I posted the other day about a problem getting my extender (EX3700) hooked up and plemans was kind enough to help me. This is kind of a continuation but not, if that makes sense. It's looking like this extender isn't quite strong enough to reach where I need it to. I'm trying to connect a wireless camera (in my chicken coop!) to it. I am able to stand next to the camera and connect with my smartphone but the connection is very weak so I assume the cheap camera just can't grab it. So, what I'm trying to do now is find a better extender that won't break the bank. Either that or maybe a better camera (this was 35 bucks on Amazon), but I assume a better extender would be the best, right? The camera is approximately 150-200 feet from where I have the extender (closest wall/outlet). I see the EX3700 says it covers 1000 sq. ft, would 1500 sq. ft. possibly work if the signal is there just weak? If it helps, my router is a c7000. Any recommendations would be appreciated, would like to stay at $75 or below. I'm open to netgear or any brand that will work with my router. Thanks so much!

I was hoping that wouldn't be the answer....so you really think an extender that says they cover 2500 ft (or more) wouldn't be much better than the 1000 ft. one I have? Darn. I'm so mad that it worked fine using just our router and now no such luck. I'd like to move the router back in the same vicinity that it was in but then all my other "stuff" would suffer. I will look at directional extenders and see what they entail. And I did consider burying a wire, in the long run that would work the best but that's a lot of wire, ha ha. I'm not sure what a point to point system is but will google it.I guess I'll return this extender as it's doing me no good, so bummed. I am going to try and see if maybe I can find a better camera that may pick it up but hard to tell, many don't specify how far their wifi range is.

Same issue as the other day when I posted. I'm connected on my desktop to the extender yet can't log in to mywifi...I even tried it on my phone. Nothing. Says I'm not connected. So frustrating. I can see it thru the genie. But, my extender isn't on the list of devices in the article....would it be worth me getting one of them instead and trying?

Yup, you told me that the other day, forgot. That has worked but doesn't look anything like in the article so I'll try it tomorrow when my brain is fresh. I did find "fast lane" looks like all I have to do is click the 2nd one and go but waiting til tomorrow so I can spend time to see if it works. Thanks, will let you know!!!! Appreciate your patience and your help!

I just did the fastlane but didn't realize it gives the extender a new name so I'll have to reconfigure the camera again, will have to wait. Don't have high hopes as it literally took me 5 minutes to get to this page using that connection in the house. If it's that bad here, I doubt there will be a chance of it connecting another 100 feet further. Someone suggested a powerline set up to me? I've looked into it and it looks like a good option but unfortunately we have two electrical panels and of course each one is hooked in a separate one. I'm thinking of just buying a couple different cameras or a couple different extenders and seeing if I get lucky. Probably a waste of time but it worked when the router was on that side of the house. Grrr.

Another option would be to switch to a triband mesh system and use an outdoor satellite. Typical single/dual band extenders drop that throughput (fastlane can help) by 50% because they have to use the same chip to go router---extender and then extender----device. And they can't do both at once. Fastlane helps but the 2.4ghz tends to be the bottleneck then. With the triband mesh systems, it reserves one of the 5ghz bands just for router/satellite communication. Keeps the speeds faster. Plus there's an outdoor extender (RBS50Y) If you watch ebay/amazon, there's quite a few used/refurbs on there as there's a bigger push for the new Wifi 6 (AX) spec so the older AC stuff is being sold/renewed.

Need recommendation - extender | NETGEAR Communities

29 Replies

plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Feb 09, 2022
Problem is that 2.4ghz and 5ghz broadcast strength is set by the FCC. Most devices already are maxing out that speed.

so you really don't see much difference in distance covered by upgrading routers/extenders. You might have a little more speed at the peripheral because of higher efficiency, better cpu, more antenna's, etc. But you're not really going to get more range.

And if you did get an extender that was more directional, the camera still isnt going to have any stronger of broadcast capabity.

options?

1. Daisy chain more than 1 extender. this isn't recommended because each step in the daisy chain, drops throughput 50% and increases latency

2. You could try a directional wireless extender. They're a bit more expensive

3. bury a wire to the chicken coop and run an access point in the coop. might be the best bet in the long run and underground ethernet wire isn't that expensive.

4. you could use a point to point system from home----chicken coop and then connect an access point/extender to it.
- andreah1
  Apprentice
  Feb 10, 2022
  I was hoping that wouldn't be the answer....so you really think an extender that says they cover 2500 ft (or more) wouldn't be much better than the 1000 ft. one I have? Darn. I'm so mad that it worked fine using just our router and now no such luck. I'd like to move the router back in the same vicinity that it was in but then all my other "stuff" would suffer.
  I will look at directional extenders and see what they entail. And I did consider burying a wire, in the long run that would work the best but that's a lot of wire, ha ha. I'm not sure what a point to point system is but will google it.
  I guess I'll return this extender as it's doing me no good, so bummed. I am going to try and see if maybe I can find a better camera that may pick it up but hard to tell, many don't specify how far their wifi range is.
  - plemans
    Guru - Experienced User
    Feb 10, 2022
    before returning the extender, try setting it up using fastlane.
    
    Have the extender use 5ghz for router----extender communication and the 2.4ghz for the extender----camera connection

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Need recommendation - extender