Can I boost a wifi signal without router access?

[Vidar]

As above really. Have been moved to a physio rehab centre from hospital and the wifi is so dire I can't connect.

I don't have access to the router so wonder if there is a way of boosting the signal without needing passwords and stuff.

Its public wifi so will be creating own account once I'm on.

 

[andy_mk3]

A WiFi repeater can work here, it will connect to the existing WiFi network, and repeat it to its own SSID, but if course the repeater will need to be in range of the existing WiFi to work. You can get little Netgear ones for about £15

 

[BigT]

Best location for a repeater is half way between you and the router. Is the hospital going to be OK with you leaving something plugged in somewhere away from where you are? In this security conscious world I'd be surprised if you can just leave a random box of electronics plugged into a wall socket in a corridor!

Having said that I can't think of another way you'd be able to do it.

 

[Caged]

Can you get yourself a mifi subscription?

 

[Avalon]

I had a similar problem in a hotel (along with being charged per device, but that’s another story), my solution was to repurpose the windows tablet I had as a client, combine it with a USB Wi-fi adapter with a decent omni antennae to give better signal and then re-share it to multiple local clients. Obviously that depends on what you have available, but a 1-2GB/8-16GB win tablet and a suitable USB Wi-fi adapter is cheap (Linx stuff is OK quality wise). Of course if you are using a laptop/netbook/suitable tablet already, then you would just need a USB adapter with a suitable External antennae and the appropriate (free) software to re-broadcast it’s signal.