likely as long as you keep it small they would not object. You can go 15ft with a USB and even longer with a small hub in the path.