Wireless Computers

What would be the best (cheapest) solution for wireless networking range extending?

Have a normal netgear wireless switch in my apartment (3rd Floor). I would like to keep the signal I have in my apartment and boost a signal to the pool that I overlook (about 50-75 yards away). Whats the best solution for this?

Public Comments

1. Theres really not cheap way to do things. The cheaper it is the cheaper the material, and less likelihood it will work as expected. You could always try to upgrade the antenna, but seeing as you said its netgear, it might be build in, in the case of that. You can try a repeater. It might run you about 30-40 dollars for a decent repeater. Basically it allows the connection to be repeated and extended. Theres one from linksys, but thats a little more. Another solution is that you can run another wireless access point by ethernet cable. That way the there is two connection points instead of one.
2. Here is the way I get better range: Wrap Aluminum foil around the router. Point the front of the antenna toward the direction of the pool. Make sure all of the router has Aluminum foil ALL the way around the router and DO NOT put the foil on the front that is pointing toward the pool. This works because all of the signals that would be going out in all directions are now being reflected by the foil and they all "bounce" around until they find they're way out (through the front). You still can get signal behind the router as some signals will "leak" out, but the signal will NOT go out as far in the opposite direction of the pool.Hope it works!
3. roll an aluminum foil into a tube around 5 inches in length about the diameter of the antenna. Slip it over the antenna but don't go all the way. Around 2/3 will do. adjust it up or down the antenna till you get the best gain. Antenna for routers are basically 1/2 , try to make it a 3/4 wave for a few db gain.