Wireless Bridge
With the proliferation of both citywide and neighborhood spanning networks, finding WiFi service is becoming less of a problem. But it can be tough to get a consistently strong signal.
One way to improve reception is to point a bigger directional antenna toward the strongest local network signal. HyperLink Technologies and MacWireless, among others, sell such antennas.
Another approach, especially if you’re hoping to bring the outside network into your home or office and then share it over WiFi, is a WiFi bridge. WiFi bridges are designed to take a signal from one network source and redistribute it. They tend to be pricey, though, costing from $50 upwards, depending on features.
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Ruckus Wireless and PepWave both provide bridges designed to improve the performance of your WiFi network when you’re connected to a larger network. PepWave’s Surf AP series, which starts at $180, and Ruckus’s $149 MetroFlex Dual Zone, each create two virtual Wi-Fi networks with a single radio.
Both devices vary in signal strength, using more power when transmitting and having more sensitivity when receiving data from far away, while also dialing down during interactions with computers and devices on your local network.
