my son is in a hillbilly dorm. His room is on the lower level where there is no cell phone service. The school has free wire

[Sgrbear]

Boost or extend free wi-fi signal?

 

[COLGeek]

So, what is a hillbilly dorm?

Does you son's room only have wireless access, or are there also ethernet ports in the room?

 

[Sgrbear]

There is only weak wifi and no 3or4G LTE for phone. He has to go across the pond to the fountain or drive to wallmart to make/receive phone calls. He can make wifi calls if it had a reliable signal. Ethernet ports no longer work.

 

[COLGeek]

Who is your wireless carrier?

 

[Sgrbear]

I have an old win xp laptop that i found an antenna for. I am going to try to make it a hotspot, but I am a novice. So wish me luck.

 

[COLGeek]

The hotspot will still be limited by the weak wi-fi signal. Getting the school to add another router/access point in the dorm area would be a better long-term solution.

A micro-cell (thus the wireless carrier question), might be an option, if it can be connected to the school's network in the dorm.

 

[g90814]

Complain to the school about the lack of quality wifi. This is pretty much a requirement in today's schools.

 

[Sgrbear]

No telling who the wireless is through, probably att. Hey, I think I've gotten the ap to work. It does so far at home, but I think the adapters are switched. I want the new antenna to catch the wrak signal, and the built-in adapter to share in the room. Will test in the dorm tomorrow.

 

[COLGeek]

Good luck! Keep in mind that the IT folks at the school may not allow this system to be attached to their network. You really should address this issue with them.