Long Distance Range Extender

[windycyty]

I am spending three weeks camping up in the mountains where neither our camp nor the surrounding ones have wifi nor cable. There is a library about one mile away as the crow flies and it is a pretty level flight.

I've been contemplating one of those two mile long range extenders but the price is about $250 and I can't justify that for three weeks. However, going to the library each day during their limited hours is frustrating.

So my two questions are; 1) do they work? 2) can anyone recommend something less expensive?

 

[g90814]

For such a short time, you're not gonna find much that will work. Do you have a cell phone you can use as a hotspot?

 

[windycyty]

For such a short time, you're not gonna find much that will work. Do you have a cell phone you can use as a hotspot?

I've done that but my signal is so weak that it is not feasible. I used Barnacle and Intercept to perform that feat. Is there a better way?

 

[USAFRet]

"one mile away as the crow flies"

What is in between? Do you have direct line of sight to the other location? Trees in the way?

 

[windycyty]

"one mile away as the crow flies"

What is in between? Do you have direct line of sight to the other location? Trees in the way?

Aw no, there are trees. No direct line of sight but, no mountains. My little home expander is in my garage and does a nice job of getting my signal to the bedroom above it and, it pretty much goes through a concrete wall. My phone can even pick up a strong signal from it from my neighbors house.

 

[USAFRet]

"one mile away as the crow flies"

What is in between? Do you have direct line of sight to the other location? Trees in the way?

Aw no, there are trees. No direct line of sight but, no mountains. My little home expander is in my garage and does a nice job of getting my signal to the bedroom above it and, it pretty much goes through a concrete wall. My phone can even pick up a strong signal from it from my neighbors house.

2.4Ghz is greatly affected by 'water'. Trees are full of 'water'.
What works in the winter when the trees are mostly devoid of leaves may not work the other 6 months of the year.

For that distance, you really, really need absolute line of sight. Trees in between will eat the signal.

And you need good devices on both ends. A good receiver on your end does not matter if the library source is weak, and designed to only service the 200 feet around the library.