I have Comcast which comes with Xfinity hot-spots but about 50% of the time they are too weak

[G+_Richard Bell]

I have Comcast which comes with Xfinity hot-spots but about 50% of the time they are too weak.

Can anybody think of a solution where I can use something to extend the range?

-I am often working in client's houses and the neighbor has a hotspot.

-I'd like to also use this in the car

-the solution could use another phone or a plug-in device.

-I don't need any great speed.

I want thinking maybe an old router and replace an antenna with cantenna and have it repeat to my devices on site.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[G+_Michael Carleton]

My understanding is that both radios on either side of the equation need the ability to communicate with one another. I find that simply boosting the one side is rarely good enough to maintain the connection.

 

I am also curious if someone has a better solution here, as wireless is always a pain for my customers due to range issues.

[G+_Black Merc]

Most routers now days, have 2 problems in that thought. An external antenna connector and firmware that allows client functions on the radios.(link to an AP)

[G+_Michael Carleton]

Black Merc Also, forgot to mention in my earlier post that Xfinity equipment seems sub-par to me

[G+_Black Merc]

Xfinity may be limiting power output to try to ease the noise floor between customers being so close in heavy metropolitan areas that they forget about the ones that need the range.

[G+_Giligain I.]

Vonets wifi bridge repeater works well enough to extend range, but requires setup for each new network.

[G+_Steven Passmore]

I've done this with an older Linksys router that I loaded DD-WRT on. You want to configure it as a "Wlan Repeater". (this is not not WDS) You'll still have to get through Xfinity's captive portal on a device connected to the repeater to register the mac but once you do, any devices connected to it will have internet access.

 

I've also used a directional antenna on a Ubiquiti Bullet which was configured as a client. It was trivial to set up but that one I had connected via an Ethernet cable.

 

It's worth noting that these connections are not secure and depending on what you're using it for that should be taken into consideration. I generally use a VPN over the connection.

[G+_Richard Bell]

Steven Passmore? great answer, I think that I can do all of that, thanks much!

[G+_Richard Bell]

Steven Passmore? (or others) I finally found time to try it out. My Engenius router has a repeater mode. Tests work well on my own network but when I do a site survey my repeater can never connect to xfinitywifi networks. My only thought is if xfin is checking the mac Id of my repeater, maybe I could go back into AP mode, clone the mac id of a device that has already connected to the network then back into repeater mode. I do not know if mac id of a repeater is passed onto xfin or even if one is seen in repeater mode.

[G+_Giligain I.]

Richard Bell

Xfinitywifi networks, owned by others? Or your own?

[G+_Richard Bell]

Giligain I. others, trying to limit mobile data usage while not at home, and deal with spotty hotspot connections.

[G+_Giligain I.]

Richard Bell

I usually see a login screen popup on my phone when connecting to other networks; you might need to pass login screen to have proper connection.

[G+_Richard Bell]

Giligain I.? That was my thought too but the repeater interface only pops a log-in if the network is encrypted.

[G+_Giligain I.]

Richard Bell

I did not know that, but good to know–login means network encrypted.