Quote:
Originally Posted by Corky
I have read so many reviews, looked at so many video's and have come to the conclusion they all work...So...Which is the "best" of all these choices? Anyone out there willing to tell me the problems they have and solutions found with whichever unit they have. Thanks in advance.
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Well, that's pretty hard to say honestly.
Source Signal (campground router):
To start with - a big problem is - most consumer wifi routers are not made to "spec". Either they don't work properly on the software end (sometimes fixed with a firmware update) - or their radios simply aren't to spec. Antenna arrangement plays a big part too. The cheap Chinese stuff is simply run of the mill and cranked out and no one really cares. That's the $200-300 and under stuff. GOOD routers - unfortunately - cost REAL money and are usually "Enterprise" stuff. Let's face it - the campground hosts aren't going to put out lots of $$$ to get an Enterprise router and setup (unless they are real hardcore computer geeks).
And over time radios die out and lose their transmissions strength. So for something like a campground, replacing the router EVERY 2 years is a must - to maintain the best signal strength. I doubt many do that.
On the receiving end (your camper):
Due to the fickle nature and build of the campground router - different brands being mixed on both ends will yield different results. This has been an issue (sometimes still is) with the wifi radios in laptops, etc. The laptop will connect to brand X, but doesn't like brand Y. Or will connect, and it will drop the signal, or just not work well. This has definitely gotten better over the last 20 years - but I can tell you for a fact that it's still an issue from time-to-time.
Upshot is - do your homework - listen to REAL users over anything else. And pay attention to price. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the time - for electronics - price is an indicator in quality. NOT ALWAYS - but more often than not. A $200 router is almost certainly better than a $40 router (and the campground probably got a $40 router). Don't let that be your only or main guidance - but do keep it in mind.
If all you're trying to do is boost the signal to your laptop - and it has a "port" for an external antenna - I'd try one of those first. Much cheaper than a wifi booster. Also - if you can - and it's offered - get on the 5Ghz frequency, not the 2.4Ghz frequency of wifi. The 2.4Ghz frequency has a saturation limit of how many can connect at a time - and it's not very many. 5 or so and it really starts to break down on consumer-type routers. 5Ghz has better tolerance for that - but due to the higher transmission frequency - it doesn't have quite the distance 2.4Ghz does.