Getting tunes to the shop via Wifi

OK, I hate to ask this on the main board, but I am kinda at a loss here.

Here's the situation.

I have high speed cable internet in my house and a wireless router. The house is approx 100 ft away and the shop is an all steel structure and straight line of sight from the router, just a window in between.

I have an old Iphone in a dock that I use for Pandora etc for my tunes in the shop.

Here's my problem: This is great in the summer, while the doors are up, but when it gets cold and I don't wanna open up shop, I get no signal.

I need a way to mount an external, weather resistant antenna on the top of the shop to get a better signal. What is the best way to do this? Is it even possible?

I was looking at something like this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164156
Thanks
Root

 

I have the exact situation and my 2G data plan is getting all used up over 3G @ only 10 hours per week.

 

Try changing the channel your router broadcasts with. Channel 6 is default for many, channel 11 has a stronger signal. This might just do it.

 

Get a better antenna for you existing wireless router, or get a router set up as a "repeater" to put in your shop to boost the signal for the Idevice.

 

Keep in mind, I don't have a computer in the shop. Just a cheap radio dock with an old 3g phone.

I'll look at the router channel. Will that jack up all my presets for my other devices?

I can't relocate the router, really. It's where my modem is. I only have internet cable in one room and this location is the closest to the shop.

I bought one of those repeaters that just plug into an electrical outlet and put it upstairs in the shop. Didn't really make a difference, so I took it back.

 

No, it shouldn't. Your username and passwords won't change.

 

Which wireless router do you have? There are lots of better antenna's for Linksys and some of the others that would most likely help.

an example.
http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-High-Antenna-Connectors-HGA7T/dp/B0002F3G7M

 

Motorola Surfboard, Wireless N, DOCSIS 3.0 Cable
802.11 a/b/g/n

 

Have you tried a pair of Rabbit ears?

 

You might have to reconnect is all.
Quick and free.

 

That's about my technical limit.....I haven't tried them with tin foil though.

I'm just trying to remember the process I went through of setting up the router in the first place.....

 

Just when I was sitting here trying to come up with something smartass, I see one of my locals already has beat me to it. Great Job!

 

I don't think the Motorola like that has a provision for an external antenna. Is there an actual model number for it? Or do you see a port to plug an external antenna into?

 

http://www.motorola.com/Video-Solut...d-eMTAs/Wireless-Cable-Modem-Gateways/SBG6580

 

Were you using the tinfoil this way?

 

Traditional would probably a record player.

 

I realize this isn't want your asking for but, I went thru the exact SAME THING!!! I ended up just buying a cheap $100.00 used computer and ran a "CAT 5" cable out to it. Ended ALL my problems and also get the HAMB in the shop too. Just a thought. Rabbit ears are my expertise, so I had my son hook it all up, I just bought the stuff.

 

put an ad on C/List or local paper indicating you'd be happy to let a garage band practice in your shop. Make sure they play the music you like.

 

Wireless routers still have a jack to hook up a wired device... 100' of cat five seems do-able .... plus hanging it 6 feet off the ground would give the wife a solar dryer ... win/win.

EDIT: CopperImpala .... great minds ...!

 

Dont laugh, that is what I listen to in the garage. Sometimes that is.

 

IF your going to put a pc in your shop, you might as well get XM/Sirius radio and listen to Little Steven....

 

Oh well, thanks for the info. I'll figure it out. I can feel the trad police firing up their engines.......

 

Just call the guy... you know like they suggested on two and half men.

 

I would help if I could but I can not figure out how to use my phone

 

I think you could solve your problem with a range extender available at Walmart, Bestbuy etc. for about $80. You simply put it at the edge of your current range and it, well, like the name says, extends it. So if you placed it on the wall outside your shop, or maybe just outside the house, it should extend it enough to work in your shop. You'll have to find a way to keep it dry though.
I recommended this to my daughter who was renting and sharing wifi with her neighbor. Then she moved to the house next door and could only connect in the yard. I got her a netgear range extender and she put it in her kitchen window and could connect anywhere in the house.
I was having the same problem with my cordless phone. I put one in my garage but it would only connect to the base when the garage door was open. I couldn't buy another phone because then it wouldn't work with the intercom on this system. I searched for something like a range extender for it but there wasn't one. Then I moved the base to my bedroom close to the window, and it works fine now.

 

As just as a side note, I bought an internet radio from amazon. It has a retro look and it connects to the wifi from the house and it has a menu that lets you select genre of music and then 100's of stations to choose from. I have some oldies programmed in and use it all the time. It still needs a good connection but mine has no problems connecting to the house about 50 feet away.

 

I also think the fact that your shop is sided with STEEL may be causing some of your issue?? Since it works in the summer with the doors OPEN the signal is getting to the device with no problems! That's the issue/ problem I was having also. If the steel siding is causing the "blockage" just adding an range extender/ or booster may not eliminate the problem??

 

Yeah, I know. I was hoping to mount an external antenna outside and run the cable inside. I may have to rethink this.

 

Walmart has a great return policy.

 

Here, this link has some good info. I still think you might get the job done without spending a nickle.
Just Google; how to boost a router - you'll find lots of info, including about everything that has been mentioned.

Since you already/did have a smart phone... you should we able to find a free WiFi analysis app. It will show you signal strength, so you can test and not guess how much you are getting out there in the shop.

http://www.wikihow.com/Boost-a-Router-Signal