Do you forget boundaries when you are on the phone using your internet? Sometimes I simply walk outside while on a call or even slow down so I can listen to one more song before I walk somewhere else. But my frustration starts when I am not able to connect my Wi-Fi network to the outdoor device. You can easily move your router to extend your Wi-Fi range outdoors. However, that always does not solve all of your problems.
To solve these problems, you do not have to be a mechanical engineer or an expert. With the right hardware and some simple guidelines, you can easily take a video of your garden and swimming pool or can even work outside of your home, taking a sunbath. For this, check your Wifi connection or use WiFi extenders.
Therefore, we are going to discuss how this problem arises and an easy way to solve these problems. I am going to assure you, after reading this article, you will be able to extend your Wi-Fi range outdoors.
Without any further delay, let’s dive into the article.
Problem You May Face While Extending Your Wi-Fi Range Outdoors
You can use your Wi-Fi network to connect with other devices. However, there is some limitation on the range of Wi-Fi networks. You need to extend your Wi-Fi network if you want to download your files through the internet by sitting on your deck outdoor.
But extending your Wi-Fi is not as easy as it seems. You might face several problems because of which it is difficult for you to stretch your Wi-Fi connections. Some of the issues are as follows:
Check Your Internet Connection
Your speed of the internet connection depends upon how much you pay to the internet service provider because the higher speed internet connection comes with more price.
You can extend the range of your internet service so you can use your Wi-Fi outdoors. Even if you are successful in stretching the Wi-Fi range outdoor, you will still not able to enjoy your internet service because the speed of internet service will be slow, which will make you frustrated.
For Example,
You are bored and want to watch series or movies from streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, etc. by sitting on your deck outdoor. Because of the slow internet connection, you have the chance that your video is continuously buffering, which stops you from enjoying your favorite show.
Therefore, you have to make sure that the speed of your internet must be according to the bill you paid. To do this, you can check the speed of the internet connection through Ethernet.
Steps To Check The Speed Of Your Internet Connection
You can check the speed of your internet service through Ethernet by following these steps:
Go To Settings
At first, you need to click on the settings menu that is just below the Network and the Internet. You will see the status option. Click on Status.
Go to View Your Network Properties
Now inside status, you will see View Your Network Properties. Click on it.
Link Speed (Receive/Transmit)
After clicking on the View, Your Network Properties options appear. Under the properties, you will see Link Speed (Receive/Transmit). Now, determine your internet connection speed.
After determining the speed of your internet, if the speed of your connection is not according to your bill, you can contact the cable company. If your connection speed is according to the invoice, but still low, you can change your Modem.
Therefore, the speed of your Wi-Fi is one of the problems that stop you from enjoying your internet service.
Physical Disturbance
You need a suitable access point if you want to increase the range of your Wi-Fi outdoors. To do that, you need to change the position of your router, which improves the signal of your router.
I am sure that most of you might have placed your router to the center of your home. So, the range of your Wi-Fi can cover every room in your house. However, there are many factors such as walls, doors, glass, metal, etc. that affect the range of your router, especially if you are trying to extend your Wi-Fi range to connect to the outdoor devices.
Therefore, you need to move your router in such a place that is free from physical obstructions. Moreover, you can place your router as high as possible because this helps in reducing interferences, which will improve the range of your Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi Intruders
You can make your Wi-Fi password secure or change the name of your Wi-Fi if your neighbor is using your Wi-Fi. Moreover, you can hide the name of your Wi-Fi connection.
You can use applications like Wi-Fi Theft Detector through Android devices, Wireless Network Watcher through your window, and Fing through iOS devices to know if someone is using your Wi-Fi or not. You can also check your administrator log to find out the intruders.
Steps To Change Your wifi Password
You can change the password of your Wi-Fi by following these steps:
Open Your Router’s Configuration Page
You can open your router’s configuration page through a web browser like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, etc. If you do not know the password, you can also connect through an Ethernet cable, which will connect your computer directly to the router.
Enter Your Router’s Username and Password
After you have open the router’s configuration page through a web browser, a dialogue box appears asking your router’s username and password. Now, enter your username and password.
If you have forgotten your username and password, you can reset your router by pressing the router button for 30 seconds. Now, your router setting will be back to default. You can log in with the default username and password. If you do not know what is your default username and password you can search on the internet.
Go To The Wireless Option
After you have successfully login your router account, you have to go to the wireless option on your configuration page. If your wireless option comes with multiple subsections, you need to go to the wireless security page.
Enter New Password
After you have opened the security page of your router, a dialogue box appears. Now, you can change the password in the box. All you need to do is create a strong password that is 8 characters long.
Change Your Security Type
While changing your security type, you will have three options WEP, WPA, and WPA2 to change your security type. Among all these options, choose WPA2 because it is the most secure one. If you have any issues regarding connection, you can switch to WPA. But, you need to ignore WEP because it is easier for others to break in and get access to your network.
Change Your Network Name
You can change the name of your network. Moreover, changing your network can make it difficult to hack your network by others.
Go to Save Settings
After changing your username and password, you can go to save settings to save the changes you have done in your account.
Therefore, these changes will not allow anyone to get access to your network easily.
Use of Other Devices
Nowadays, most of the device comes with a Wi-Fi connection feature which makes it easier to use. Mostly, this feature is available in devices like washing machines, microwaves oven, cordless phones, etc. But the feature in your devices makes the internet slower. Make sure the WiFi is not connected to the internet when you are not using it.
Ways to Extend Your Wi-Fi Range Outdoors
You are required to extend the range of your Wi-Fi according to the increase in the usage of Wi-Fi by outdoor devices like lighting, CCTV cameras, etc. Therefore, some of the ways that you can extend the range of Wi-Fi outdoor are as follows:
Update Your Router
Before bringing any change to your internet connection, you should consider updating your router once. You can use different methods to update your router. But the difficulty depends upon your router manufacturer and model.
You can take advantage of auto-updates if your router is new and consists of these features. But, if your router is older and does not have an auto-update feature, you need to go to the manufacturer’s website and download the firmware file and upload it to the administration’s interface. Moreover, by updating your router, you can improve your Wi-Fi performance, speed, security, and range and can extend the range of Wi-Fi outdoors.
Switch Router Frequencies
You can have the advantage of choosing between 2.4GHz bands and 5.0GHz bands if you have a dual-frequency router. Besides, you can select 5.0GHz bands because 5.0GHz bands improve your Wi-Fi range.
Moreover, you can use your devices outdoors by eliminating interferences from other devices.
You have the option of choosing both 2.4GHz bands and 5.0GHz bands. All you have to do is go to the router administration option and give your SSID and password to both the band. Now, your devices can switch automatically to both the band whichever offers the best internet connection.
However, if your router does not give you the option of choosing both bands, you can give one option you like and try to manually set up with any one of the bands.
Change Your Channels
Your Wi-Fi signal can be affected by others if you are living in a populated area. Moreover, inside your house, your Wi-Fi signal can be easily anticipated and interfered with by other electronic devices like microwaves, washing machines, etc. which affect the range of your Wi-Fi.
For Example:
We can take the example of a walkie-talkie. You might have noticed that while communicating through a walkie-talkie, both the walkie-talkie should be on the same channel, which will help them in communicating with each other. Likewise, we can change the channel of the walkie-talkie to hear other people’s conversations.
Similarly, your router can switch to different channels while using your internet connection. Your router can choose the channel automatically most of the time. But, sometimes you and your neighbor might use an internet connection with the same channel. In this type of case, your Wi-Fi signal becomes low.
If your router is new and good, it can avoid the same channel. However, if your router is old and cheap, it may just use a pre-defined channel. You can improve the range of your Wi-Fi and can take advantage of internet services outdoor simply by changing your channels.
Replace Your Antenna
You can add an external antenna if your router uses an internal antenna. Moreover, by adding an extra antenna, you can increase the power of your antenna.
When you buy a router, your router comes with an Omni-directional antenna that sends signals in all directions equally. But, the Omni-directional antenna may not support the range of your Wi-Fi outdoors.
So, you can use directional-antennas, which send signals in one particular direction with its full capacity, which increases the range of your Wi-Fi it is sending in that particular direction. If you can position your router in the direction of the signal outdoors, you can extend your Wi-Fi range outdoors.
Use Repeaters
You can use repeaters to extend the coverage of your Wi-Fi signal. Generally, people use repeaters to extend the range of Wi-Fi because it amplifies and transmits the signals.
For Example:
If the range of your router is 400ft, and then you place your repeater 100ft, then the repeater will boost the signal and increase the range of your Wi-Fi to 500ft.
Steps to Set Up Your Repeaters
You can use these steps to step up your repeaters, and they are as follows:
Choose An Access Point
You have to choose an access point that is free from any physical obstructions such as a wall, and door that cannot interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. Moreover, the access point should be within the range of your Wi-Fi.
Plug The Repeater
After choosing the suitable access point, you need to plug your repeater near working AC power.
Connect Your Repeater To Devices
Now, you have to connect your repeater to a PC or Laptop through Ethernet.
Open Your Computer
After you have connected the repeater successfully to your laptop now, open your Local Area Network properties.
Go To Internet Protocol Version 4
To go to Internet Protocol Version 4, you need to go first Start Control Panel, View Network Status and Tasks Manage Network Connections. Now, right-click on Local Area Network properties and go to internet protocol version 4 properties.
Check the Instructions
Now, you should carefully check the repeater’s instructions.
Open a Web Browser
You have to open your web browser to go to your server address. If asked, you can log in through your username and password. Now, you can set up your Wizard.
Connect Your Repeater
After the completion of the setup, you have to choose wireless repeater mode and click repeater. A dialogue box appears. You have to select a wireless network selection to connect your repeater to the router. Click next.
Enter your Wi-Fi network password. Now, click apply, reboot, and OK.
You will notice that the range of your Wi-Fi has increased. Now, you can use it to extend the range of your Wi-Fi outdoors.
Use Mesh Network
If you are not satisfied with the repeater, you can use a mesh network to extend the range of your Wi-Fi. Mesh networks are a set of routers that connect and amplify each other.
Steps to Set Up your Mesh Networks
You can use these steps to step up your mesh network, and they are as follows:
Choose a Location
Firstly, in mesh networks, you will have one primary router and other extra nodes for access points. You can put your primary router where your old router used to be. And, put the nodes throughout your house for better coverage.
Plugin Your Router and Download the App
Secondly, you need to plug in your primary router, and through Ethernet, you can connect to the computer. Nowadays, you can set up the router through the app.
Therefore, you can download apps like the Google app. You can detect your new router through Google Wi-Fi App. All you have to do is scan the QR code through your smartphone.
In other apps, you have to give your username and password to sign up.
Link Your Other Nodes
You can give your router and node’s name. Similarly, you can link with other nodes so as to connect with the primary router. Moreover, you have to plug in your nodes at first, as you have done with your main router. Now, wait for boot up and follow your mesh network guidelines so that you can connect your nodes with the primary router.
Name Your Other Nodes
With the help of apps like Google Wifi App, you can link with your nodes. After you have linked your nodes with the primary router, you can rename your nodes, which will identify your location.
Finalize Your Network
After you have given the name to the nodes, you can set up your username and password, which can maintain the security of your network.
Therefore by the following guidelines, you can easily set up your mesh network system in your home to extend your Wi-Fi range outdoors.
Conclusion
In conclusion, setting up your Wi-Fi outdoor is not a difficult task. You can use the above-mentioned suggestion, and I hope that it will solve your problem.
Thank you for reading this article till the end. If you have any suggestions or queries regarding this topic “How to Extend Your Wi-Fi Range Outdoors”, you can write in the comment section below.
