# I promise I didn't get a laptop and wireless router to hang out here... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 11, 2007, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577 "2007-12-11T03:37:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/1 "2007-12-11T03:37:54Z")
but the ding dang stool in the kitchen is uncomfortable and there are no pancakes to be had. Has anyone had any experience with wireless boosters or antennas? The couch is much more comfy but the neighbors’ house’s radiowave seems to be just out of reach. (Any allosaurs responding will receive bonus points) ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/2 "2007-12-11T03:42:36Z")
Are you piggybacking off your neighbor’s signal without their permission? ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/3 "2007-12-11T03:47:46Z")
I am sharing their signal with both permission and encouragement. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/4 "2007-12-11T04:00:12Z")
Oh, in that case all I have to offer is, get a more comfortable stool and make some pancakes already. Chocolate chip please. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/5 "2007-12-11T04:27:57Z")
Would semi sweet be okay? There is a pile leftover from the Ms.'s previous holday choocolate confection creating extravaganzas. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/6 "2007-12-11T04:39:39Z")
Ooh! Chocolate chip pancakes? I’ll have a few, please. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/7 "2007-12-11T04:46:19Z")
Pancakes are for those who answer questions. Obviously, apparently, I could get a comfier stool. But whattabout wrapping tinfoil and copper wires aound routers, does that work? There is good Canadian maple syrup to be had here. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/8 "2007-12-11T05:06:51Z")
Well, when you get tired of pancakes and getting syrup on your keyboard, get a wireless repeater (also called a rangebooster) and set it up on your kitchen table, or some more convenient spot near your neighbor’s house. Then take your laptop to the comfy chair in the living room. But no pancakes on the couch! BTW, for some reason, the repeaters are more expensive than the wireless routers. In my area the cheapest one is $50 US, and the good ones are over a $100. But the cheap ones work fine. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2007, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/9 "2007-12-11T05:33:06Z")
Well, if you want to be cheap and the folks with the router don’t mind, you can make [this antenna](http://www.freeantennas.com/projects/template2/index.html) using cardboard and tinfoil. This just concentrates the radio waves in a particular direction, which is okay if you don’t care about what’s the other way. If you have a tad more $$$, most wireless routers will operating in bridging mode. For example, my DLink won’t… and neither will the Trendnet… dunno where my Netgear went… but the SMC does! Okay, _some_ wireless routers will operate in bridging (aka WDS) mode, and can be quite cheap after rebate (hence the reason I seem to have so many). Put one on the uncomfortable stool and it would reach the couch no problem. A dedicated repeater is probably going to be more stable overall, but is also going to be a single-use device and cost a bunch, as **Rhubarb** notes. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-promise-i-didnt-get-a-laptop-and-wireless-router-to-hang-out-here/429577/10 "2007-12-14T19:10:01Z")
I haven’t yet located the repeater in question, although I did get a more comfy stool. The luxury of the couch still beckons, can someone just nake a product which does this magical repeating thingy? Ideally I would just mount an antenna on the other house but it seems more polite to add things to our side.