'Techy People' - advice sought

[LondonRascal]

I have a simple problem – at least I hope it is – and have an idea about what to do to overcome it but would rather any ‘techy’ person share their ideas on matters.

Long story short: My dad owns a property and we have made do with using a dongle to get the internet every now and then when needed – since to pay out for a perminant phone line and Broadband connection when no one is living their permanently would be a waste of money.

He has BT broadband however in London so this enables him to free access to many free Wi-Fi hotspots as a BT broadband customer.  We can pick up one such hotspot from the other place and use a laptop etc to get online – all simple so far. 

What we would he would like to do is connect something that only has an Ethernet connection so this cannot pick up the WiFi signal.

Is there a product that effectively can pick up the Wi-Fi signal coming in, but then either ‘re-transmit’ it from itself via Wi-Fi e.g. to boost it and also enable one to plug in a network cable for anything that has not got Wi-Fi?

[TheQ]

Type "Wifi repeater" in to Amazon or Ebay and look for one with the cable connector socket fitted there are lots available... 

[LondonRascal]

Thank you

[grendel]

technically it is possible to set up an old wifi router to act as a bridge, but I think you may need to set up both ends so that may not help in this instance, it also depends on the settings you can adjust on the router.

[LadyPatricia]

A few ideas here Robin, depends what you want to connect.

Scroll down to wireless bridge

 

http://www.cnet.com/uk/how-to/how-to-get-your-ethernet-only-gadgets-on-your-home-network/

 

Steve

[BroadScot]

2 hours ago, Jonzo said:

Yep, a bridge is what you need. They can be had from about £15 nowadays (used to cost a fortune!)

Hang on a minute Skipper! Your telling me I can buy a "bridge" for £15 quid! We are spending Millions on a new Forth Bridge, so where does one buy one for £15?

Iain

[ranworthbreeze]

2 minutes ago, BroadScot said:

Hang on a minute Skipper! Your telling me I can buy a "bridge" for £15 quid! We are spending Millions on a new Forth Bridge, so where does one buy one for £15?

Iain

Hi Iain,

For me you could buy Potter Heigham Bridge for £15, but you would have to take it away

Regards

Alan

[BroadScot]

Just now, ranworthbreeze said:

Hi Iain,

For me you could buy Potter Heigham Bridge for £15, but you would have to take it away

Regards

Alan

You'd get more for the traffic lights there, Alan

Iain

[ChrisB]

If your device (say tablet) has bluetooth you can use certain smartphones to allow the tablet to access your 4G via your provider.

[LondonRascal]

It only has an Ethernet connection - but thanks for all the input, I just was not sure what the things may be called which does not help much when searching online. Good old Forum to the rescue

[Oddfellow]

Maybe I have misread this. 

If you have a machine with just ethernet and not wifi, get a wifi dongle. 

A repeater/bridge may not work at all on a public hotspot as you may have to register it with the originating WIFI unit or router which you wont have admin access to 

 

[LondonRascal]

I will let you know how things pan out - it is a set top box type thing, so not really 'configurable' - however looking at various options now, you can connect a bridge via Ethernet to a laptop - configure it to connect to a specific WiFi network and once connected, it will then be able to use that connected network to supply the internet to things plugged into it.

Where I bet I am going to have issue is the time 'leased' to the device.  E.g. it likely will work, but after a set number of hours or days it will disconnect as the lease expires.

[LondonRascal]

It would be easier to have a PAYG dongle - but they are not very good value for the data you get for the cost they want for it.

[ZimbiIV]

Robin

I got a Huawei 4g mifi a couple of years ago around £30 from fleabay also on fleabay I got 3x data sims £15 a piece, each lasts 3 months/6gig of download.

Last year we both watch different tv programs on tablets sat having a drink while the rain (monsoon) stopped us venturing to the White Horse.

It is worth it, we visit the boat 2 weeks a month so it is nice sometimes to have a bit of home comforts.

paul